APRIL 2008 -- Toyota is recalling 90,189 MY 2008 Highlander and Highlander Hybrid 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 are 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 The belts convert to the ALR mode after the webbing has been fully withdrawn from the retractor.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 can be tightly secured. However, for the two third row seating positions on these vehicles, the ALR mode deactivates before the webbing is fully retracted, so that it will not lock when certain rear-facing child restraint systems 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. Dealers will install a newly designed seat belt component free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided an owner notification schedule for this campaign. This recall was the subject of an investigation, OA-208-071120E, conducted by the Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance. 08V181

NEWS:    Toyota recalls 90,000 Highlander SUVs over seat belt problem

Toyota recalling about 90,000 Highlander sport utility vehicles over seat belt problem

NEW YORK (Associated Press/CNNMoney.com)- May 2,2008 - Toyota Motor Corp. plans to recall about 90,000 Highlander sport utility vehicles in the United States.

The Japanese automaker wants to fix a problem that could prevent the seat belt in a third-row seat from securing a rear-facing child seat.

Toyota spokesman ....said Friday the company had issued a stop sale of the 2008 Highlander SUV and hybrid version with third-row seats to retrofit changes to the seat belt.

There have been no complaints or injuries tied to the seat belts.

The vehicles under the recall were built between May 2007 and March 2008. .... says owners will be notified of the recall in June, and dealers will install a newly designed seat belt component.

NEWS:   Toyota recalling Highlander SUV, Lexus models in U.S.

WASHINGTON (AP) - July 12, 2006 -- Toyota Motor Corp. said Wednesday it was recalling 367,500 Toyota and Lexus sport utility vehicles in the United States because a piece in the front console area could come loose and interfere with the gas pedal.

The recall involves 2004-05 models of the Toyota Highlander and Lexus RX 330 and early 2006 models of the Highlander hybrid SUV and the RX 400h, the hybrid version of the RX 330....