17,000 Lexus HS 250h being recalled for FUEL LEAK risk
From AW
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Toyota Motor Corp. plans to recall 17,000 Lexus HS 250h vehicles from
model year 2010 after discovering excess fuel leakage during
government rear-impact crash tests.
It is the latest safety setback for the world's largest automaker.
Toyota discovered the fuel leakage while striking the vehicle from the
rear at about 50 mph during annual federal safety tests. The fuel
leakage, which exceeds allowable federal limits, can lead to fires,
the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said in a posting
on its Web site.
The automaker has not identified a remedy for the problem, nor has it
determined when the safety recall will begin, the NHTSA posting
said.
During development of the 2010 Lexus HS hybrid, the company conducted
similar tests and found no fuel leakage problems, Toyota said.
“Lexus is currently working to identify the reason for the different
test results and the cause of this noncompliance,” the company said
in a statement. Lexus dealers have also suspended sales of the
model.
Toyota has recalled 10.6 million vehicles world-wide since November,
company spokesman Brian Lyons has said.
The recalls cover more than a half-dozen separate safety issues,
including sudden acceleration, braking, and steering.
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