Toyota recalls nearly 100,000 U.S. vehicles over braking concerns

[News_Editor]

Toyota recalls nearly 100,000 U.S. vehicles over braking concerns

2010-12-14 00:55:50 GMT+7 (ICT)

TORRANCE, CALIFORNIA (BNO NEWS) -- Toyota on Monday announced it is initiating a voluntary safety recall of nearly 100,000 vehicles in the United States to replace the car's stop lamp switch bracket.

The company said it will voluntarily recall approximately 94,000 Sienna vehicles with the model year 2011. They were all produced before early November 2010 and will need a replacement of the stop lamp (brake light) switch bracket.

"Due to the proximity of the stop lamp switch bracket to the parking brake pedal when the parking brake is fully applied, the stop lamp switch bracket could, in limited circumstances, be deformed by the driver's foot during parking brake operation," Toyota said in a statement to announce the recall.

The stop lamp switch bracket is welded on to the left side of the brake pedal support assembly and provides a signal that indicates the brake pedal has been depressed and illuminates the brake lights.

Depending on the amount of bracket deformation, this condition could cause the brake lights to remain on or, if the deformation is significant, the brakes could become partially engaged due to contact from the bracket, resulting in brake drag with associated brake noise, brake vibration, and/or illumination of the brake warning light. If this condition is not noticed and the vehicle continues to be driven, braking effectiveness could be reduced.

Toyota said it does not believe any other Toyota or Lexus vehicles are at risk and said it is not aware of any actual accidents or injuries relating to the condition.

Owners of the involved vehicles will receive an interim notification advising them of this recall by first class mail beginning in mid-January 2011, along with instructions for what to do if they experience this condition and how to minimize the possibility of inadvertently contacting the stop lamp switch bracket while operating the parking brake. The information will also be posted on its website.

Owners will receive a second notice by first class mail in approximately late February, once replacement parts become available, and asked to make an appointment with any Toyota dealer to have the remedy performed at no charge.

Toyota dealers will then replace the bracket assembly, which includes the stop lamp switch bracket, with a new one that has been redesigned to take into account the proximity of the component to the parking brake pedal.

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