Thousands of vehicles and pedestrians travel through one of the busiest intersections in the entire country of Ethiopia every day. Not one of them stops at a stoplight or stop sign – because there aren’t any! You have to see this insane time-lapse of the square. It looks like utter pandemonium!
Toyota recalls 500K vehicles over braking software issue - Check your VIN
The “Fast & Furious” movie franchise is infamous for high-speed racing and anxiety-inducing drifting around corners. But those are professional drivers, and you should never attempt to do that on public roads.
Unfortunately, some everyday Toyota and Lexus drivers could inadvertently lose stability control and skid all over the freeway. A problem with software in 460,000 vehicles could disable the electronic stability control (ESC) system, posing a severe risk. Tap or click here for details on a similar problem with Ford vehicles.
Read on to see what this recall involves and what you should do next.
Here’s the backstory
The ESC kicks in automatically when drivers start losing traction. The software in vehicles can initiate the wheel brakes individually, keeping the car as straight as possible or in the direction the driver steers.
If the ESC malfunctions, it becomes harder to keep the vehicle under control when something goes wrong, leading to severe accidents. Impacted models were manufactured from 2020 to 2022.
The Toyota models included in the recall are:
- Venza
- Mirai
- RAV4 Hybrid
- RAV4 Prime
- Sienna HV
- Highlander HV
The recall also includes four Lexus models:
- LS500h
- LX600
- NX350h
- NX450h-plus
In a recall statement, Toyota explains that due to “incorrect programming” of the skid control software, the ESC might not turn on when starting your vehicle. Instead, the ESC can only engage “when the precise operating input conditions are followed.”
What you can do about it
740K SUVs recalled - Check the list for yours
It is vital that you clearly see the road and any obstacles when driving at night. Your vehicle’s headlights must illuminate straight ahead with the glow making side objects visible. Tap or click here to see why these headlights catch fire.
Fire risk leads to recall of almost 700,000 SUVs
In a somewhat worrying trend, vehicles have become relatively common to be recalled over manufacturing faults. A handful occurred last year, with the most recent removing thousands of Ford, Kia and Hyundai vehicles from the road.
Criminals are using AirTags to steal cars - These are the most targeted ones in the US
Who enjoys losing their stuff? Nobody. Retracing your steps doesn’t always work and can lead to even more frustration. Fortunately, tech has come a long way to help us solve our simplest problems.
If you own an iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch or Mac, you can imagine the pain of misplacing them. Apple knows this and released a Notify When Left Behind feature to help find lost devices. A recent update added the functionality to AirPods Pro, which is more likely to get misplaced due to its size. Tap or click here to check out how it works.
Recall alert: Thousands of vehicles recalled for bad turn signals, windshield issues
Vehicle owners have had a tough time over the last few months, as millions of vehicles ranging from pickup trucks to small sedans have been recalled. While some issues were minor, others had potentially deadly consequences. Tap or click here to find out why almost 400,000 pickups were recalled in July.
3.3 million vehicles recalled! See if yours is on the list
It seems like we’re always hearing about recalls these days. Whether it’s toy and furniture design flaws or listeria or E. coli in our food, safety recalls are a pretty common scenario in the U.S.
Part of the reason for the steady stream of recalls is technology and safety guidelines are always improving. We have better ways of identifying problematic products than we did before — and we have more thorough ways of identifying people who may be affected. This vehicle recall app is just one of the new tools you can use to get recall alerts.
5 online auction websites to try if you love buying and selling on eBay
Everyone likes saving money and finding ways to put some extra cash in their pockets. Who couldn’t use a few extra bucks?
Maybe you have kids or grandkids you’re helping with college tuition. We all know how expensive that can be! Or maybe you’re just retired and living on a fixed income. If so, every dollar counts.
10M more vehicles added to the biggest auto recall in history
Cars are essential tools for daily life, but they can also be deadly weapons in the wrong hands. That’s why you have to jump through so many hoops to be allowed to drive, and why insurance is a must for any driver, regardless of experience.