Toyota is recalling about 370,000 Tacoma Access Cab trucks for potentially faulty seat belts, including 342,451 units in the United States, 27,000 in Canada, 60 in Germany and 10 in New Caledonia.
"If the access doors are repeatedly and forcefully closed, the screws that attach the seat belt pre-tensioner to the seat belt retractor can loosen over time. If the screws loosen completely, the seat belt pre-tensioner and the retractor spring cover could detach from the seat belt retractor," said NHTSA in its official press release. "If the seat belt pre-tensioner detaches from the seat belt assembly, the seat belt pre-tensioner will not perform as designed, increasing the risk of injury in a severe crash."
The affected vehicles were manufactured between 2004 and 2011. Toyota spokeswoman Cindy Knight also said no crashes or injuries have been reported in connection with this problem.
The recall will begin in the coming weeks and and dealers will inspect the seat belt assemblies. Based on the inspection, the seat belt assembly will be replaced or new pre-tensioner screws will be installed with thread-locking sealant and a retractor spring cover with stopper ribs to prevent loosening of the screws. These services will be provided at no cost to the owner. For more information, owners can contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331 or NHTSA at 1-888-327-4236.
