Seat Belts

NHTSA campaign 14V272000 · announced May 22, 2014 · filed by Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing · 48,840 units affected

The problem

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2014 Highlander and Highlander Hybrid vehicles. The affected vehicles may have improper software installed in the air bag electronic control unit (ECU) for the operation of the front passenger seat belt force limiter, and as a result, the force limiter may use the restraint setting designed for small occupants, such as those that weigh approximately 110 pounds, for all occupants regardless of their size. As such, some of these vehicles do not conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

The risk

In the event of a crash, a larger front passenger seat occupant may not be properly restrained and be at an increased risk of injury.

What to do

Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will install a software update in the air bag electronic control unit, free of charge. The recall began on June 27, 2014. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Vehicles covered by this recall

• 2014 Toyota Highlander
• 2014 Toyota Highlander Hybrid

Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration public recall data. This page reports official records and is not legal or repair advice.