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New York: Toyota Motor Corp., Japan's largest automaker, is recalling 90,189 Highlander sport-utility vehicles in the US because third-row seat belts may not lock in some child-safety seats.
The recall affects 2008-model gasoline and hybrid Highlanders, the automaker said in a letter posted on the web site of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
The belts may not tightly secure child seats, possibly resulting in an injury in a crash, Toyota said.
Toyota will begin notifying owners in June and has asked dealers to stop selling affected models until the problem is fixed, said Bill Kwong, a spokesman for the Toyota City, Japan- based automaker. Dealers will install a seat-belt component with a new design, without cost to the vehicle owners.
US sales of the Highlander rose 5.2 per cent to 43,676 this year through April, the company said in a statement yesterday. The model ranks second in sales among Toyota's sport-utility vehicles, behind the RAV4.
Meanwhile, Toyota Motor yesterday announced new manufacturer's suggested retail prices (MSRP) for certain Toyota and Lexus vehicles, effective mid-to late May 2008.
At this time, pricing for the all-new 2008 Sequoia full-size sport utility vehicle (SUV), the 2008 Tacoma pickup truck, the all-new 2009 Corolla compact car and all-new 2009 Matrix crossover utility vehicle pricing remains unchanged.
The only 2009 model year Toyota vehicle to receive a price adjustment is the Toyota Camry. The gas model increases $200 or 0.9 per cent and carries a new base MSRP of $18,920.
The hybrid model, which was introduced as a 2007 model in late 2006, increases by $300 or 1.1 per cent and carries a new base MSRP of $25,650.
The Highlander midsize SUV gas model posts a price increase of $200, or 0.7 per cent, and will carry a new base MSRP of $27,500.
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