Toyota Issues Recall for Vehicles with Defective Takata Airbag

Toyota has sent out notices required by The National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act notifying vehicle owners that there could be problems with the passenger side airbag. We suggest that if you have not received a notice you may want to do a quick check on your vehicle just to be sure.

My recall notice that I just received in the mail states:

“These vehicles are equipped with front passenger airbag inflators produced by Takata. The propellant in these inflators may degrade after prolonged exposure to high absolute humidity and fluctuating high temperatures. Degraded propellant can cause inflator rupture during airbag deployment. In the event of an inflator rupture, metal fragments could pass through the airbag cushion material, striking the vehicle occupants, and result in serious injury or death”.

All recall work must be done by your Toyota or Lexus dealer.

The current list of Toyota’s and Lexus we found:

2011 - Sienna

2010 - 2011 -4Runner

2009 - 2011 Corolla

2009 - Matrix

2008 - 2011 Scion XB

2007 - 2011 Yaris Sedan

2006 - 2011 Yaris Hatchbatch

2005 -2007 Lexus SC Coupe

2002–2010 Lexus SC430

2006–2011 Lexus IS

2007–2011 Lexus ES

2010–2011 Lexus GX

There could be other models recalled, please check using the information below.

Questions, call the Toyota Customer Experience at 1 800-331-4331 or Lexus Customer Satisfaction 1 800-255-3987.

Here is also a link where you can put in your vehicles VIN # to check for recall. You will need your full 17 digit VIN #.

http://www.toyota.com/recall

On my particular vehicle a 2011 Scion XB the letter states: "Toyota is currently preparing a remedy for this problem and will send further notification when the remedy becomes available". In my letter Toyota has advised me that:

 “Until the remedy becomes available, we recommend that you do not operate the vehicle with an occupant in the front passenger seat”.

The regular maintenance of changing your oil, brake, transmission and power steering flushes at regular intervals are the most important things you can do for your car to keep it running longer.

12 Steps to Having a Greener Car

Whether you’re driving around in a vehicle that’s old or new, large or small everyone can do a better job at “greening” up your car. We can all make our cars a bit more environmentally friendly by following some simple preventive maintenance steps that in turn will save you money in the long run.

1 - Keep your car tuned up: Changing the spark plugs in your car will help improve its gas mileage and reduce emissions. Can improve your gas mileage by up to 4% with a proper tune up

2 - Check and replace dirty air filters: A clogged air filter chokes off the air and can affect the overall performance of your car.

3 - Maintain the cooling system: Having your coolant, radiator, water pump and fan checked on a regular basis (at every oil change)

4 - Air Conditioning maintenance: Your vehicle’s air conditioning system should be inspected on a yearly basis

5 - Vehicle fuel system: your car’s fuel filter should be changed every 2 years or 24,000 miles. (varies with manufacturer and make)

6 - Emission systems: Exhaust and pollutants emissions are cut down by an array of sensors, computerized engine controls and exhaust components. Your technician has diagnostic computers to help determine if there are issues with your emissions

7 - Gas cap: A cracked or loose gas cap allows gas fumes to escape wasting fuel and polluting the air

8 - Tire checks: Maintaining proper tire pressure can improve gas mileage by over 3%

9 - Lighten the load: Carrying around a car full of junk causes an increase in gas usage.

10 - Drive smart: Avoid sudden stops and starts and stay close to the speed limit. Aggressive driving, rapid acceleration, speeding and braking can cause a loss of over 30% in gas mileage

11 - Oil changes: Regular oil changes help keep your car's engine running smoother and will increase the life of your car

12 - Brake, power steering and transmission flushes: Dirt, moisture, rust and corrosion can be kept at bay with regular flushes helping keep your vehicle on the road longer and with fewer repairs.

Maintain and repair your vehicle as needed. Regular service and maintenance is the most important thing you can do for your car to keep it running better and longer.

Pictured below is the sludge build up from not having regular oil changes costing the customer a very expensive valve job.

Information provided by The Car Care Council

Most Common Car Problems to Leave you Stranded on the Side of the Road

Driving along and all of a sudden you have car failure leaving you on the side of the road is one of the most uncomfortable things that can happen. Often times as car owners this happens because we have the “ignore it and it will go away” attitude about our cars. Who needs the expense and hassle of making the time for repairs sometimes comes all too easy. However many times breakdowns can be avoided if we just keep up with the regular maintenance on our vehicles.

Here are the 8 most common reasons for your vehicle to breakdown.

• Engine - often times breakdown stems from lack of maintenance, oil changes and tune ups.
• Belts - old belts wear out and break, need to be checked for wear and replacement. Timing belt replaced.
• Transmission - lack of service, transmission flushes as needed
• Cooling system - cracked hoses, leaking water pumps or radiator
• Electrical systems - battery and alternator failure, bad switches, relays or starter. The summer heat is particularly hard on your car's battery
• Brakes - pads and shoes needed to checked for wear. Brake flushes as needed.
• Tires - should be rotated and checked on a regular basis
• Suspension or steering - Shocks, tie rods, ball joints, bushing and control arms are subject to wear and breakdown.

So these are the 8 areas that breakdowns occur most frequently. Most of these breakdown issues can be avoided by coming in for regular oil changes. During every oil change our technician will perform a safety check on your vehicle with a visual examination on all these areas that are subject for failure.

The regular maintenance of changing your oil, brake, transmission and power steering flushes at regular intervals are the most important things you can do for your car to keep it running longer.