Toyota Sorta-Kinda Recalls Selected Sienna Vans and Tundra Pickups

Torrance, CA 07/20/2005; Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc., will launch a voluntary Special Service Campaign with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The campaign involves Sienna vans in the U.S.

In certain 2004 and 2005 model year Sienna vans, there is a possibility that the shoulder portion of the seatbelt in the middle row seats may bind in the bezel trim piece (seatbelt bezel). The affected seatbelt bezel is located on the shoulder portion of the right side captain's chair of the seven passenger models and the center seating position on second row bench seat eight passenger models.

In the event of a seatbelt binding in the bezel, the seatbelt may not properly fit a passenger. Until the repair is completed, vehicle occupants sitting in the affected seating positions should make sure the shoulder belt portion of the seatbelt is retracting smoothly. If the seatbelt binds, it can be unbound by pulling the seatbelt outward and then allowing it to retract.

Toyota will mail owners of the involved vehicles a Special Service Campaign notification via first class mail beginning in mid-August with mailings ending late-September. Owners are requested to contact their local Toyota dealer for replacement of the Seatbelt Bezel upon receiving their notification. Replacement will be done at no charge to the owners of the vehicle.

In addition, Toyota will file a voluntary non-compliance Special Service Campaign with NHTSA involving approximately 2,500 Tundra Access Cab pickup trucks currently in operation in the U.S.

A Front Passenger Occupant Classification System (FPOCS) is installed in certain 2005 model year Tundra Access Cab pickups equipped with front captain's chairs. This system monitors the weight and load on the front passenger seat, as well as the seatbelt buckle switch status, to determine whether to activate or deactivate the front passenger airbag.

A small number of mid-2005 model year Tundra Access Cab vehicles equipped with the optional front captain's chairs may have been manufactured with the incorrect FPOCS indicator light lens, which may not allow the front passenger the ability to verify the status of the front airbag.

Toyota will send owners of the involved vehicles a Special Service Campaign notification via first class mail beginning in early-August. Owners are requested to contact their local Toyota dealer upon receiving their notification for replacement of the FPOCS indicator light lens. Replacement will be done at no charge to the owners of the vehicle.

Customers with questions or concerns should contact the Toyota Customer Experience Center at 1-800-331-4331.