Toyota New Zealand is recalling thousands of RAV4 vehicles manufactured between 2005 and 2014 over a possible safety fault involving seatbelts.
The recall affects 9436 vehicles in New Zealand and 2,696,300 worldwide. There had been no reported incidents in New Zealand so far, the company said.
In the event of a high-speed collision there was a possibility the lap belt could contact the seat cushion frame. If that happened, the seatbelt webbing may be compromised and not properly restrain the occupant, the company said.
A report from Australian news agency AAP said Toyota dealers would "add resin protection covers to the metal seat cushion frames".
The free repairs were expected to happen from June and take one hour per vehicle, it said.
Toyota New Zealand said owners of RAV4 vehicles, which are traceable through registration data, would be contacted.
The company said it was investigating how many second hand imported vehicles in New Zealand might also be affected.
- ODT and AAP
