Rockley resident Dale Malcolm’s Hilux is among around 179,000 Hilux vehicles built between April 2004 and December 2009 to be recalled by Toyota in order to replace a spiral cable located between the steering wheel and steering column.

In a statement, Toyota said the spiral cable, which is part of the car’s supplementary restraint system, may become damaged when the steering wheel is repeatedly turned. 

If the cable is damaged, the SRS airbag warning light will illuminate and the driver’s airbag may not deploy in an accident. 

Mrs Malcolm said she was surprised by the news. She said she had chosen to buy a second-hand Hilux last year for its reputation for sturdiness and reliability.

“I chose a Hilux because I had been out driving and had hit a kangaroo which jumped up onto my car and squashed it,” she said. “I wanted something big with a bullbar that I would be safe in.”

Toyota are also recalling around 118,600 previous generation Yaris models built between June 2005 and May 2010. There is a possibility that if the seat in these cars is moved forwards and backwards frequently, the spring locking the driver’s seat track in position may break.

Toyota has stated that the recall of the two vehicles is a preventative measure, and there had been no reports of any accidents or injuries as a result of these conditions. They added that the conditions are not expected to affect all recalled vehicles. 

Mrs Malcolm said it was good that Toyota were recalling the vehicles and she would still be happy to purchase from the brand in the future.

“I would think that if they are recalling them, most people will still support them,” she said. “They are taking on the responsibility and addressing the problem before it starts to cause any problems.”

“It is good they have alerted the public to the issue. Imagine if people started having accidents, or worse someone died in an accident, because they didn’t fix the issue.”

She said while getting repairs could be inconvenient, she would definitely take the time to get her vehicle inspected and make sure it was safe.

Toyota have stated that motorists can continue to drive these vehicles, however if the SRS airbag warning light on their instrument panel illuminates or they experience any difficulties locking the front seats into place, they should contact their local Toyota dealer to have their vehicle inspected. 

Affected customers will be notified by mail at their last known address and asked to make an appointment at an authorised Toyota dealer.