Recall Details For: 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER
NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER - 08V181000

• RUNNING SEQUENCE NUMBER: 80969
• NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER:08V181000
• VEHICLE/EQUIPMENT MAKE: TOYOTA
• VEHICLE/EQUIPMENT MODEL: HIGHLANDER
• MODEL YEAR: 2008
• MFR CAMPAIGN NUMBER : 80D
• COMPONENT DESCRIPTION: SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER
• MANUFACTURER THAT FILED DEFECT/NONCOMPLIANCE REPORT: TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC.
• BEGIN DATE OF MANUFACTURING: 20070531
• END DATE OF MANUFACTURING: 20080307
• VEHICLE, EQUIPMENT OR TIRE REPORT: V
• POTENTIAL NUMBER OF UNITS AFFECTED: 90189
• DATE OWNER NOTIFIED BY MFR: 20081210
• RECALL INITIATOR (MFR/OVSC/ODI): OVSC
• MANUFACTURERS OF RECALLED VEHICLES/PRODUCTS: Toyota Motor Corporation
• REPORT RECEIVED DATE: 20080418
• RECORD CREATION DATE: 20080422
• REGULATION PART NUMBER: 571
• FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NUMBER: 208

DEFECT SUMMARY: TOYOTA IS RECALLING 90,189 MY 2008 HIGHLANDER AND HIGHLANDER HYBRID PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A THIRD ROW SEAT. THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION." THE NON-DRIVER DESIGNATED SEATING POSITIONS (DSP) ON THESE VEHICLES IS EQUIPPED WITH SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES THAT HAVE A FEATURE THAT CONVERTS THE RETRACTOR FROM AN EMERGENCY LOCKING RETRACTOR (ELR) TO AN AUTOMATIC LOCKING RETRACTOR (ALR). THE BELTS CONVERT TO THE ALR MODE AFTER THE WEBBING HAS BEEN FULLY WITHDRAWN FROM THE RETRACTOR. THE SYSTEM IS DESIGNED SO THAT AS THE BELT IS RELEASED INTO THE RETRACTOR, THE SYSTEM REMAINS IN THE ALR MODE SO THAT A CHILD RESTRAINT SYSTEM (CRS) CAN BE TIGHTLY SECURED.

CONSEQUENCE SUMMARY: HOWEVER, FOR THE TWO THIRD ROW DSP'S ON THESE VEHICLES, THE ALR MODE DEACTIVATES BEFORE THE WEBBING IS FULLY RETRACTED, SO THAT IT WILL NOT LOCK WHEN CERTAIN REAR-FACING CRS'S THAT HAVE A SHORT SEAT BELT ROUTING PATH ARE INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE. THIS CAN ALLOW THE SEAT BELT WEBBING TO SPOOL OUT DURING NORMAL DRIVING MANEUVERS, WHICH COULD AFFECT THE STABILITY OF A CHILD RESTRAINT INSTALLED AT THOSE SEATING POSITIONS. AS SUCH, THIS COULD DISCOURAGE THE USE OF A CHILD RESTRAINT AND IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE CHILD MAY NOT BE ADEQUATELY PROTECTED POSSIBLY RESULTING IN INJURY.

CORRECTIVE SUMMARY: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEWLY DESIGNED SEAT BELT COMPONENT FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR ABOUT DECEMBER 18, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.

RECALL NOTES: TOYOTA RECALL NO. 80D.CUSTOMERS MAY CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153); OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

UNIQUE COMPONENT NUMBER: 000026633000278628000000270