Lemon Law News – Peeling Sensor Insulation Leads to Toyota, Lexus Recalls
Lemon Laws Protect Auto Consumers
Toyota Motor Engineering and Manufacturing will recall almost 50,000 vehicles containing defective airbag sensors.
Toyota notified the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on Jan. 31, 2018 they will recall 48,672 2016 Toyota Prius, 2015-2016 Lexus NX and 2016 Lexus RX vehicles built between May 7, 2015 and Jan. 13, 2016.
Think you have a lemon, click here to fill out a 60 second form.
The affected vehicles contain airbag systems containing pressure sensors and/or acceleration sensors that detect impact. Two separate manufacturing issues can cause the sensors’ insulation layers to peel away over time, creating an open circuit in the chips. This can activate the airbag warning light and cause both the frontal airbag and/or the side curtain shield airbags to not deploy in a crash situation, increasing injury risk.
Toyota first received reports of airbag warning light illumination in October 2015, both from the Japanese and U.S. markets. Investigation at that time found the sensor insulation layer peeling off. Toyota initially focused on problems originating from Asian markets as the problem was more widespread in that market. By June 2016, the company surmised a regional factor in the U.S. contributed to a low rate of insulation layer peeling.
As of April 2017, there were only three confirmed cases of sensor insulation later peeling in the U.S. Further investigation found that variances in the phosphorus and boron concentration within the insulation material can cause peeling. The company decided on Jan. 25, 2018 to conduct a recall.
Toyota will notify owners and dealers will replace the sensors as necessary based on their serial numbers free of charge. The recall is expected to begin March 12, 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota’s numbers for this recall are JLA, J0F. Toyota owners can also visit the NHTSA’s website and enter their VIN to see if their vehicle is included in any recalls.
Your vehicle’s manufacturer is legally required to fix any recalled problems for free. If the dealership refuses to fix the part or tries to charge you for the repair, contact the manufacturer immediately. The Highway Safety Act of 1970, which created the NHTSA, requires car manufacturers to pay for the recall and replacement of a defective part.
If the manufacturer fails to repair, replace, repurchase, or provide the loss value of your recalled vehicle, they are violating the warranty and a lawyer may be able to assist you.
Lemon law attorneys help their clients by dealing directly with the manufacturer on the clients’ behalf, working to promptly resolve the issue and get their clients back on the road. Thanks to the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, attorneys can seek their fees directly from the manufacturer, meaning a client can obtain legal counsel without having to pay attorneys’ fees directly out of pocket.
Think you have a lemon, click here to fill out a 60 second form.
Please consider adding lemonlawusa.org to your bookmarks or sign up for our free subscription service allowing you to keep up with the latest information about automotive recalls and warranty information.