Lexus LS adds to Toyota’s recall woes – but only 40 UK cars affected.

The Lexus LS600h recalled form steering fault

Lexus are recalling a total of 11,500 Lexus LS 600h and Lexus LS 460 models to fix a problem with the Variable Gear Ratio Steering (VGRS). Just 40 UK cars affected.

They say it never rains but it pours, but for Toyota 2010 has been a Monsoon season seemingly without respite. The massive ‘Throttlegate’ recall is finally being spun in to a positive by Toyota and – to be entirely fair to them – all the millions of fixes worldwide have just about been done.

But now comes yet another recall, this time for the flagship car in Toyota’s flagship range – the Lexus LS, with the Lexus LS 600h and Lexus LS 460 affected. But let’s get some perspective on this one.

Cars are recalled all the time. Toyota got some deservedly bad press over the sticky accelerator problems, which had more to do with Toyota’s apparent desire to hide the problem before being forced to address it fully. Which, unfortunately for them, means that they’re lumbered – at least for the foreseeable future – with having the woes of Throttlegate rolled out every time they issue a recall – just like this.

But this recall is tiny. Just 11,500 cars worldwide are affected and only around 40 in the UK. The problem is with the Variable Gear Ratio Steering (VGRS), which changes the ‘Feel’ of the steering depending on a number of inputs, including speed and load.

It would seem that there have been a handful of reports that the steering doesn’t self-centre properly from a full lock. The Toyota press release actually says:

The problem occurs at low speed when manoeuvring the steering wheel to full lock position.  If the driver then returns the steering wheel very fast, this could lead to a steering wheel off-centre condition even though the driving wheels would be straight. This phenomenon will be resolved automatically in a few seconds and the driver may notice this correction as the steering wheel centre moves slowly by itself to the centre position when driving straight during the correction operation.  The driver remains in control of the vehicle as the steering wheel self corrects itself.

As we said, not a big deal and it’s being fixed.