Safety regulators are looking into complaints from owners of 2006-2008 Toyota RAV4 who allege suspension failures on their vehicles.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said on its website that it has received seven complaints, all of which claim corrosion-related failure of the crossover’s left or right rear suspension arm, often referred to as a rear “tie rod” in consumer complaints and repair records.
“Four of these complaints allege the failure occurred while driving at speeds of 35 mph or greater causing a temporary loss of vehicle control,” said NHTSA in a document.
“Pictures provided by some complainants show the wheel adjacent to the failed component severely out of wheel alignment with respect to toe and camber,” the agency added.
NHTSA said that early warning data submitted by Toyota includes field reports “describing failure of rear suspension arm assembly no. 1 in the subject vehicles”.
The safety agency noted it has opened a preliminary investigation to assess the scope, frequency and consequences rear suspension failures in the subject vehicles, and will provide further details in due time.
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