Toyota recalls 412,000 cars to fix steering

NEW YORK – Toyota is recalling nearly half a million cars, most of them large sedans sold in the U.S., for problems that can cause the steering wheel to lock up. It’s the latest indication that the automaker is still struggling with vehicle problems even as it works to overhaul quality control.

The recall, announced Thursday, affects 412,000 vehicles in the U.S. – 373,000 Avalon sedans and 39,000 Lexus LX 470 SUVs. The recall is Toyota’s largest since announcing it would fix 600,000 Sienna minivans over rusting spare tire holders in April.

Toyota has been embroiled in its recall crisis since October, when it announced a recall of 5.3 million cars and trucks to fix floor mats that can trap pedals and cause unintended acceleration.

Thursday’s announcement brings the size of Toyota’s recalls to about 9.5 million cars and trucks in the U.S. since October, with some recalls affecting models as old as the 1998 model year. That means of the 24.1 million vehicles Toyota has sold in the U.S. since 1998, as tracked by Wards AutoInfoBank, Toyota has recalled about 39 percent.

The Avalons recalled in the U.S. range from the 2000 model year through to 2004 and have improper casting of the steering lock bar – the component that locks the steering wheel when the vehicle is shut off – that can cause a crack to form on the surface.

Over time, the crack can expand, which can cause the steering wheel to become difficult to unlock when stationary. In some circumstances, the problem can cause the steering wheel to lock up during driving, Toyota said.

For the Lexus LX 470, Toyota is recalling the 2003-’07 model years to fix a different steering shaft problem, which could cause loss of steering control. No accidents have been reported from the problem, the company said.

For both repairs, customers will begin receiving letters in August asking them to bring their cars to dealers.