TOYOTA ANNOUNCES INTENT TO VOLUNTARILY RECALL CERTAIN AVALON, HIGHLANDER, AND LEXUS GS 300, IS 250, IS 350 AND RX 330 VEHICLES TO REPLACE A BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER SEAL

TORONTO, Ontario, October 21, 2010 – Toyota Canada Inc. (TCI), today announced that it will conduct a Voluntary Safety Recall involving approximately 28,700 vehicles – 2005 through 2006 Toyota Avalon, 2004 through 2006 Toyota Highlander (Non Hybrid) and Lexus RX 330, and 2006 Lexus GS 300, IS 250, and IS 350 vehicles sold in Canada. The campaign will address the possibility that a small amount of brake fluid could slowly leak from the brake master cylinder, resulting in illumination of the brake warning lamp.
 

The brake fluid used by Toyota during vehicle assembly for vehicles sold in Canada contains polymers. The polymers act as lubricants for certain brake system components. If during vehicle maintenance, brake fluid is used that does not contain such polymers or only small amounts, a part of the internal rubber seal (brake master cylinder cup) located at the end of the brake master cylinder piston may become dry and may curl during movement of the piston. If this occurs, a small amount of the brake fluid could slowly leak from the brake master cylinder into the brake booster, resulting in illumination of the brake warning lamp.

If the brake warning light has illuminated and the vehicle continues to be operated without refilling the master cylinder brake fluid reservoir, the driver will begin to notice a spongy or soft brake pedal feel and braking performance may gradually decline.

 

Owners of the involved vehicles will be notified by first class mail beginning in mid-November 2010. Toyota and Lexus dealers will replace the brake master cylinder cup with a newly designed one at no charge to the vehicle owners.

Detailed information and answers to questions are available to customers at the Toyota Customer Interaction Centre at 1-888-TOYOTA-8 or Lexus Canada at 1-800-26 LEXUS or 1-800-265-3987. Additional vehicle safety information is available at www.toyota.ca orwww.lexus.ca.

 

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