One of the most dangerous issues that a driver can face is having their vehicle stall while it’s in motion, especially while the person is driving on one of Southern California’s busy freeways. Unfortunately though, there have been vehicle defects that have led to engine stalling and one of Toyota’s latest recalls is evidence that the issue persists.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced that Toyota is recalling 695,541 of its new Lexus and Toyotas due to a fuel pump issue. According to the NHTSA, the fuel pump in the recalled vehicles can fail, causing the engine to stall and increasing the risk of a collision.

Warning Signs to Look For

The defect involves a faulty impeller in the low-pressure pump that is located in the fuel tank, which is responsible for supplying pressure to the fuel injection system. The faulty impeller can deform and if this occurs, the following warning signs may present themselves: the engine may run rough or the check engine light could go on.

The vehicle may not start at all or it can stall while it’s in motion at low speeds. However, in rare instances, it is possible for one of the defective vehicles to stall at a higher speed.

What about the Hybrid versions, are they subject to the recall? Since the hybrid versions of the recalled models are equipped with a fail-safe mode, they do not pose an unreasonable safety risk, so they are not being recalled by Toyota at this point in time.

The affected Lexus vehicles include the 2018-2019 GS 200T/350, GX460, IS 300, LC500, LS500, LX570, NX300, RC 300/350, and RX350 models.

The affected Toyota models include the 2019 Avalon and Corolla, as well as the 2018/2019:

• 4Runner
• Camry
• Highlander
• Land Cruiser
• Sequoia
• Sienna
• Tacoma
• Tundra

Toyota is still working on a remedy. In the meantime, the manufacturer has issued a stop-sale order effective immediately. This order prevents dealers from selling any of the affected vehicles that are currently sitting on dealer lots. The recalled vehicles were manufactured between August 2018 and January 2019.

While the stop-sale order is in effect now, owners of the recalled vehicles will receive their official notices by March 13, 2020. Once Toyota establishes the appropriate remedy, it will fix the affected vehicles free of charge. If an owner has paid to have their vehicle fixed for the issue, they will be reimbursed.

To find out if your Toyota or Lexus is included in the recall, visit www.safecar.gov. To find out if you have a lemon law claim, please contact Norman Taylor & Associates.