The defect
TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2013 LEXUS GS350 VEHICLES, MANUFACTURED FROM DECEMBER 12, 2011, THROUGH FEBRUARY 7, 2012. THE STEERING CONTROL ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT (ECU) PROGRAMMING FOR THE VARIABLE GEAR RATIO STEERING (VGRS) SYSTEM COULD CAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL TO BECOME OFF-CENTERED WHEN RESTARTING IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE VEHICLE IS PARKED WITH THE STEERING WHEEL TURNED.
The risk
IF THIS OCCURS, THE DRIVER MAY NOT REALIZE THAT THE STEERING WHEEL IS OFF-CENTERED WHEN PULLING FROM A PARKED POSITION, THE VEHICLE COULD MANEUVER IN AN UNEXPECTED DIRECTION, RESULTING IN A CRASH.
The remedy
TOYOTA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND LEXUS DEALERS WILL UPDATE THE VGRS SYSTEM FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 7, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Lexus GS 350 | 2013 |
Components: STEERING
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 GS 350 | 2013 | 26 | 3 |
Other steering recalls in 2012
21 of the 583 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2012 concerned the steering; Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing filed 245 campaigns in all.
| 12V587000 14 Dec 2012 | Taylor-Dunn Manufacturing Company |
| 12V586000 13 Dec 2012 | Blue Bird Body Company |
| 12V548000 21 Nov 2012 | Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) |
| 12V537000 14 Nov 2012 | Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing |
| 12V507000 17 Oct 2012 | Navistar, Inc. |
| 12V453000 14 Sept 2012 | WINNEBAGO INDUSTRIES INC. |
| 12V430000 4 Sept 2012 | AUTOMOBILI LAMBORGHINI |
| 12V422000 29 Aug 2012 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2012