The defect
TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009 AND 2010 LEXUS LS460 AND LS600 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM AUGUST 20, 2009 THROUGH MAY 13, 2010. A PROGRAMMING CHANGE OF THE STEERING CONTROL ECU FOR THE VARIABLE GEAR RATIO STEERING (VGRS) SYSTEM CAN CAUSE IMPROPER ACTIVATION OF THE STEERING SYSTEM PROTECTION LOGIC DESIGNED TO PROTECT THE SYSTEM WHEN LARGER THAN NORMAL STEERING INPUTS ARE APPLIED AT A FULLY TURNED POSITION.
The risk
IMPROPER ACTIVATION OF THE STEERING SYSTEM PROTECTION LOGIC CAN CAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL TO BECOME OFF-CENTERED UP TO 90 DEGREES. THIS MAY OCCUR AFTER THE DRIVER HAS FULLY TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL IN ONE DIRECTION THEN QUICKLY ATTEMPTS TO TURN IT BACK TO THE CENTER POSITION. SHOULD THIS OCCUR WHILE DRIVING, THE RISK OF A CRASH IS INCREASED.
The remedy
TOYOTA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND LEXUS DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STEERING CONTROL ECU FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 12, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Lexus LS460 | 2009, 2010 |
| Lexus LS460L | 2009, 2010 |
| Lexus LS600h | 2010 |
| Lexus LS600HL | 2010 |
Components: STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lexus LS460 | 2009 | 10 | 2 |
| Lexus LS460 | 2010 | 17 | 2 |
| Lexus LS460L | 2009 | 1 | 2 |
| Lexus LS460L | 2010 | 7 | 2 |
| Lexus LS600HL | 2010 | 0 | 2 |
| Lexus LS600h | 2010 | 0 | 2 |
Other steering recalls in 2010
38 of the 647 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2010 concerned the steering; TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC. filed 95 campaigns in all.
| 10V657000 24 Dec 2010 | CHRYSLER GROUP LLC |
| 10V647000 21 Dec 2010 | CHAMPION BUS, INC. |
| 10V616000 7 Dec 2010 | CHRYSLER GROUP LLC |
| 10V586000 17 Nov 2010 | NAVISTAR, INC |
| 10V554000 11 Nov 2010 | NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC. |
| 10V568000 10 Nov 2010 | ELDORADO NATIONAL - CALIFORNIA, INC. |
| 10V475000 7 Oct 2010 | CHRYSLER GROUP LLC |
| 10V459000 4 Oct 2010 | MERCEDES-BENZ USA, LLC. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2010