Toyota is issuing a voluntary recall of 373,000 2000 through 2004 Avalon sedans.

In a press release, Toyota states the recall is so the company can “address the possibility that the vehicle’s steering lock bar could break under certain conditions.”

USA Today explains that “problems with the Avalon’s steering lock bar could lead to a little crack on the surface of the bar. Over time, the crack may get bigger, eventually resulting in a broken bar. When that happens, it becomes difficult to unlock the steering wheel when the automobile is not moving.”

The problem is not just when the Avalon is stationary. “Toyota states that if the break occurs while the automobile is being driven, and with the steering wheel turned to the right, a chain of events could result in a fully locked steering wheel while in motion, greatly increasing the chance of an accident,” writes Left Lane News.

As dire as having the steering wheel lock while driving is, Autoblog says, “For its part, Toyota states it is unaware of any crashes stemming from the Avalon’s steering interlock issue, and it will replace the steering column bracket in affected vehicles for free.”

Consumers who own 2000 through 2004 Toyota Avalons should contact Toyota, either though their recall website, www.toyota.com/recall, or by calling the Toyota Customer Experience Center at 1-800-331-4331.

If you are in the market for a new car, check out the U.S. News rankings of this year’s best cars as well as this month’s best car deals. 

More source:

Recall Alert: 2000-2004 Toyota Avalon - KickingTires
Toyota | Safety/Recall
Recall Alert: Over 372000 Toyota Avalons Could Suffer From ...
Two More Toyota Safety Recalls: Avalon and Lexus LX 470 Models ...

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Submited at Thursday, July 29th, 2010 at 2:00 pm on Uncategorized by chuck
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