NHTSA Launching New Investigation Into Toyota Truck Recall Delay

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration has launched yet another investigation into Toyota’s recall history, this time as a result of a recall surrounding the steering linkages of the 1989 to 1998 Toyota T-100 and 4Runner trucks. Having noticed the issue in 2004, Toyota announced a Japan-wide recall of all afflicted trucks in 2004, but waited until September of 2005 to do the same in North America.

The defect has allegedly caused 16 accidents resulting in three deaths and seven injuries. When questioned about the delay, Toyota cited differing North American driving cycles as the cause, apparently believing that North American driving habits would prevent the defect from affecting North American buyers. After 54 complaints were filed by North American owners, Toyota did notify the NHTSA of the defect in a timely manner, resulting in the recall in question.