Continuing its streak of recent recalls, Toyota’s Daihatsu brand in Japan has announced the recall of some 500,000 minicars over a safety concern with the tail lamps.
The issue causing the two recalls is centered around the rear tail lamps, which are intended to be orange/amber in color, but due to faster than expected oxidation, the tail lamps have been turning white, and in turn confusing other motorists. To add to the issue, Toyota opted to use a clear bulb in the housing, meaning that once the oxidation is fully set in, other motorists no longer see any form of amber indicators – and instead see a dull, white light.
The recalls involve 435,423 Move five-door hatchback models, model years 1995 through 2000, and 145,769 Mira models, model years 1998 through 2000, according to Automotive News. With these two recalls, Toyota Group global recalls have now hit 12.3 million in 2010 alone, with the lion’s share – 10.5 million – taking place in the U.S. starting last fall.
Perhaps the most interesting aspect of the latest recalls, however, is that rather than replacing the oxidation-prone, cloudy tail lamp housing with newer, properly protected housings, Toyota has opted to instead replace the clear indicator bulbs with amber bulbs. Although the light output will still be greatly diminished – by as much as 60 to 75 percent – the light that does emit from the tail lamps will be the proper amber color, rather than white.
References
1.’Toyota’s minicar division recalls…’ view
