NEWS:   Toyota recalls 22,000 vehicles over tire pressure monitors

DETROIT NEWS -- March 5,  2011 – Toyota Motor Corp. said Saturday is recalling 22,000 SUVs and pickups that have faulty tire pressure monitoring systems — the latest safety campaign issued by the Japanese automaker.

The recall covers some versions of 2008-2011 Toyota FJ Cruiser, Land Cruiser, Sequoia, Tacoma and Tundra vehicles.

Under federal regulations, the vehicle's tire pressure monitoring systems must warn the driver not more than 20 minutes after the inflation pressure in a tire is equal to or less than either the pressure 25 percent below the recommended pressure.

Toyota said the recall covers accessory wheels approved by Toyota that were installed at vehicle processing centers prior to distribution to dealers or by dealers prior to first sale.

When the tires were changed, the tire pressure monitoring systems were not recalibrated correctly and do not start illuminating the low tire pressure warning sign at the required minimum activation pressure, Toyota said.

Toyota will reset the system in most of the vehicles so they alert drivers as required.

For the FJ Cruiser, the tire pressure monitoring system computer module will be changed because it cannot be reset.

Toyota spokesman .. said Saturday that the company is unaware of any crashes or injuries related to the tire pressure system recall.

Toyota hasn't decided on a recall schedule yet.

Toyota has recalled 2.45 million vehicles this year in five campaigns after leading all automakers in recalls in 2009 and 2010, with about 11.8 million vehicles called back over the two-year period.

Last month, Toyota issued three separate recall campaigns for 2.17 million for pedal entrapment issues. The recalls ended the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's year-long investigation into whether Toyota had recalled enough vehicles connected to sudden unintended acceleration issues.

MORE RECALL INFO: 

• Toyota FJ Cruiser
• Toyota Land Cruiser
• Toyota Sequoia
• Toyota Tacoma
• Toyota Tundra

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MARCH 2011 -- Toyota is recalling certain model year 2008 through 2011 FJ Cruiser, Land Cruiser, Tacoma, Sequoia and Tundra vehicles for failing to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 138, "Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)." When factory-installed wheels and tires were replaced with Toyota authorized accessory wheels and LT tires prior to first sale, the tire pressure monitoring systems were not re-calibrated correctly and therefore do not start illuminating the low tire pressure warning telltale at the required minimum activation pressure. Failure to warn of tire deflations is a non-compliance with FMVSS 138 and could lead to tire failure increasing the risk of a crash. For the land cruiser, sequoia, Tacoma and tundra vehicles, the dealer will re-calibrate the tire pressure monitoring system on affected vehicles and install an updated tire and loading information label at no charge. For the FJ cruiser vehicles, the TPMS cannot be reset so the electronic control unit (ECU) for the TPMS will be replaced. Toyota is currently developing the remedy ECU. If an owner is not certain whether his or her vehicle is equipped with these accessories, please contact any Toyota dealer for an inspection at no charge. The safety recall began on March 31, 2011.   11V-148

JUNE 2009 -- Toyota is recalling 1,281 Model Year 2006 through 2009 Sienna, 2004 Land Cruiser, and 2009 Lexus GX passenger vehicles. The vehicle capacity weight on the tire and loading information label and the GVWR on the certification label is insufficient for certain vehicles. Some vehicles were accessorized through vehicle processing centers and had accessories installed that caused the vehicle to exceed the GVWR value. These vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 110, "Tire Selection and Rims," and 49 CFR Part 567. The GVWR is insufficient for the load carrying capacity of the vehicles. Toyota will notify owners instructing them to return their vehicle to a Toyota or Lexus dealer for an exchange of the certification label and the tire and loading information label, an installation of the load carrying capacity modification label, if necessary, and a correction to the owner's manual. This remedy will be performed free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin during July 2009.  09V-234

JUNE 2009 -- Toyota is recalling 1,348 Model Year 2009 and 2010 passenger cars built from June 2, 2008 to May 4, 2009. These vehicles were not equipped with load carrying capacity modification labels which fails to conform with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 110, "Tire Selection and Rims." Incorrect load carrying capacity modification labels could result in the vehicle being overloaded, increasing the risk of a crash. Toyota will notify owners and provide them with a new, accurate label to be installed over the inaccurate label free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin during July 2009. 09V-223