Toyota Recalls Nearly 17,000 Vehicles in Canada Over Engine Safety Issue

Toyota has issued a recall for nearly 17,000 vehicles in Canada due to an engine issue that could cause the vehicles to stall while driving, posing a safety risk.

Certain vehicles equipped with a 3.4-litre twin-turbo engine may not have been manufactured properly and metal debris could cause the crankshaft bearings to fail as a result, a recall notice posted by Transport Canada says. The notice was first issued on May 20 and was updated on May 21.

“If this happens, the engine may run rough or may not start. This could also cause the engine to stall while driving,” the recall notice says.

A sudden loss of power to the wheels could lead to an increased risk of a crash, the notice adds.

The recall applies to 16,898 vehicles with the affected models including the 2024 Lexus GX 550, the 2023 and 2024 Lexus LX 600, and the 2023 and 2024 Toyota Tundra.

Toyota will notify affected owners by mail, adding that the corrective actions for this recall are “under development,” Transport Canada says.

Vehicle owners can call Toyota at 1-888-869-6828 for more information or check Toyota’s recall website to see if the recall applies to their vehicle.

Transport Canada notes that this recall supersedes a previous recall notice the federal agency posted last November.

Other Defects

Toyota had issued a recall earlier this month for more than 100,000 vehicles in Canada due to a defect in the suspension arm that could lead to a loss of control while driving.

The initial recall was published in August 2012, but Transport Canada posted a revised version of the recall on May 1.

If the rear wheel alignment toe adjustment locking nuts on some vehicles are improperly tightened during a field alignment, backlash could develop in the threaded portion of the suspension arm, and rust could form, the notice says.

Should this occur, threads may wear and cause the arm to separate, which could result in a loss of control of the vehicle, the notice adds.

Vehicles affected by the recall include the 2010 Toyota Lexus HS 250h and the Toyota RAV4 for the six model years from 2006 to 2011.

Vehicle dealers will inspect the arms and verify the tightening torque of the lock nuts, or replace the arms, as necessary, Transport Canada says.

Toyota also recalled 39,897 of its Highlander SUV models in Canada in March over a manufacturing defect that could cause seats to shift during a collision. Vehicle owners with the recalled models were warned against using the second-row seats to drive passengers until the repairs were completed.

In addition, the company also recalled 19,399 Prius models in January due to a risk of the rear doors opening while the vehicle is in motion. It also recalled more than 12,000 Tundra trucks the same month due to an issue with the rear-view cameras that could increase the risk of a crash.

Jennifer Cowan contributed to this report.