# NHTSA recall 08V181000

A recall listed here may apply to a vehicle of this year, make and model. Only the manufacturer can say whether it applies to one vehicle: check the VIN with the official lookups.

- Published by: NHTSA \(United States\)
- Campaign number: 08V181000
- Manufacturer's number: 80D
- Manufacturer: TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC.
- Reported: 2008\-04\-18
- Owners notified: 2008\-12\-10
- Component: SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER
- Units potentially affected: 90189

## What is wrong

TOYOTA IS RECALLING 90,189 MY 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 AN EMERGENCY LOCKING RETRACTOR \(ELR\) TO AN AUTOMATIC LOCKING RETRACTOR \(ALR\).  THE BELTS CONVERT TO THE ALR MODE AFTER THE WEBBING HAS BEEN FULLY WITHDRAWN FROM THE RETRACTOR.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 RETRACTOR, THE SYSTEM REMAINS IN THE ALR MODE SO THAT A CHILD RESTRAINT SYSTEM \(CRS\) CAN BE TIGHTLY SECURED.


## What can happen

HOWEVER, FOR THE TWO THIRD ROW DSP'S ON THESE VEHICLES, THE ALR MODE DEACTIVATES BEFORE THE WEBBING IS FULLY RETRACTED, SO THAT IT WILL NOT LOCK WHEN CERTAIN REAR\-FACING CRS'S THAT HAVE A SHORT SEAT BELT ROUTING PATH ARE INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE.  THIS CAN ALLOW THE SEAT BELT WEBBING TO SPOOL OUT DURING NORMAL DRIVING MANEUVERS, WHICH COULD AFFECT THE STABILITY OF A CHILD RESTRAINT INSTALLED AT THOSE SEATING POSITIONS.  AS SUCH, THIS COULD DISCOURAGE THE USE OF A CHILD RESTRAINT AND IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE CHILD MAY NOT BE ADEQUATELY PROTECTED POSSIBLY RESULTING IN INJURY.


## The remedy

DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEWLY DESIGNED SEAT BELT COMPONENT FREE OF CHARGE.  THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR ABOUT DECEMBER 18, 2008.  OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1\-800\-331\-4331.


## Notes

TOYOTA RECALL NO. 80D.CUSTOMERS MAY CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1\-888\-327\-4236 \(TTY: 1\-800\-424\-9153\); OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.


## Vehicles this campaign lists

- [2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER](/makes/toyota/highlander/2008/recalls.md). Built 2007\-05\-31 to 2008\-03\-07.
- [2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID](/makes/toyota/highlander/2008/recalls.md). Built 2007\-05\-31 to 2008\-03\-07. Listed as a series or trim of this model.

## Bulletins for the same vehicles and component

A bulletin is the manufacturer's note to its dealers. It is not part of this recall.

- [ER10\_Remail\_Deal](/bulletins/10109477.md), 2017-08-01, Service bulletin
- [ER10\_Remail\_Regi](/bulletins/10109473.md), 2017-08-01, Service bulletin

## Check a VIN

- [NHTSA recall lookup by VIN, United States](https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls)
- [Transport Canada recall search, Canada](https://wwwapps.tc.gc.ca/Saf-Sec-Sur/7/VRDB-BDRV/search-recherche/menu.aspx?lang=eng)

JSON: [/v1/recalls/nhtsa/08V181000](/v1/recalls/nhtsa/08V181000)

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