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January 19, 2024

Toyota Motor PH Recalling Avanza, Veloz For Insufficient Side-Impact Protection


Heads up, Avanza and Veloz owners. Apart from the Customer Satisfaction Campaign for the brake cylinder slide pin, Toyota Motor Philippines has announced a Special Service Campaign to reinforce your side-impact beam.

According to Toyota, an improper weld in the front right-hand side impact beam was found. Because the beam may not perform as designed and the strength of the beam could be insufficient during a side collision, excessive injury may result to the vehicle occupant.

The recall affects the following units:
  • Toyota Avanza – 1,285 units (produced from November 3 to 24, 2022)
  • Toyota Veloz – 1,471 units (produced from November 3 to 24, 2022)
To fix the problem, Toyota will install a reinforcement bracket. Additional welding will also be done to the defective weld points. These will be done at no cost to the customers.

It’s unknown whether this recall is connected to the global side-impact safety scandal that has affected several Toyota models, including the Avanza and Veloz.

To recall, an internal investigation revealed that Daihatsu, which supplies these vehicles to Toyota under an OE supply agreement, improperly certified it for its UN-R135 test. The UN-R135 test is a side-impact test which has a utility pole-like object impacted against the side of the vehicle at a speed of 32 km/h from a distance of 254 mm, with the vehicle angled at 75 degrees to the left and the right. To be properly certified, both left and right tests must be performed. It was revealed that while the passenger side (left) was tested in presence of witnesses, the driver’s seat side (right) simply used the data on the left side.

Separately, the Wigo and the DNGA-based Vios were also called out for modified door notches, which were used in their certification tests, but are not present in the production models.

Eventually, Daihatsu has admitted to forging safety tests for 30 years leading to Toyota to implement a management restructure of the entire company.

18 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. When toyota does a recall - good move

      When ford does a recall - found on road dead

      Selective yarn?

      Delete
  2. Hi Sir Uly,

    I'm curious since I own a Toyota-rebadged Daihatsu.

    This recall is for insufficient side-impact protection.

    The Daihatsu scandal was also regarding side-impact tests, right?
    Surely they're related?

    ReplyDelete
  3. No official word from TMP if it's related to the global recall, but it could be.

    Remember, the side-impact test was originally found to be rigged because they simply used the results of the LH for the RH as well when tests have to be done on both sides.

    Maybe upon further investigation, the RH needs additional bracing to fulfill its side-impact test design?

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  4. Hmm TMP guilty 🤫

    ReplyDelete
  5. Last information they released that Daihatsu units sold in the Phils are not affected since these were manufactured in Indonesia. The recall was a good move though to ensure safety.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Recall good memories be or cover up?

      Delete
    2. both the Avanza and the Veloz from Indonesia are also affected.

      Delete
  6. Daihatsu plant in japan is now closed until further notice. Toyota takes the blame. Re opening of the plant - who knows when..

    ReplyDelete
  7. This is as good an admission that the global recall affects the Phils. Toyota too. They must've felt nobody would believe them.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I'm sure they're starting to feel insecure telling ppl the Phils is not affected by the recalls in other countries. They thought nobody's believing them.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Just always avoid buying DNGA vehicles produced by Daihatsu Indonesia
    Stargazer,Ertiga Mild Hybrid,Xpander/Livina and M6 Pro are much miles better than the Avanza and Veloz

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. At first, the price of avanza models look like a bargain compared to the competition, but there were additional cost which were already standard in other brands. We were surprised that the avanza had no engine covers (even a plastic one, under and above). The SA said we needed to shell out additional money to get them. They were also supposed to be available online, but if we did, the price will become at par to the other brands. The low acquisition cost was just a mirage.

      Delete
  10. Why aren't all Avanzas and Velozes recalled? So the earlier models have the correct welds while the latter ones were improper meaning they changed it for the worse?

    ReplyDelete
  11. Sir Uly, in other car sites, they report it as a problem on weld at the front passenger side which might place the passenger at risk in case of collision.
    If that was the case, its probably a weld design flaw. So perhaps this is a shortcoming by the Design and R&D team, not the Production team. The former might not have conducted full testing before releasing to production.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's what I also said. An improper weld that may provide insufficient crash protection.

      I also said that we're not sure if this is related in some way to the global Daihatsu safety scandal, but I did recall people to the fact that there was an issue related to the side impact test results for Daihatsu models before.

      Delete
    2. The proper term used in the special service campaign is RH Front Side Impact Beam.

      Delete

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