The defect
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2007-2011 Lexus GS350 vehicles manufactured June 19, 2006, through July 12, 2011; and model year 2006-2011 Lexus IS350 vehicles manufactured May 27, 2005, through July 13, 2011; and model year 2010-2011 Lexus IS350c vehicles manufactured November 25, 2009, through July 19, 2011. These vehicles, equipped with the 2GR-FSE engine, use bolts to secure the housing and sprocket of the Variable-Valve Timing (VVT) system gear assembly. These bolts could become loose due to abnormal impacts generated within the gear assembly immediately after a cold start-up.
The risk
The loose bolts could cause the VVT gear housing and sprocket to separate and result in the engine stopping while the vehicle is being driven, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Toyota will notify owners, and Lexus dealers will replace the VVT unit free of charge. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Lexus GS 350 | 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 |
| Lexus IS 350 | 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 |
| Lexus IS 350C | 2010, 2011 |
Components: ENGINE
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 | 2007 | 57 | 5 |
| Lexus GS 350 | 2008 | 19 | 4 |
| Lexus GS 350 | 2009 | 8 | 3 |
| Lexus GS 350 | 2010 | 7 | 3 |
| Lexus GS 350 | 2011 | 4 | 3 |
| Lexus IS 350 | 2006 | 93 | 8 |
| Lexus IS 350 | 2007 | 53 | 8 |
| Lexus IS 350 | 2008 | 30 | 8 |
| Lexus IS 350 | 2009 | 3 | 8 |
| Lexus IS 350 | 2010 | 8 | 8 |
| Lexus IS 350 | 2011 | 5 | 7 |
| Lexus IS 350C | 2010 | 11 | 8 |
| Lexus IS 350C | 2011 | 6 | 6 |
Other engine recalls in 2013
7 of the 627 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2013 concerned the engine; Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing filed 245 campaigns in all.
| 13V583000 25 Nov 2013 | Ford Motor Company |
| 13V557000 7 Nov 2013 | Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing |
| 13V552000 6 Nov 2013 | Chrysler Group LLC |
| 13V535000 30 Oct 2013 | Ford Motor Company |
| 13V526000 25 Oct 2013 | BMW of North America, LLC |
| 13V382000 27 Aug 2013 | Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2013