The Recall Desk
Our severity:SevereNHTSA·10V160000·Announced 2010-04-20

Toyota Recalls Sienna Minivans for Spare Tire Cable Corrosion Risk

Toyota is recalling 1998-2010 Sienna minivans in specific states because road salt can corrode the spare tire cable, potentially causing the tire to fall off.

What this means for you

Our assessment, not the agency’s: severity 4/5 (Severe).

The hazard poses a serious risk of illness, injury, or structural failure. Stop using the product immediately and contact the manufacturer for a refund or repair.

Our severity reasoning: The source text explicitly states that the defect may result in a vehicle crash, which aligns with the rubric criterion for 'significant injury/property-damage reports' or structural defects leading to severe outcomes.

Plain-English summary

Toyota Motor North America, Inc. is recalling certain model year 1998 through 2010 Toyota Sienna passenger vehicles. These vehicles were manufactured between August 7, 1997, and January 4, 2010, and are currently registered in or originally sold in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, District of Columbia, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. The affected vehicles are equipped with a spare tire stowed under the vehicle.

The recall addresses a defect where water splashed backwards with high concentrations of road salt can reach the spare tire carrier in cold climate regions. This exposure can corrode the spare tire carrier assembly cable. If the cable breaks due to excessive corrosion, the spare tire may separate from the vehicle, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash.

Toyota will notify owners with an interim letter instructing them to bring their vehicle to authorized dealers to inspect for corrosion. A second notice will be sent when the permanent remedy is available. The safety recall is expected to begin on October 12, 2010. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331 or the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236.

The recalled product

Product
TOYOTA SIENNA
Brand
TOYOTA
Manufacturer
TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Category
Vehicle — Minivan
Hazard
Affected units
600,000

Is your product affected?

Check your packaging against the codes below. If any of them match, the product is part of this recall.

Model numbers (1)

  • SIENNA

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

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