By Nora Naughton, Crain News Service
DETROIT (May 23, 2014) — Toyota Motor Corp. is recalling 466,000 vehicles globally, including about 460,500 in North America, for rust corrosion and brake pedal problems, the auto maker said today.
The North American recall includes 10,500 2013 Lexus GS sedans in the U.S. and Canada and 450,000 2004-11 Sienna minivans in colder climate salt belt regions.
The recalled Siennas are at risk for rust corrosion in the spare tire assembly cable, caused by faulty water splash protectors, which can stem from the protectors' placement or the protectors coming loose from the vehicle without warning. The corrosion is caused by high concentrations of road salt, which reaches the spare tire assembly cable when the splash protectors fail.
Some of the recalled 2004-10 Siennas were also involved in an April 2010 recall, which included the addition of a water splash protector and an anti-rust agent. These vehicles may have insufficient rust protection.
Toyota has not determined when owners of affected Siennas will be notified, Toyota spokesman John Hanson said.
The GS units are being recalled because the brake system incorrectly detects the brake pedal force. The problem stems from a manufacturing error at the company's plant in Tahara, Japan, the company said.
When brake pedal force is incorrectly detected, the vehicle may slow without warning and brake lamps may not illuminate.
Affected Lexus GS owners will be notified next month, Hanson said.
There have been no accidents or injuries associated with the recalls, he said.
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This report appeared on autonews.com, the website of Automotive News, a Detroit-based sister publication of Tire Business.
