Toyota is recalling more than 600,000 trucks and SUVs due to safety issues

More than 600,000 Toyota pickup trucks and SUVs in the United States have been voluntarily recalled over the past week due to several problems that could increase the risk of crashes, the vehicle manufacturer said.

The initial announcement, on February 21, stated that approximately 280,000 vehicles, including certain Toyota Tundra, Tundra Hybrid and Lexus LX600 vehicles from the 2022-2024 model years and Sequoia Hybrid vehicles issued in the 2023-2024 period, were being recalled because “certain parts of the transmission may not immediately disengage when the vehicle is shifted into neutral,” Toyota reported this in a statement.

The defect “may allow some engine power to continue to be transmitted to the wheels and may cause the vehicle to inadvertently creep forward at low speed when on level ground and not braking, leading to an increased risk of an accident,” Toyota said.

a defect information report Posted on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administrations website said affected vehicles could “unintentionally creep forward at a slow speed (up to approximately 4 mph).”

The second recall, announced Tuesday, affected approximately 381,000 2022 and 2023 Toyota Tacoma pickup trucks. according to the company.

Toyota said in a statement that weld debris left on the ends of the rear axle “can cause the nuts to loosen over time and eventually fall off, causing a part to separate from the axle.

“If separation occurs, it can affect vehicle stability and braking performance, increasing the risk of a crash,” Toyota said.

Toyota spokeswoman Amanda Roark said in an email that only the 2022 and 2023 Tacoma model “ affected by this recall.”

“If the vehicle is driven with the nuts loosened, the driver may experience vibration, hear an abnormal noise and/or notice a differential oil leak,” she said.

Toyota declined to comment on whether the problems that prompted the recalls resulted in accidents or injuries.

Owners of the affected vehicles will be notified of the recalls in late April, Toyota said, and should go to their local dealers for necessary repairs.