Toyota Minivans Recalled

There are about 600,000 Toyota Sienna minivans being recalled by Toyota Motor Sales. The models that are being recalled are 1998-2010. They are being recalled to "address potential corrosion in the spare tire carrier cable." The recall covers 2 wheel drive minivans that come with a spare tire and driven in cold climates with high road salt usage. Vehicles currently registered in Washington DC and the following states are involved in this recall. Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, and West Virginia.

Toyota has said something that everyone should read about their minivans. "Continued prolonged exposure to road salts may cause excessive corrosion of the carrier cable in some of these vehicles. In worst case, the carrier cable may fail and the spare tire could become separated from the vehicle, a road hazard for following vehicles that increases the likelihood of a crash."

Toyota is sending notices to their Sienna customers instructing them to bring their vehicle to a dealership for a free inspection. If a Toyota Sienna owner has already paid for the repair of his or her tire carrier cable for this problem before having received Toyota’s notification. Toyota wants the owner of the car to send in a copy of the repair order, proof-of-payment, and proof-of-ownership.