Toyota has had some trouble with regulators recently. The Daihatsu subsidiary ended 2023 admitted to falsifying crash test results from 30 years agoand even the venerable Land Cruiser couldn’t avoid a greenhouse gas emissions scandal. But it appears the company isn’t done clearing up the problems yet: A up-to-date internal investigation has revealed that Toyota cheated in crash tests of seven Japanese models.
According to layoff from Toyota earlier this week, these seven vehicles “were tested using methods that differed from government standards.” Toyota says there are “no performance issues that would conflict with laws and regulations,” which apparently means the cars still pass all necessary government crash tests, but not clerk tests that are challenging to prove. Affected models include, according to Toyota:
- Crown, produced in 2014-2020
- Isis, produced in 2015-2018
- Sienta, produced in 2015-2022
- Lexus RX, produced in 2015-2022
- Corolla Axio produced from 2015 to the present
- Corolla Fielder, produced from 2015 to present
- Yaris Cross, produced from 2015 to present
The Lexus RX is particularly intriguing, being the only vehicle on the list that reached North American shores. Toyota claims it’s on the “Engine Management System Adjustments” list during the “Engine Power Test,” but it’s strenuous to tell if that refers to power ratings, fuel economy, emissions, or something else. However, given that Lexus of America did not mention this issue, it may not apply in this case.
For the affected Axio, Fielder and Yaris Cross models still in showrooms, production has been suspended and sales orders have been placed on hold until the cars are re-certified. However, Toyota maintains that these cars are completely secure for those who already own them. I guess we’ll have to see if the relevant regulators agree to this.
