TORRANCE, CA – Toyota Motor Sales USA Inc. announced plans to conduct a voluntary safety recall of approximately 283,200 Toyota and 137,000 Lexus vehicles to replace the crankshaft pulley on the V6 engine.

The outer ring of the crankshaft pulley may have the potential to become misaligned with the inner ring, causing noise or illumination of the warning light. If this condition is not corrected, the belt for the power steering pump may become detached from the pulley and steering may become more difficult. There are no reports of accidents or injuries related to this condition, Toyota said.

The vehicles involved in this recall are:

• 2004 Avalon

• 2004 and 2005 Camry, Highlander, Sienna and Solara

• 2006 Highlander HV

• 2004 and 2005 ES330 and RX330

• 2006 RX400h.

No other Toyota or Lexus vehicles or these Toyota models with 4 cylinder engines are involved. 

Toyota said it is working to obtain the necessary replacement parts. Once enough replacement parts have been produced, Toyota will notify by mail owners of the recalled vehicles, advising them to make an appointment with an authorized Toyota or Lexus dealer. Dealers will inspect the crankshaft pulley and, if necessary, replace it free of charge. The owner notifications will begin in January 2012. 

But in the meantime, Toyota advised, vehicle owners should go ahead and make an appointment with a dealer if they hear an abnormal noise coming from the engine compartment so the vehicle can be inspected for this condition. 

For more information, visit www.toyota.com/recall or www.lexus.com/recall.