Toyota Motor Corp. is recalling about 160,000 Tacoma mid-size pickup trucks from the model years 2001 to 2004 in cold-weather U.S. states and Canada because the spare tire could fall off.þþThe spare is stored beneath the trucks' bed. The metal plate that keeps the spare in place was not coated with enough phosphate to retard rust, Toyota said.þþOver time, corrosion of the plate could cause it to break, causing the detachment of the spare tire, Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A. said in a statement Wednesday.þþTwo accidents -- but no injuries -- have been reported to Toyota involving vehicles following a Tacoma truck, a Toyota spokesman said.þþThe recall covers 150,000 trucks sold in 20 cold-weather U.S. states and 10,000 in Canada, Toyota said.þþLetters will go to the owners of the recalled vehicles in December, Toyota said.þþDealers will replace the spare tire assembly, if necessary, for free.þþ
Source: Chicago Tribune
