NEW YORK, April 11, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP is
investigating Toyota Motor Corporation ("Toyota") in
connection with its recently announced recall affecting a total of
6.39 million vehicles globally and more than 1.6 million vehicles
in North America. Pomerantz is investigating claims involving
the following impacted models, regarding the vehicular defects
described below:
- Model Year 2009-2010 Corolla, 2009-2010 Matrix, 2008-2010
Highlander, 2009-2010 Tacoma, 2006-2008 RAV4 and 2006-2010 Yaris
vehicles.
The driver's airbag module in the involved vehicles is attached to
a spiral cable assembly with electrical connections that could
become damaged when the steering wheel is turned. If this
occurs, the air bag warning lamp will illuminate. In
addition, the driver's air bag could become deactivated, causing it
to not deploy in the event of a crash.
- Model Year 2006-2010 Yaris Hatchback, Model Year 2007-2010
Yaris Sedan, and Model Year 2008-2010 Scion xD
vehicles.
In the seat rail of the driver seat of the involved vehicles and
also the front passenger seat of three-door models, the springs
used for the mechanism which lock the seat rail in its adjusting
positions could break. This can happen if the seat is adjusted
forward and/or rearward with high frequency. If a seat rail
spring breaks, the seat may not lock into the adjusted
position. If the vehicle is operated with a broken seat rail
spring, the seat could move in the event of a crash, increasing the
risk of injury to the occupant.
- Model Year 2003-2004 Avalon sedans.
Certain circuits within the airbag control module may be
susceptible to damage if exposed to electrical noise from other
electrical components. In some instances, front airbag(s) and/or
seat belt pre-tensioners could inadvertently deploy.
- Model Year 2010-2014 Prius, Model Year 2012 Toyota RAV4,
2012-2013 Toyota Tacoma, and 2012-2013 Lexus RX 350
vehicles.
- Toyota will update the motor/generator control ECU and hybrid
control ECU software on certain Model Year 2010-2014 Prius
vehicles. The software's current settings could result in
higher thermal stress in certain transistors, potentially causing
them to become damaged. If this happens, various warning lights
will illuminate and the vehicle can enter a failsafe mode. In rare
circumstances, the hybrid system might shut down while the vehicle
is being driven, resulting in the loss of power and the vehicle
coming to a stop. Toyota will update the skid control ECU
software on certain 2012 Toyota RAV4, 2012-2013 Toyota Tacoma, and
2012-2013 Lexus RX 350 models in order to address an electronic
circuit condition that can cause the Vehicle Stability Control,
Anti-lock Brake, and Traction Control functions to intermittently
turn off. If these systems are off, standard braking operation
remains fully functional.
These
recalls come on the heels of Toyota's agreement to pay a
$1.2 billion fine––the largest of
its kind––to settle a criminal probe for hiding safety defects from
the public in 2009-2010.
If you purchased, owned or leased one or more of the affected
models, please contact Robert S.
Willoughby at rswilloughby@pomlaw.com or 888-476-6529, ext.
237.
The Pomerantz Firm, with offices in New York, Chicago, San
Diego and Florida, is
acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate,
securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late
Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the
dean of the class action bar, the Pomerantz Firm pioneered the
field of securities class actions. Today, more than 70 years later,
the Pomerantz Firm continues in the tradition he established,
fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud,
breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has
recovered numerous multimillion
SOURCE Pomerantz LLP