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Recall of Toyota Lexus Hybrid Due to Fuel Leak, Fire Hazard

You can add yet another recall to the growing list of recalled Toyota vehicles. Toyota Motor Corp. has recalled approximately 13,000 Lexus HS 250 H after testing revealed that the car could leak fluid during a rear end collision. The company has also stopped sales of the vehicle.

Earlier this week, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said that a crash test conducted for the agency by a contractor, found that after impact with a barrier at speeds of approximately 50 mph, the car began to leak fuel. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced a recall on Friday saying that the defect poses a serious risk of a fire.

The recall brings to mind another recall issued by Toyota earlier this year involving other Lexus models. In April, the company recalled more than 10,000 Lexus GX 460 after consumer safety magazine Consumer Reports, found that the sports utility vehicle had handling problems that could contribute to the risk of a rollover crash in a real-world scenario. After that report, Toyota conducted its own testing, and found that there indeed was a problem. It then recalled the vehicles.

During the crash test that was authorized by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, it was found that the vehicle leaked more than 142 g of fuel. The agency then determined that the amount of fuel that leaked was more than the maximum allowed by federal standards, and immediately informed the company that the vehicle had failed to meet compliance standards, triggering a recall.

17,000 cars is actually a small number compared to the approximately 10 million cars that Toyota has recalled since August last year. Many of those were recalled because they were linked to a problem involving sudden and unintended acceleration in vehicles that suddenly revved up to uncontrollable speeds, and crashed.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has confirmed reports of 89 deaths involving sudden and unintended acceleration in Toyota vehicles. However, Toyota’s safety problems don’t seem to end with the acceleration issue. The Lexus sports utility vehicles that were recalled in April involved a possible rollover risk. This latest recall is linked to a fuel leak problem that could possibly contribute to an explosion and fire during a rear end accident. In fact this latest recall reminds California injury attorneys of the Ford Pinto crisis of the 70s, in which hundreds of Ford Pinto cars exploded because of defective fuel tanks that ruptured on impact.

It also seems to indicate that the safety problems at Toyota may go deeper than we believe. It isn’t just unintended acceleration safety issues that seem to plague the company.

However, the recall crisis has also galvanized efforts by lawmakers to implement stronger legislation that can protect American consumers from defective vehicles. The massive auto safety bill is pending approval in the Senate, and if passed, will give greater powers to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and increase penalties on errant automakers.

The Reeves Law Group is a law firm with offices throughout California dedicated exclusively to the representation of personal injury victims, including victims of recalled products. Please visit our website at trlglaw.com. If you desire a free consultation on a personal injury matter, please call us at (800) 644-8000 or email us.

The Reeves Law Group is not representing any party in the matters discussed in this posting.

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