Toyota Nigeria recalls RAV4 over likely seat-belt flaw

As part of measures to prevent any injury in the event of a crash, the management of Toyota Nigeria Limited (TNL) has announced the recall of 900 units of Toyota RAV4 SUVs manufactured between 2006 and 2012 that were sold by its accredited dealers to customers nationwide over flaws with the rear seat belts.

Recall that last month; Toyota Motor Corporation said it is conducting a global recall of 2.87 million vehicles due to the possibility that their seatbelts could be damaged by a metal seat frame part in the event of a crash.

According to checks by BusinessDay on the Toyota Motor Corporation pressroom last week, the involved vehicles are equipped with lap-shoulder seatbelts in both second-row outboard seats.  There is a possibility that, in the event of a very severe frontal crash, the lap belt webbing could contact a portion of the metal seat cushion frame, which can cut, and separate.  If this occurs, the seat belt may not properly restrain the occupant, which could increase the risk of injury.

Giving more insights into the Toyota RAV4 rear seatbelt flaw while addressing motoring journalists in Lagos, Kunle Ade.Ojo, managing director of Toyota Nigeria Limited said the problem is traceable to design of the metal seatbelt cushion frames in the RAV4 which could result to injuries and fatalities in the case of frontal crash. He assured Toyota customers that the move is a preventive measure.

Kunle Ade.Ojo stated that as a responsible corporate organisation that is concerned and conscious about the safety of its numerous fleet and individual customers in Nigeria, its dealers would fix the problem at no cost to the customer.

The procedure involves adding a cover to the metal seat cushion frame that the company says could cut through part of the belt in a head-on crash. Rear seat belts in the vehicles could be cut by metal seat-cushion frames in severe front crashes and fail to restrain passengers.

The TNL managing director that for every RAV 4 affected, any of its eight accredited dealership located in any part of the country have been advised to fix the problem by adding resin covers to the metal seat cushion frames in a routine exercise that would be completed under one hour.

Kunle Ade.Ojo called on Toyota faithful across Nigeria to take the current move by the franchisee as a preventive step towards ensuring that they continued to enjoy the quality offerings and conveniences that has become the hallmark of the brand all over the world including Nigeria.

MIKE OCHONMA