TORRANCE, Calif., February 12, 2010 – Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc, today announced it will conduct a voluntary safety recall to inspect the front drive shaft on a small production run of certain 2010 model year Tacoma 4WD trucks.  The front shaft in approximately 8,000 vehicles may include a component that contains cracks that developed during the manufacturing process.  As those vehicles are used, the cracks may eventually lead to the separation of the drive shaft at the joint portion.

This condition only involves two specific front drive shaft production lot numbers installed in certain 2010 model year Tacoma 4WD vehicles. No other Toyota or Lexus vehicles are involved.

Dealers will be instructed to perform an inspection to identify the specific lot numbers located on the front drive shaft. Based upon the inspection results, in a limited number of cases, the front drive shaft may need to be replaced.

The inspection is estimated to take ten minutes.  The inspection and/or replacement will be performed at no cost to the vehicle owner.

Toyota will notify owners by first class mail starting in mid-March, 2010.

Detailed information and answers to questions about issues related to this recall are available to customers at www.toyota.com/recall and at the Toyota Customer Experience Center at 1-800-331-4331.

Through 45 years of compact pickup truck heritage, Toyota has continued its sales dominance in this competitive segment with the Tacoma. Starting with the Stout in 1964, followed by the Hilux in 1969, Toyota Compact Pickup in 1976, and for the last 15 years the Tacoma, Toyota’s compact pickups have been a leader in the evolution of the compact pickup segment.

The Toyota truck started out as basic and functional and through the years became more powerful, with added roominess and refinement. Throughout, it was always rugged and reliable.  It has defined, and redefined the meaning of a phrase that has become synonymous with the Toyota brand, quality, durability and reliability.

Now in its eighth generation, Toyota has sold more than five and one-half million compact pickups in the U.S.  Presently, Tacoma commands a nearly 40 percent market share in its segment, outselling its closest competitor by more than 2:1.

After receiving extensive interior and exterior revisions in 2009, the 2010 model year Tacoma carries over unchanged.

The Tacoma is assembled at the New United Motor Manufacturing, Inc. (NUMMI) production facility in Fremont, Calif. and Toyota Motor Manufacturing de Baja California (TMMBC) production facility in Tijuana, Baja California., Mexico.