CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES HAVE A CHILD PROTECTION LOCK (CPL) SYSTEM ON BOTH OF THE REAR SIDE DOORS. WHEN AN OPERATOR OF THE VEHICLE CLOSES THE DOOR VERY HARD WITH THE CPL LEVER SET TO THE LOCK POSITION, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE LEVER MAY CONTACT THE BODY PANEL, CAUSING THE CPL LEVER TO MOVE INTO THE UNLOCK POSITION.
Safety risk
THIS CONDITION COULD ALLOW THE DOOR TO BE OPENED WITH THE INSIDE WHILE THE OPERATOR BELIEVES THAT THE CPL WAS ACTIVATED. IF THE DOOR WERE OPENED FROM THE INSIDE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, AN OCCUPANT COULD FALL OUT AND BE INJURED.
Manufacturer remedy
DEALERS WILL SHORTEN THE CPL LEVER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MAY 7, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.
Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly: mounting
Manufacturer
TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Vehicles affected
154,593
Reported to NHTSA
2002-07-30
Owners notified
2002-08-23
Defect description
ON SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THERE IS A BREATHER HOSE THAT ATTACHES TO THE NOZZLE OF THE ON-BOARD REFUELING VAPOR RECOVERY (ORVR) VALVE, WHICH IS LOCATED ON THE TOPSIDE OF THE FUEL TANK. THE BREATHER HOSE IS ATTACHED WITH A CLAMP, WHOSE "TABS" FACE IN THE UPWARD DIRECTION. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS CRASHED UNDER THE NEW CAR ASSESSMENT PROGRAM (NCAP) TEST (I.E., 35 MPH FRONTAL BARRIER CRASH), THE CLAMP "TABS" CONTACTED THE UNDERSIDE OF THE BODY DUE TO MOVEMENT OF THE FUEL TANK, CAUSING THE NOZZLE TO BREAK.
Safety risk
IN THE WORST CASE, NOZZLE BREAKAGE COULD RESULT IN FUEL LEAKAGE IF THE VEHICLE ROLLS-OVER AFTER A HIGH SPEED FRONTAL CRASH.
Manufacturer remedy
DEALERS WILL ROTATE THE SPECIFIED CLAMP. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 23, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.
Owner complaints
A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.
Component
Complaints
Median mileage
Visibility
108
58,000 mi
Vehicle speed control
29
61,000 mi
Structure
23
50,000 mi
Visibility/wiper
16
80,000 mi
Unknown or other
14
10,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine
11
77,000 mi
Electrical system
10
97,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling
10
41,000 mi
Air bags
9
87,393 mi
Exterior lighting
9
100,000 mi
Engine
7
140,000 mi
Power train
7
99,000 mi
Power train: automatic transmission
6
77,754 mi
Equipment
5
87,900 mi
Tires
5
30,000 mi
Equipment: appliance: air conditioner
4
69,000 mi
Service brakes
4
100,000 mi
Air bags: frontal
3
33,500 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system
3
20,000 mi
Service brakes, electric
3
49,500 mi
Suspension
3
105,000 mi
Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system
3
90,000 mi
Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system: windshield: electrical heating element
3
89,000 mi
Visibility: windshield
3
65,000 mi
Electronic stability control (ESC)
2
55,000 mi
Exterior lighting: headlights
2
1 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic
2
100,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
The 2001 model has 2 times as many complaints as this one. The 2003 model has roughly the same number of complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.
Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.