Toyota orders recall of 2.87 million RAV4 SUVs

Published Date: 18th Feb 2016

Toyota announced today it is conducting a global recall of 2.87 million vehicles due to the possibility that their seatbelts could be damaged by a metal seat frame in the event of a crash.

In an email, the world's biggest-selling automaker said that the global recall involved its RAV4 SUV model produced between July 2005 and August 2014 and sold worldwide, and its Vanguard SUV model produced between October 2005 and January 2016 and sold in Japan.

Is My Toyota Affected?

The recall includes 1.3 million vehicles in North America announced earlier in the day by Toyota's U.S. unit, along with around 625,000 vehicles in Europe, 434,000 vehicles in China, 177,000 in Japan and 307,000 in other regions.

With respect to Europe, the recall affects just under 625,000 RAV4's produced between July 2005 and August 2014.

Toyota Recall Checker

Toyota Re-call Checker – CLICK HERE

 The car giant announced that it would add resin covers to the metal seat cushion frames on all affected vehicles to prevent any metal pieces from cutting the seatbelt in the event of a crash, after it had received two reports in which rear seatbelts separated following crashes.

toyota logo

Toyota said it could not determine whether these incidents were linked to any injuries or fatalities.

Here’s what Toyota explained to be the problem –

There is a possibility that, in the event of a very severe frontal crash, the lap belt webbing could contact a portion of the metal seat cushion frame, become cut, and separate. If this occurs, the seat belt may not properly restrain the occupant, which could increase the risk of injury.

Toyota shares were up 1.9 per cent in afternoon trade in Japan, versus a 2.8 per cent advance for the Nikkei 225, but had been as much as 3.6 per cent higher at the open.

Toyota was involved in a number of recalls last year, including software glitches for its hybrids, window switches and problematic airbag inflators made by the infamous Takata.