Toyota Avalon, Lexus ES Recalled for Braking Issue
The Toyota Avalon and Lexus ES sedans are being recalled for an issue with the cars’ collision-avoidance system.
A total of approximately 31,000 units are impacted by the recall with the Japanese automakers saying that the collision-avoidance system could be too reactive when encountering certain objects that do not pose an immediate threat. Those objects include steel bridge joints or plates on the roadway, which can inadvertently trigger the automatic emergency braking system. Vehicles affected by the recall are the 2013-2015 Toyota Avalon, Avalon Hybrid, Lexus ES350 and ES300h.
SEE ALSO: 2016 Toyota Avalon Drops Bug Eye Headlights
One complaint filed to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) described the issue: “The pre-collision system abruptly and for no apparent reason activated on a freeway in Charleston, SC. No car or other obstruction was in front of the vehicle. The seat belts forced us into our seats and immobilized us, and the vehicle did a panic braking maneuver — it could not have braked more forcefully. If someone had been behind us we would have been killed.”
To address the problem, service technicians will temporarily disable the collision-avoidance system in the affected vehicles as an interim remedy. To avoid future problems, Toyota and Lexus will have to install new hardware components rather than simply updating the vehicles’ software.
Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
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