Toyota Seatbelt Problem Prompts Highlander Recall

Toyota is calling back a small number of Highlander sport utility vehicles because of a serious problem with seatbelts. 

The SUVs’ third-row center seatbelts may not function properly, Toyota recently told federal auto safety regulators. The company said an installation snafu is to blame.

“The subject vehicles are equipped with a 3rd row center seatbelt assembly that includes an anchor to the roof,” Toyota said in a defect notice. “The bolt attaching this anchor to the roof may have been installed at an improper angle.”

That puts anyone in those seats at risk. “If this occurs, this anchor bolt may slip or loosen, which may cause the seatbelt to not properly restrain the occupant, leading to an increased risk of injury to the occupant in the event of a crash,” Toyota said.

The recall covers fewer than 40 Highlander and Highlander Hybrid SUVs from model years 2024 and 2025. Toyota plans to notify owners of recalled SUVs by Feb. 14. The company will ask owners to bring their cars to authorized service providers for inspection and repair.

“The dealers will remove the upper seatbelt anchor bolt, clean the threads of the weld nut, replace the bolt with a new one, and torque to proper specification, free of charge,” Toyota said in the notice, filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Safety Issues for Toyota Drivers

This is far from the only safety issue facing Toyota and anyone who drives its cars. Toyota and other major automakers call back millions of vehicles every year, citing significant defects that increase safety risks.

The company late last year added some 127,000 Tundra pickup trucks and Lexus sport utility vehicles to an existing recall over an engine defect, for instance. The vehicles’ engines could be contaminated with road debris, which could cause them to stall abruptly and without warning, according to Toyota.

The move came months after Toyota recalled 6,000 Tacoma pickup trucks, citing a defect in certain vehicles with four-wheel drive. The trucks’ driveshaft joints could break, limiting the vehicles’ ability to turn or shift into park, Toyota said at the time.

How the California Lemon Law Works

Fortunately, Toyota and other car owners and lessors in California have some important rights and protections under the state’s lemon law.

The law requires car manufacturers to perform various repairs on vehicles while they are under warranty. It also forces the companies to buy back (or replace, in some situations) cars that they cannot or will not fix.

A manufacturer can offer, instead, to replace the vehicle, but it is up to the owner to accept or reject this alternative arrangement. 

Talk with a California Lemon Law Attorney

If you have been stuck with a defective or malfunctioning vehicle, a California lemon law attorney at Bickel Sannipoli APC can help you fight back.  

Call us at (888) 800-1983 or contact us online to speak with a California lemon law attorney.