Toyota recalls 760,000 RAV4s and 18,000 Lexus HS250h hybrids over faulty suspension

By Stephen Edelstein Published August 2, 2012

Toyota is recalling roughly 760,000 RAV4s and 18,000 Lexus HS250h hybrid sedans due to faulty suspension components that could fail and cause drivers to lose control of their vehicles.

The rear suspension arms in the affected cars can rust prematurely, wearing out and eventually breaking from their mounting points. According to the Associated Press, the corrosion problem is caused by nuts that aren’t properly tightened after a wheel alignment. Without a suspension arm to properly orient each of the rear wheels, they have no inclination to travel in a straight line. Consequently, a car experiencing a rear suspension failure could skid or spin out of control.

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Toyota does not have a solution for this problem, but it said it would notify owners when a fix is figured out. The company said it will notify owners by mail and, of course, will fix their cars for free. Until then, owners are being told to contact their dealers if they hear any unusual noises in the rears of their cars.

The recall includes RAV4s made in model years 2006 through 2011, as well as 2010 HS250h models. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) opened its own investigation June 4, looking into rear suspension defects in 2006 to 2008 RAV4s, totaling 460,000 vehicles. The NHTSA said that the rear suspension arm “may fail due to corrosion, potentially causing a loss of vehicle control.”

The agency said it had received seven complaints of rusty rear suspension arms on the affected models. One driver reported skidding across four lanes of traffic on an interstate when the rear suspension came apart. Toyota said it knew of nine crashes, and three minor injuries, due to these rear suspension failures.

The rear suspension recall and government investigation are the latest of many quality issues bedeviling Toyota’s compact SUV. In another ongoing investigation, the NHTSA is looking into the potential for power window switches to cause door fires.

Last year, 2007 and 2008 model year RAV4s were recalled for airbags that could go off without warning, which brings us back to 2010 and the infamous “unintended acceleration due to stuck floor mats” extravaganza. RAV4s built for model years 2009 and 2010 were part of the multi million vehicle recall over allegedly sticky gas pedals.

Stephen Edelstein

Contributing Editor

Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…

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Jeep Compass EV breaks cover—but will it come to the U.S.?

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Jeep just pulled the wraps off the all-new Compass EV, and while it’s an exciting leap into the electric future, there's a catch—it might not make it to the U.S. anytime soon.
This is a brand new electric version of the Jeep Compass, and being built on Stellantis' STLA platform—the same architecture underpinning models like the Peugeot E-3008 and E-5008—it looks much slicker and packs a lot more inside than previous versions of the Compass.
Let’s start with what’s cool: the new Compass EV is packing up to 404 miles of range on a single charge, a 74 kWh battery, and fast-charging that gets you from 20% to 80% in about 30 minutes. Not bad for a compact SUV with Jeep's badge on the nose.
There are two versions: a front-wheel-drive model with 213 horsepower and a beefier all-wheel-drive version with 375 horsepower. That AWD setup isn’t just for looks—it can handle 20% inclines even without front traction, and comes with extra ground clearance and better off-road angles. In short, it’s still a Jeep.
The design's been refreshed too, and inside you’ll find the kind of tech and comfort you’d expect in a modern EV—sleek, smart, and ready for both city streets and dirt trails.
But here’s the thing: even though production starts soon in Italy, Jeep hasn’t said whether the Compass EV is coming to America. And the signs aren’t promising.
Plans to build it in Canada were recently put on hold, with production now delayed until at least early 2026. Some of that might have to do with possible U.S. tariffs on Canadian and Mexican vehicles—adding a layer of uncertainty to the whole rollout.
According to Kelley Blue Book, a Stellantis spokesperson confirmed that the company has “temporarily paused work on the next-generation Jeep Compass, including activities at” the Canadian plant that was originally meant to build the model. They added that Stellantis is “reassessing its product strategy in North America” to better match customer needs and demand for different powertrain options.
So while Europe and other markets are gearing up to get the Compass EV soon, American drivers might be left waiting—or miss out entirely.
That’s a shame, because on paper, this electric Jeep hits a lot of sweet spots. Let’s just hope it finds a way over here.

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Tesla just scrapped the Cybertruck range extender

Tesla CEO Elon Musk behind the wheel of a Cybertruck.

The writing was pretty much on the wall for the Cybertruck range extender last month when Tesla removed the option from its website. Now, it’s officially scrapped it and is refunding the $2,000 deposits that customers put down for the $16,000 battery pack.

“We are no longer planning to sell the range extender for Cybertruck," Tesla said in a message to customers on Wednesday, adding, "As a result, we will be refunding your deposit in full.”

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Zoox recalls robotaxis after Las Vegas crash, citing software fix

Amazon's self-driving vehicle unit, Zoox, has issued a voluntary safety recall after one of its autonomous vehicles was involved in a minor collision in Las Vegas. The incident, which occurred in April 2025, led the company to investigate and identify a software issue affecting how the robotaxi anticipates another vehicle’s path.
The recall, affecting 270 Zoox-built vehicles, was formally filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Zoox said the issue has already been addressed through a software update that was remotely deployed to its fleet.
Zoox’s robotaxis, which operate without driving controls like a steering wheel or pedals, are part of Amazon’s entry into the autonomous driving space. According to Zoox’s safety recall report, the vehicle failed to yield to oncoming traffic while making an unprotected left turn, leading to a low-speed collision with a regular passenger car. While damage was minor, the event raised flags about the system’s behavior in complex urban scenarios.
Establishing safety and reliability remain key factors in the deployment of the relatively new autonomous ride-hailing technology. Alphabet-owned Waymo continues to lead the sector in both safety and operational scale, with services active in multiple cities including Phoenix and San Francisco. But GM’s Cruise and Ford/VW-backed Argo AI were forced to abandon operations over the past few years.
Tesla is also expected to enter the robotaxi race with the launch of its own service in June 2025, leveraging its Full Self-Driving (FSD) software. While FSD has faced heavy regulatory scrutiny through last year, safety regulations are expected to loosen under the Trump administration.
Zoox, which Amazon acquired in 2020, says it issued the recall voluntarily as part of its commitment to safety. “It’s essential that we remain transparent about our processes and the collective decisions we make,” the company said in a statement.