150,000 Toyota Tacoma pickup trucks recalled due to rust risk
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Toyota is recalling its popular Tacoma pickup truck, sold in certain parts of the country. At issue is the carriers that hold the emergency spare tire underneath the truck may not be adequately protected from the chemical road de-icers used in several states. If the tire carrier rusts, the spare tire may fall off the truck and present a road hazard, increasing the risk of collisions.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the rust problem affects 150,000 2001 to 2004 model year Toyota Tacoma full-size pickup trucks sold in so-call "rust belt" areas of the U.S., including:
Connecticut
Delaware
Illinois
Indiana
Kentucky
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New York
Ohio
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
Vermont
Virginia
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Washington, DC
Toyota has not yet developed a remedy to this situation, but they will notify owners when a fix is in place.
For more information, Tacoma owners can call contact their local Toyota dealer, the Toyota Customer Experience Center (800-331-4331) or the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236.