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💥 Crash risk🩹 Injury riskNHTSA 08V181📅 Apr 22, 2008

2008 Toyota Highlander & 2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid recall: seat belt

⚠️ What's wrong

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 The belts convert to the alr mode after the webbing has been fully withdrawn from the retractor.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.

💥 The risk

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.

🔧 The fix

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.

Is the fix free? Yes. Safety recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer under federal law, including parts and labor. (Vehicles more than 15 years old when the recall was announced can be excluded, but most manufacturers still fix them.)
NHTSA campaign
08V181000
Manufacturer recall #
80D
Manufacturer
TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Vehicles affected
90,189
Component
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER
Owner phone
1-800-331-4331
NHTSA hotline
1-888-327-4236
Owner letters mailed
Dec 10, 2008
Built
May 31, 2007 – Mar 7, 2008
Recall started by
OVSC
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.

Vehicles in this recall

Is your car affected? Recalls apply to specific VINs. Check my VIN

FAQ

Is the 08V181 recall repair free?

Yes. Safety recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer under federal law, including parts and labor. (Vehicles more than 15 years old when the recall was announced can be excluded, but most manufacturers still fix them.)

Which vehicles are included in recall 08V181?

2008 Toyota Highlander & 2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid. 90,189 vehicles may be affected. Check your exact car with its 17-character VIN.

What should I do?

Check your VIN, then call any authorized Toyota dealer to book the free repair or call the manufacturer at 1-800-331-4331.