Another week, another recall for Toyota, which this time, has announced a safety recall in the U.S. involving around 150,000 Tacoma pickup trucks from the 2001-2004 model years that were originally sold or are currently registered in the 20 cold climate states (see list below) and the District of Columbia.
The reason why the Japanese carmaker has issued the recall is that in these trucks, the spare tire stored underneath the rear bed is suspended on a metal lift plate, which according to Toyota, may not have been sufficiently coated with phosphate.
“The lack of phosphate coating combined with prolonged exposure to high road salt use and other environmental factors may contribute to the development of more than normal corrosion of the lift plate on some vehicles,” said the automaker, adding if eroded, the tire could fall off.
Toyota plans to notify owners about the recall with first class mail starting in December 2012, and if necessary, replace the spare tire carrier assembly on the affected trucks.
The 20 cold climate states are: Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin and West Virginia.
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