Old Recall, New Bad News: Toyota Delayed U.S. Recall in 2005

So this is what Secretary LaHood means by “we will continue our review of documents presented to us.” According to the Associated Press, there’s another big red flag in the documents that the NHTSA has been reviewing in connection with Toyota’s recalls. The new issue in question is whether Toyota delayed a 2005 recall on faulty steering rods in the U.S.  The AP is reporting that Toyota waited for nearly a year after issuing the recall in Japan, even though it had received at least 52 complaints in the States. That’s a wee bit longer than the five days that an automaker has to contact the NHTSA once it realizes there’s a safety defect.

The NHTSA has linked 16 crashes with three deaths to the steering wheel issue. It is still reviewing the case and could hit Toyota with another fine of up to $16.4 million. Last month, the agency sent a max $16.4 million fine in relation to Toyota’s delays in the recent unintended acceleration recalls.

Toyota is also facing civil action from individuals and families affected by the steering problems. [via AutoNews]