GS Lexus Recalls 34,400 GS 300, IS 250 and IS 350 Models in U.S.

[Merc1]

TORRANCE, Calif./TOKYO — Toyota Motor Sales USA said it is recalling approximately 34,400 2006 Lexus GS 300, IS 250 and IS 350 models to fix faulty fuel pipes in the engine compartment. The recall involves both two-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive models.

It is part of a larger global recall by Toyota Motor of some 215,020 units of the Lexus GS, Crown and three other high-end car models in Japan.

Toyota Motor Sales USA spokesperson Nancy Hubbell told Inside Line that "we've seen only one occurrence [of the problem] in the U.S." with no injuries or accidents reported. The recall is being launched in conjunction with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

In a statement on Wednesday, Toyota's U.S. sales arm said, "A possible crack may form over time in two specific fuel pipes in the engine compartment in the affected models.

"The condition is due to high-stress areas that may have been created in two specific fuel pipes in the engine compartment during the manufacturing process," it said. "Combined with other factors such as the presence of corrosive agents in the fuel, a crack may form in the high-stress areas over time that could lead to fuel leakage."

Owners of the affected vehicles in the U.S. will be notified of the recall in early December. Lexus dealers will replace the fuel pipes with redesigned ones at no charge.

The recall casts a pall on what has been the largely sterling reputation of Toyota's upscale brand. It is yet another blow to the Japanese auto giant, which is still smarting from its plunge in October in Consumer Reports' 2007 reliability survey.

The consumer watchdog said it no longer recommends the V6 version of the best-selling 2007 Toyota Camry or the four-wheel-drive V8 version of the 2007 Toyota Tundra because of below-average reliability. The all-wheel-drive version of the Lexus GS sedan also scored a below-average rating and is no longer recommended. Toyota fell from 1st to 5th place in the Consumer Reports ranking for 2007, behind Honda, Acura, Scion and Subaru.

What this means to you: If you own any of the aforementioned Lexus models, get them in to your dealership. — Anita Lienert, Correspondent


Lexus Recalls 34,400 GS 300, IS 250 and IS 350 Models in U.S.


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[ZicZachZo]

History shows that all great empires eventually fall. Toyota's time is up and I bet German Car Fans couldn't be more excited!

Mwhahahahahahaha

 

[PanterroR]

More than 264,000 Toyota and Lexus owners are to receive a recall note in Japan and abroad to repair defective fuel pipes which could cause fuel leaks in the worst case scenario. Specifically, Toyota will recall 215,020 Crown, Mark X and Lexus sedans at home and some 49,000 Lexus GS and IS series cars abroad, mainly in the United States, Britain and Canada. According to Toyota the cars affected were built between Dec. 2003 and Dec. 2005

Toyota & Lexus Recalling 264,000 Cars Due To Faulty Pipes

 

[Merc1]

Youch. I never thought I'd read about a Toyota product having "faulty pipes". Clearly their massive growth is hurting quality. Toyota management must be beside themselves. I see the JDM Crown sedan is in their also, wow. That is one of their highest, if not the highest prestige vehicles.

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[PanterroR]

A lot of recalls recently, BMW, MB, Lexus...

 

[Yperion]

Mwhahahahahahaha

Μercedes tops quality survey and Toyota fells 5 places in another one. Who could had guessed that two years ago?

Toyota executives just went too far with cost cutting and now it's time for them to pay the price.

 

[Bruce]

A lot of recalls recently, BMW, MB, Lexus...

Exactly. It ain't a one-way street.

Nevertheless, I am disappointed to hear of these seemingly endless recalls from Toyota as of late.

As a Toyota enthusiast, I do believe that it's fair to say that today's Toyota is a far cry from the Toyota of yester year.

 

[Tarek]

History shows that all great empires eventually fall. Toyota's time is up and I bet German Car Fans couldn't be more excited!

Mwhahahahahahaha

Lol ,how ironic is that!

 

[bmer]

History shows that all great empires eventually fall. Toyota's time is up and I bet German Car Fans couldn't be more excited!

Mwhahahahahahaha

Don't know about that. Like already mentioned in this thread Germans have had large recalls this year as well. So not much to celebrate I think.

 

[cawimmer430]

It's fun though to have a little Schadenfreude about this, especially since some Lexus fanboys keep bragging about "quality".

But stuff like this happens to everyone. Cars are complex machines at the end of the day.

 

[Osnabrueck]

Lexus/Toyota/Honda Recall = Commence throwing stones in glass house.

Bmer is right you guys.

But on that note - I think it would be worthwhile to have a "score card" thread for recalls. We could see who's really ahead on the pissing contest by year's end and we could use it as a nice dispute settler since we love recall anecdotes around here.

Putting all that aside - this really is a pretty major recall on Toyota's part. You start to wonder if Icarus has finally flown too close to the sun with his wax wings.

 

[Yperion]

Putting all that aside - this really is a pretty major recall on Toyota's part. You start to wonder if Icarus has finally flown too close to the sun with his wax wings.

Really nice metaphor.

 

[Merc1]

Lexus in UK recall shocker

Though it sounds marginally less likely than Alfa Romeo finishing top in a dealer satisfaction survey, customer service champion Lexus is about to recall over 3000 UK cars in order to rectify a potential problem with a fuel pipe.

Some 3400 IS250 and GS300 models manufactured between September 2004 and December 2005 are affected. According to Lexus, the potential problem is with the seam welding on one of the fuel pipes, which could fail and cause petrol to leak into the engine compartment. It was detected by dealers in the Japanese market, and affects some 260,000 cars globally.

“Owners of the cars in question will be notified by post, and asked to bring their cars in to their local dealer at their own convenience. Wherever possible, we’ll pick the cars up,” a spokesman told Autocar. “The part will be replaced under warranty, and most dealers will be able to have the car delivered back to the customer on the same day.”

“There will also be a goodwill gesture included in the deal,” he said.

Built perfect?

Believe it or not, this will be the eleventh product recall for Lexus listed by the UK's Vehicle and Operator Services Agency since 1995. It's quite rare for a mechanical problem like this to crop up though; most of Lexus's recalls have been over secondary systems such as brake lights, airbags and seatbelt buckles.

Interestingly, the recall would have affected the GS300 that Autocar ran as a long-term test car last year - a car which was unerringly reliable and stress-free to own. "Our GS was one of the most dependable long-termers I've ever known Autocar to run," said custodian and Autocar Editor Chas Hallett "and it'd probably be performing flawlessly if we were still running it today."

"This recall is almost certainly a minor precaution," he went on. "It'll be pretty costly for the company globally, but it's nothing for owners to worry about."

Autocar - Lexus in UK recall shocker

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