The Recall Desk
Our severity:SevereNHTSA·16V596000·Announced 2016-08-12

Toyota Recalls RAV4 and Lexus HS 250h for Rear Suspension Defect

Toyota is recalling 2006-2011 RAV4 and 2010 Lexus HS 250h vehicles because improperly tightened rear suspension arms may fail, causing loss of vehicle control.

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 recall involves a structural vehicle defect (rear suspension arm failure) that could cause loss of vehicle control and increase the risk of a crash, meeting the criteria for a Severe rating.

Plain-English summary

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing is recalling certain model year 2006-2011 Toyota RAV4 vehicles and 2010 Lexus HS 250h vehicles. The affected vehicles were manufactured between October 31, 2005, and September 7, 2010, for the RAV4, and between July 6, 2009, and August 26, 2010, for the HS 250h. The recall involves approximately 337,449 vehicles.

The defect involves rear suspension arms (rear tie rods) with adjusting lock nuts that may have been improperly tightened after servicing. If loose, the arm may suffer thread damage and rust, potentially leading to failure of the arm and an abrupt change in the vehicle's alignment. Failure of the rear tie rod could cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace both rear suspension arms and encapsulate the locknuts free of charge. The recall began on September 30, 2016. This recall supersedes recall 13V-383, where some vehicles were only inspected and sealed but did not have both arms replaced. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331 or the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236.

The recalled product

Product
TOYOTA, LEXUS RAV4, HS 250 HYBRID
Brand
TOYOTA
Manufacturer
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing
Category
Vehicle — SUV / Crossover
Hazard
Affected units
337,449

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 (2)

  • RAV4
  • HS 250 HYBRID

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

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