Toyota has announced it will conduct a voluntary safety recall involving 342,451Toyota Tacoma Access Cab vehicles produced from 2004 to 2011.
The affected vehicles from the 2005-10 model years were manufactured between Sept. 14, 2004, and March 29, 2010, and those from the 2011 model year were manufactured between July 1, 2010, and Sept. 7, 2011.
In the affected pickup trucks, screws that attach the seatbelt pre-tensioner to the seatbelt retractor inside the assembly (for both driver and passenger) can work itself loose over time due to repeated, hard door slams. If the screws loosen completely, the seatbelt pre-tensioner and the retractor spring cover could detach, which can affect retractor and pre-tensioner performance. This could cause harm to the driver or passenger during an accident.
Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will correct the problem for free. Depending on the results of an inspection, the seat belt assembly will be replaced or new pretensioner screws will be installed with thread-locking sealant and a retractor spring cover with stopper ribs to prevent loosening of the screws. The automaker has not provided a notification schedule. Owners can call Toyota at 800-331-4331, NHTSA's vehicle-safety hotline at 888-327-4236 or go to www.safercar.gov for more info.
Editor's Note:This story has been updated to more accurately identify the affected models and to provide more detailed contact information for owners.
