A Toyota Motor Corp. advisory panel recently issued a report detailing the company’s operations in connection to the auto recall in 2009 and 2010. In March 2010, Toyota President Akio Toyoda created the North American Quality Advisory Panel in response to the recall of millions of autos in the U.S. and abroad. The panel, led by former Transportation Secretary Rodney Slater, reviewed the company’s operations for more than a year before releasing a detailed report.

Bloomberg.com reported flaws linked to unintended acceleration, specifically, floor mates at risk of jamming accelerators and sticky gas pedals sparked the recall. Toyota paid $48.8 million in fines and the company president, along with other officials, was called before Congress. (more…)

For the third time in a row, Toyota is starting a new year out with a car recall. Toyota just announced a recall of 1.705 million vehicles including nearly 245,000 Lexus sedans in the U.S.

The U.S. Lexus recall includes the following models: 2006-07 GS 300 and GS 350, 2006-09 IS 250, and 2006-08 IS 350. According to Toyota, insufficient tightening of the fuel pressure sensor, which is connected to some engine fuel delivery pipes that have nickel-phosphorus plating, may cause the pressure sensor to loosen. This could cause fuel to leak past a gasket that’s used in the connection between the sensor and the fuel delivery pipe. It could also leak through the threaded part of the sensor. (more…)

Underweight metronidazole tablets have been recalled by Teva Pharmaceuticals. Taking metronidazole pills that are underweight and lack an appropriate amount of active ingredient could result in a worsening of the infection they are meant to treat, which in some instances could become life-threatening.

Teva said it has not learned of any side effects associated with underweight metronidazole tablets. (more…)

Parents who have Britax car seat need to check to see if it is a “Chaperone” model. Today, 23,000 Britax Chaperone Infant Car Seats are being recalled by the company because they can seriously injury children.

The problem with the Britax Chaperone Infant Car Seats is that the harness chest clip can break, which in and of itself is a laceration hazard. But because the broken piece is so small, it also poses a choking hazard. There have been four reports of the chest clip breaking. Injuries from three reports included minor lacerations and scratches to arms and a finger; and one report involved an infant placing the clip in his mouth. (more…)

There have been 12 more reports of explosions linked to Spa Factory™ Aromatherapy Fountain & Bath Benefits Kits, prompting the US Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) to re-issue a recall for the children’s kits that was first announced in January 2009. The latest explosions have been linked to 13 new injuries.

JAKKS Pacific® Spa Factory™ Spa Fantasy Aromatherapy Fountain & Bath Benefits Kits were sold at Sam’s Club, Walmart, Target, and other stores nationwide from August 2008 through August 2010. They sold for between $13 and $50 and continue to be available in some stores. (more…)

Bausch & Lomb is issuing another recall this week, this time for its PreserVision® Eye Vitamin AREDS 2 Formula with Omega 3 Soft Gels. The recall comes just weeks after Bausch & Lomb recalled some of its ReNu contact lens solutions overseas.

The recalled PreserVision® Eye Vitamin AREDS 2 Formula with Omega 3 Soft Gels are only available within the United States. This recall involves lot numbers 0923BK103, 0924BK103, 0924BK103A, 0925BK103A, 0926BK103A, 0927BK103A, 0928BK103A, 0929BK103A, 0930BK103A. The UPC Code is 24208 62584 and the expiration date is 08/31/2011. PreserVision Eye Vitamin AREDS 2 Formula with Omega 3 soft gels are packaged in 60 count bottles. The current dosage for the AREDS 2 formulation is two soft gels per day. (more…)

Nap Nanny® Recliners have been implicated in the death of an infant, prompting
Baby Matters of Berwyn, Pennsylvania, to recall the product. The Nap Nanny® is a portable recliner designed for sleeping, resting and playing. The recliner includes a foam base with an inclined indentation for the infant to sit in and a fitted fabric cover and a three-point harness.

The Consumer Products Safeyt Commission (CPSC) is investigating a report of a four-month-old girl from Royal Oak, Michigan who died in a Nap Nanny® being used in a crib. According to preliminary reports, the infant was in her harness and found hanging over the side of the product, caught between the Nap Nanny® and the crib bumper. (more…)

A federal grand jury is looking into the way Toyota handled defective steering rods in some of its vehicles. The automaker revealed yesterday that its US subsidiaries had received subpoenas last month demanding documents about such defects.

The newly-revealed grand jury investigation is just the latest headache for Toyota this year. Since last November, Toyota has recalled about 8.5 million vehicles worldwide to resolve the floor-mat interference and sticking pedal problems that may lead to incidents of unintended acceleration. Some vehicles are subject to both recalls. Complaints to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) attribute 93 deaths to sudden acceleration of a Toyota vehicle. (more…)

Toyota is looking bad again. Federal regulators say the automaker planted a recent story in The Wall Street Journal that blamed driver error for accidents involving the unintended acceleration of some of its vehicles.

Since last November, Toyota has recalled about 8.5 million vehicles worldwide to resolve the floor-mat interference and sticking pedal problems that may lead to incidents of unintended acceleration. Some vehicles are subject to both recalls. Complaints to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) attribute 93 deaths to sudden acceleration of a Toyota vehicle. (more…)

Johnson & Johnson, already under fire for a massive recall of children’s medicine issued in April by its McNeil Consumer Healthcare Unit, is now facing another investigation. This one involves an alleged “phantom recall” of some Motrin tablets that occurred in 2008.

Last week, the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee conducted a hearing into the children’s medicine recall, which led to the revelation of Motrin incident. Documents released by the Committee showed that McNeil hired contractors to buy Motrin IB caplets under orders not to mention the term “recall” after learning in November 2008 that the drugs were not dissolving properly. A memo titled “Motrin Purchase Project” instructed the contractors to “on your schedule to locate and purchase” all of the Motrin eight-count packages. The document further instructed them to “‘act’ like a regular customer in making these purchases.” (more…)