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Toyota has issued a recall and stop-sale for the 2010 Lexus HS 250h, citing an excessive fuel spillage concern in the event the hybrid vehicles are rear-ended. The recall affects 17,000 HS 250h models.
Unfortunately, Lexus hasn’t disclosed the exact issue with the fuel tank and is currently working on a remedy. The findings were unveiled during annual compliance crash testing conducted by the NHTSA, which discovered that the HS 250h was leaking a large amount of fuel after impact.
“Even though our own testing of the Lexus HS 250h shows full compliance with federal fuel system integrity standards, we are working intensely to duplicate the noncompliance issue that the NHTSA identified and to determine the reason behind the different test results,” said Steve St. Angelo, Toyota’s chief quality officer for North America.
Back in the 1970s, Ford experienced a similar nightmare with the subcompact Pinto.
The NHTSA campaign ID number is 10V285000. Potentially affected owners may contact Lexus at 800-255-3987 or at www.lexus.com/recall. The NHTSA can be reached at 888-327-4236 or on the Web at Safercar.gov.
Sources: Detroit Free Press, NHTSA, Toyota
I know it’s a bit immature to say so, but I’m happy these are being taken off the road, albeit prematurely. I’ve only seen two so far, piloted by over-tanned old ladies. Now that’s a demographic that Lexus marketing probably didn’t plan on!