Toyota Recalls 412,000 Cars Over Steering

By: Rob Adams
Staff Writer
Published: Jul 29, 2010

Toyota recalls another 412,000 cars in the U.S. for steering problems.

Toyota recalls 412,000 cars over steering problems. The recalls affect 412,000 cars in the United States due to steering problems. Japan recalls another 16,000 Toyota cars for the same problem.

The total number of recalled vehicles is 428,420 that consist of passenger cars. The 2000 through 2004 Avalons make up 373,000 of these cars. They have improper casting of the steering lock bar - a component for the steering system - causing cracks to develop on the surface.

In some cases, the crack can cause the lock bar to break, potentially leading to a crash if the steering wheel locks, stated the car makers. Thus far, no injuries have been reported from the accidents that may be caused by the defect. Lexus luxury model LX 470s for the 2003-2007 model years make up 39,000 of these recalls due to a steering shaft problem, which is different from the Avalon steering problem, according to Toyota.

The recalls with Toyota seem to be never ending, ever since October of last year. It is a crisis that has damaged Toyota's reputation for quality and customer service. Toyota currently faces more than 200 lawsuits in the U.S. tied to accidents involving defective automobiles, the lower resale value of Toyota vehicles, and a drop in its stock value. "Toyota is continuing to work diligently to address safety issues, wherever they arise and to strengthen our global quality assurance operations so that Toyota owners can be confident in the safety of their vehicles," Steve St. Angelo, Toyota chief quality officer for North America, said in a statement.