Toyota is recalling certain models of the 2008 Highlander and Highlander Hybrid passenger vehicles equipped with a third row seat. These vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard NO. 208, “Occupant Crash protection”. The non driver designated seating positions (DSP) on these vehicles is equipped with seat belt assemblies that have a feature that converts the retractor from a emergency locking retractor (ELR) to a automatic locking retractor (ALR). The belts covert to the ALR mode after the webbing has been fully withdrawn from the retractor. The system is designed so that as the belt is released into the retactor, the system remains in the ALR mode so that a child restraint system (CRS) can be tightly secured.

It might seem odd to suggest that a 70-year-old company is going through growing pains, especially one with $183 billion in annual sales.

Toyota Motor Co. said Tuesday it would cover the costs of repairing doors on up to 600,000 Sienna minivans, after learning from consumers that a part can fail, causing doors to shut unexpectedly.

Toyota’s recall of 470,000 vehicles in Japan announced recently comes as the car industry’s most admired manufacturer faces a string of setbacks.

Toyota said on Wednesday it was recalling more than 470,000 vehicles in Japan in its fifth recall this year, highlighting the carmaker’s struggle to deal with quality problems as it expands globally.