For two reasons
In just a few days, Toyota recalled more than half a million vehicles. A total of 661,663 pickups and SUVs are potentially affected, with both recalls related to transmissions.
The largest recall covers about 381,000 Tacoma pickups built in 2022 and 2023, according to Toyota. The company said in a statement that there may be welding residue on parts of the rear axle. This can cause the lock nuts to become loose and possibly come loose. It is obvious that vehicle stability and braking performance may deteriorate.
There are currently no reports of accidents or injuries that may have occurred. The official announcement of the recall and related documents from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) have not yet been released. Toyota dealers will inspect the rear axle assembly for loose components and tighten or replace parts as necessary. Owners will be notified of the problem starting in April.
The second recall covers 281,663 Toyota Tundras (including Tundra Hybrid) and Lexus LX600s from 2022 to 2024, and Sequoias built from 2023 to 2024. They may experience unexpected movement when shifting into neutral. According to Toyota, the clutch plates in the transmission may not disengage immediately in neutral. This can cause the vehicle to slowly slide forward at speeds of up to 7 km/h. Toyota doesn't mention any injuries or collisions related to this problem, but there have already been at least five complaints and one warranty claim.
Updating the transmission ECU software should resolve the problem.