342,000 Toyota Tacoma trucks have been recalled over a faulty seat belt issue.
If you drive a Toyota Tacoma truck, take note. Torrance, CA-based Toyota Motor North America recently announced a voluntary recall of 342,000 Tacoma Access Cab vehicles made between 2004 and 2011 and sold at Toyota dealerships across the United States. The reason: Faulty seatbelts.
Trucks affected in the recall have screws that attach the seat belt pre-tensioner to the seat belt retractor within the seat belt assembly for the driver and front passenger. Over time and after extended periods of repeated and forceful closing of the access door, these screws can become loose. If they loosen completely, the seat belt pre-tensioner and the retractor spring cover could detach from the seat belt retractor, which can affect retractor and pre-tensioner performance. This can make your truck’s seatbelts less effective or even potentially dangerous.
Toyota is working to notify all registered owners of recalled Toyota Tacoma vehicles. If you’re one of them, check your mailbox for a letter or postcard sent by first class mail. However, you also can click here and enter your truck’s VIN number to find out if it’s among the recalled units. Your truck’s VIN number is a unique series of 17 numbers and letters located in one or more of several spots including:
- The lower-left corner of the dashboard, in front of the steering wheel
- At the front of the engine block, easily spotted by lifting the hood and looking at the front of the engine;
- At the front of the car frame, near the windshield washer fluid container;
- At a rear wheel well, directly above the tire;
- Inside the driver-side doorjamb, underneath where the side-view mirror would be located if the door was shut;
- At the driver-side doorpost, near the spot where the door latches, not too far from the seatbelt return;
- Underneath the spare tire.
If your truck is one of the 342,000 Tacomas recalled, take it to your nearest Toyota dealership and they’ll fix the problem free of charge. If you or your child has been hurt as a result of the faulty seatbelt, however, you may want to contact an attorney.
Auto manufacturers are held to high standards when it comes to designing and building safe vehicles that will transport our families to school, work, church, birthday parties, vacations and all the things that families enjoy together. And well they should. If you’ve had trouble with a recalled vehicle, post your advice on the E3 Spark Plugs Facebook FanPage.
