Toyota recalls Lexus RX350, Alphard

Manila, Philippines — Toyota Motor Philippines Corp. (TMPC) is conducting a safety recall for 149 units of the Lexus RX350 sports utility vehicle (SUV) to reprogram the vehicles’ engine control computer and 80 units of the Alphard to replace the seat belt.

TMPC first vice president Rommel Gutierrez said in a letter to DTI Consumer Protection Group director Domingo Tolentino Jr. the firm has initiated a customer satisfaction campaign for the engine control reprogram of certain Lexus RX350 units.

The safety recall would cover units produced from Dec.4, 2017 until Dec.25, 2018.

“There is possibility of automatic transmission harsh engagement when shifting to D range, due to improper reprogramming of engine control computer,” Gutierrez said.

As such, the firm will reprogram the engine control computer and replace the automatic transmission assembly with a new one, if necessary, for free.

Gutierrez said concerned customers would be notified so they could bring their vehicles to the Lexus dealer.

“This customer satisfaction campaign will expire on Dec.31, 2022,” he said.

Lexus is the luxury arm of Toyota.

In a separate letter addressed also to Tolentino, Gutierrez said TMPC is also conducting a special service campaign to replace the seat belt of 80 Alphard units produced from Aug. 20 to Sept.6, 2019,  and seven units of the Toyota Coaster produced from Aug. 26 to Sept. 6, 2019.

“The subject vehicles are equipped with seat belt assemblies that have two types of locking mechanisms. One of the locking mechanisms in certain seat belts may not have been assembled correctly. This can cause an occupant to not be restrained properly in certain crashes, increasing the risk of injury,” he said.

He said TMPC would be inspecting the affected vehicles and replace the seat belts, if needed, without any cost on the part of the customer.

“TMPC is currently preparing the replacement parts and will notify the concerned customers through official notification letters and invite them to bring their vehicles to Toyota Dealer for the special service,” he said.

The local unit of the Japanese car giant remained the top selling vehicle brand in the country last year. The firm sold 162,011 units last year, up 5.9 percent from 153,004 units in 2018.