Despite troubles in 2009-10, Toyota is one of the biggest automakers in the United States. In fact, the Denver Business Journal reported that Toyota was the most popular new-vehicle brand for Colorado residents in 2012 (13.9 percent of total registrations)—which is why this latest auto defect hits home for many Coloradoans.
Late last month, the Japanese-based company ordered all of its car dealers in the U.S. and Canada to cease selling six of its best-selling models until a problem with a flammable fabric used for heated seats is replaced.
The models affected by the safety hazard include various 2013 and 2014 Toyota vehicles equipped with heated seats, such as the:
- Avalon and Avalon Hybrid
- Camry and Camry Hybrid
- Corolla
- Sienna
- Tacoma
- Tundra
The Camry was ranked as the best-selling car in America in 2013—more than 408,000 units sold last year alone—with the fifth most popular being the Corolla.
While Toyota did not issue an official recall on these models, and no fires, auto accidents or injuries have been reported, the car manufacturer cannot legally sell these cars until the defect is resolved.
The suspension order affects 36,000 Toyota cars, trucks and minivans in the U.S.—about 13% of inventory on dealer lots—according to spokesman John Hanson, and dealers in Mexico, Korea, Israel and other countries have also been affected.
Toyota’s car difficulties do not end there.
On Wednesday, Feb. 12, the company recalled over 700,000 Prius hybrid vehicles in North America because of a software glitch that could cause them to stall. Again, no accidents or injuries were reported thankfully, but these are just two of the many recalls that have plagued Toyota since 2009.
Fortunately, these mechanical issues were caught before any real damage occurred…
Victims who have been gravely hurt as the result of a negligent manufacturer are strongly encouraged to schedule a consultation with a Denver-based car accident attorney to find out if they are entitled to compensation. Don’t wait too long or your claim might expire.