Toyota recall: tire-pressure warning problem

Toyota recall affects 22,000 SUVs with specialty wheels and tires. Tire-pressure monitoring system triggered Toyota recall.

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Toyota/Wieck/Newscom
A 2008 Toyota Land Cruiser is shown. The most recent Toyota recall includes Land Cruisers and other models that are accessorized with a certain type of wheel and tire.

The latest Toyota recall involves 22,000 sport-utility vehicles with a certain set of wheels and tires whose tire-pressure warning light may fail to illuminate.

Vehicles included in the recall are 2008 through 2011 models of the FJ Cruiser, Land Cruiser, Tacoma, Sequoia, and Tundra. Only those vehicles outfitted with Toyota Racing Development wheels and tires are affected.

The problem was caused because the tire-pressure monitoring systems were not recalibrated properly, so the warning light may not go on when tires are underinflated.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration warns that tires that aren't properly inflated can increase the chance of crashing. Drivers who depend on the dashboard light for notification may be at risk.

Owners can take their vehicles to a dealership to have the system re-calibrated, free of charge.

"It's like a software change," explained John Hanson, a spokesperson for Toyota.

Since 2008, NHTSA has required all four-wheel vehicles weighing less than 10,000 pounds to include a system for monitoring tire pressure. Mr. Hanson said that because the problem violates the safety code, it is considered a safety issue. So far, there haven't been any reported accidents, he added.

Toyota will send a notification by mail to people whose cars are affected. For more information, owners can call Toyota at this toll-free number: 800-331-4331.

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