Toyota Tacoma Pickups Recalled for Child Seat Defect

Toyota is calling back a slew of pickup trucks over a defect that could put young passengers at risk. The company still does not know how to fix the problem.

Child seat anchors on some 75,000 Tacoma pickups are not up to federal safety standards, the company recently told federal regulators. Anchor welds may fail, causing a child seat to suddenly move during a crash or sudden stop, according to Toyota.

“An insufficient weld may prevent the child seat from being anchored securely to the rear seat back panel and may allow the child seat to move during a sudden stop or crash, increasing the risk of injury,” Toyota said in a notice filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The recall covers certain 2022 and 2023 model year Tacoma trucks. The auto manufacturer said it would alert the owners of recalled cars by mid-September.

Toyota also told NHTSA that the company has yet to figure out a way to fix the problem. 

“Toyota is currently developing the remedy for this issue,” it said in the filing. “Once the remedy has been finalized, affected owners will be notified by first-class mail to take their vehicles to a Toyota dealer to have the repair performed free of charge.”

In the meantime, the company instructed dealers to stop selling recalled Tacoma pickups. It estimated that about 130 of those vehicles were on dealership lots across the country.

Safety Risks for Toyota Owners

This is not the only safety issue facing Toyota owners and others on the road with them.

The company announced in July that it was recalling new BZ4X electric sport utility vehicles because the cars’ wheels could come off unexpectedly. 

Toyota also recently recalled some 460,000 vehicles across models, citing a software glitch that could inadvertently disable the electronic stability control system, increasing the risk of a crash. Late last year, Toyota called back approximately 230,000 Camry sedans because of a defect that could cause the vehicles to suddenly lose power-braking assistance.

How California’s Lemon Law Works

Fortunately, Toyota owners in California do not need to wait around for a recall to get defective vehicles fixed. They have some important rights and protections under the state’s lemon law.

The lemon law generally requires carmakers to perform various repairs on vehicles while they are under warranty. It also forces manufacturers to buy back vehicles that the companies are unable or simply unwilling to fix. That includes covering the purchase price and monthly payments, as well as picking up the tab for rental cars and other related expenses.

The law also forces automakers to pick up the tab for certain legal fees that owners incur while enforcing their rights under the law.

Talk with a California Lemon Law Attorney

If you are a Toyota or other car owner or lessor stuck with a lemon or locked in a dispute with a manufacturer over repairs, the lemon law attorneys at Bickel Sannipoli APC can help. 

Call us at (888) 800-1983 or contact us online to speak with a lawyer today.