More than 100,000 utes are involved in the first major recall involving Toyota Australia since the world's largest carmaker was first hit by global safety and quality problems last year.
Toyota managed to dodge the accelerator dramas which led to the recall of more than eight million vehicles globally but it has been forced to a local recall after 16 owners reported a significant HiLux fault in Australia. It involves the tailshaft support bracket in the four-wheel drive version of the HiLux, which can fail and potentially lead to the tailshaft hitting the road.
Toyota says there have been no reports of crashes. In all, 116,000 HiLux four-wheel drives, built in Thailand from January 2005 to February 2010, are involved in the recall.
It comes as Ford Australia recalls the PJ and PJ-model Ranger to have the bonnet striker replaced and also to fix the shift cable bracket on the PJ Ranger.
Toyota's troubles in the US continued this week with a recall for the Matrix and Corolla over a computer problem which can potentially affect the engine. The cars are not sold in Australia.
Toyota Australia spokesperson Laura Hill said the effected vehicles had come from country New South Wales. "People who frequently cross very severe road conditions, mining companies have these conditions as well, but we believe there will only be a small number of vehicles that will need the new cross member, the bulk of the vehicles recalled will be fitted with the new brackets," she said.
All vehicles will be inspected at Toyota dealerships with two courses of action. If no damage is found the company said it will install a reinforcing brackets - a three-hour job - or if damage to the cross-member is found, the rear tray would have to be removed for a new modified cross member, which could take as long as two days.
The issue is apparently most likely to occur in rural areas if the vehicle is frequently accelerated or decelerated quickly under extreme conditions on rough roads. The high loads that are put on the drivetrain - severely corrugated roads or cattle grids - may force the rear tailshaft centre bearing support brackets to give way.
Hilux owners yesterday said they had not yet been contacted by Toyota. Mark Hennessey, of Hennessey Constructions in South Australia, bought a new HiLux single-cab 4WD turbodiesel, his first new vehicle in mid-2009 under the Federal Government's small business investment company vehicle allowance scheme.
"I've not been contacted by Toyota yet but I haven't had any problems with mine, it's the third one I've had and it carries a pretty big load most of the time," he said. Mr Hennessey said Toyota normally dealt well with recalls on vehicles used for business.
"It wouldn't be a good thing to have it off the road for a couple of days, but sometimes you can get loan car from them, but maybe not with something this big," he said. Shane Plumridge, owner of two Ultra Tune service centres in Queensland, bought a turbo-diesel 4WD HiLux last year and has not experienced any problems.
"However, we've just had a look underneath at the tailshaft centre bearing support bracket and it looks like a cheap piece of metal that has been bent into shape," he said. "It looks like it would be strong enough for a two-wheel drive, but maybe not a four-wheel drive.
"My stores are in city areas, although we do have some rural customers, but we havent heard of any problems. "The'yre still one of the most reliable cars on the road and one of the most popular 4WDs." He said Toyota had not yet sent him a recall notification.
