Photo: Toyota / edited
One of Toyota's oldest distributors recently issued a recall for a handful of RAV4 vehicles produced for the 2023 model year. As it happens, 195 examples of the XLE have been fitted with 17-inch black alloy wheels (accessory wheels) featuring tire valve stems that may not be properly seated. Gulf States Toyota couldn't rule out the possibility of damaged tire valve stems either.
That's only the first of two reasons for this recall, which the federal watchdog refers to as number 23V-485. The other problem is a noncompliance with federal motor vehicle safety standard 110 over load carrying capacity modification labels with incorrect capacities. More specifically, said labels aren't accurate within the one percent required by the motor vehicle safety standard.
Gulf States Toyota became aware of this problem back on June 2019, following a field report from the owner of a 2023 Toyota RAV4 XLE with the black wheels mentioned earlier. Upon investigating said report, the distributor also discovered that it had used the weight of the factory wheels for the load carrying capacity modification label instead of the GST-fitted wheels.
Given these circumstances, the Houston-based distributor of all things Toyota improved on its existing wheel installation procedures. GST also introduced a new job aid to ensure proper orientation of the tire valve stems while installing accessory wheels. GST will notify dealers through which potentially affected cars were sold no later than July 26. Owners will be notified in the period from August 14 to August 21.
Obviously enough, affected vehicles will have their valve stems inspected and – if necessary – replaced at no cost to the owners. The load carrying capacity modification label will also be replaced free of charge. In the meantime, owners can run the vehicle identification number on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's website to find out whether their vehicles are recalled or not. According to the document attached below, suspect RAV4 XLE vehicles were assembled from May 27 to June 16.
The compact-sized crossover is Toyota's bread and butter in the United States, where the company also dominates the midsize truck segment with the newly-refreshed Tacoma. Last year, the automaker delivered 399,941 units of the RAV4, making the front- and all-wheel-drive crossover the fourth best-selling new passenger vehicle in the United States. In fifth place, the soon-to-be-refreshed Camry sold 295,201 units.
At press time, the RAV4 comes in combustion-only flavor, as well as hybrid and plug-in hybrid guises. XLE is the trim level above the base LE, with said grade available for both the ICE and HEV versions.
Highlight standard features include 17-inch alloys finished in gray metallic, chrome-tipped exhaust outlets, LED projector-type headlights with chrome bezels, automatic high beams, polygonal seat inserts, an eight-way power adjustable driver's seat with lumbar support, and a four-way manually adjustable passenger seat with a seatback pocket. Stepping up to the hybrid adds All-Wheel Drive Integrated Management for the Multi-Information Display, with the Hybrid XLE boasting all-wheel drive as standard.
Gulf States Toyota became aware of this problem back on June 2019, following a field report from the owner of a 2023 Toyota RAV4 XLE with the black wheels mentioned earlier. Upon investigating said report, the distributor also discovered that it had used the weight of the factory wheels for the load carrying capacity modification label instead of the GST-fitted wheels.
Given these circumstances, the Houston-based distributor of all things Toyota improved on its existing wheel installation procedures. GST also introduced a new job aid to ensure proper orientation of the tire valve stems while installing accessory wheels. GST will notify dealers through which potentially affected cars were sold no later than July 26. Owners will be notified in the period from August 14 to August 21.
Obviously enough, affected vehicles will have their valve stems inspected and – if necessary – replaced at no cost to the owners. The load carrying capacity modification label will also be replaced free of charge. In the meantime, owners can run the vehicle identification number on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's website to find out whether their vehicles are recalled or not. According to the document attached below, suspect RAV4 XLE vehicles were assembled from May 27 to June 16.
The compact-sized crossover is Toyota's bread and butter in the United States, where the company also dominates the midsize truck segment with the newly-refreshed Tacoma. Last year, the automaker delivered 399,941 units of the RAV4, making the front- and all-wheel-drive crossover the fourth best-selling new passenger vehicle in the United States. In fifth place, the soon-to-be-refreshed Camry sold 295,201 units.
At press time, the RAV4 comes in combustion-only flavor, as well as hybrid and plug-in hybrid guises. XLE is the trim level above the base LE, with said grade available for both the ICE and HEV versions.
Highlight standard features include 17-inch alloys finished in gray metallic, chrome-tipped exhaust outlets, LED projector-type headlights with chrome bezels, automatic high beams, polygonal seat inserts, an eight-way power adjustable driver's seat with lumbar support, and a four-way manually adjustable passenger seat with a seatback pocket. Stepping up to the hybrid adds All-Wheel Drive Integrated Management for the Multi-Information Display, with the Hybrid XLE boasting all-wheel drive as standard.
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