Toyota and Nissan had the mid-size truck market to themselves for years. GM now returns with American built trucks – Chevy Colorado and GMC Canyon.
Toyota is recalling 790,000 Tacoma pickup trucks from model years 2005-11 globally. About 690,000 Tacoma 4×4 and Tacoma Pre-Runner pickup trucks are in the United States with a rear leaf spring that can break and pierce the gas tank or cut a brake line Toyota said Monday.
The Tacoma rear suspension has leaf springs with either three or four leaves. A leaf could fracture due to stress and corrosion. When this happens and the Tacoma continues to be driven, the broken leaf could move out of position and contact surrounding components, including the fuel tank. If the broken leaf contacts the fuel tank repeatedly, it could puncture the tank and cause a fuel leak, which could result in a fire.
Toyota claimed it is not aware of any fires, crashes, injuries or fatalities associated with its latest safety defect in its required NHTSA safety defect filing. However, The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has several hair-raising complaints from Tacoma owners about incidents.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
