Toyota recall not driving students back to dealers

Toyota is recalling 2.3 million vehicles in the United States. (John Kruger/TommieMedia)

With Toyota’s accelerator recall making headlines, St. Thomas students seem relatively unaffected by the problem.

Nationwide, 2.3 million vehicles, comprising eight models, have been recalled. Toyota’s Lexus and Scion brands are not included in the recall.

Toyota vehicles made in Japan also are not affected by the recall. Those vehicles’ identification numbers begin with a “J.”

Freshman Sarah Flynn said her sister’s Toyota, which she got around Christmas, was affected by the problem.

“My sister filed a form at the attorney general’s office,” Flynn said. “She got the car from Rudy Luther’s Toyota and she contacted the person that sold it to her.”

Toyota has announced that new parts to fix the problem are being sent to dealers. Although the solution seems rushed, Toyota reassures customers that the part has gone through extensive testing to ensure safety.

The actual repair takes about 30 minutes, and some dealers are staying open 24 hours a day to complete the recall campaign as quickly as possible.

Rebecca Omastiak contributed to this report.

Stephani Bloomquist can be reached at slbloomquist@stthomas.edu.