Toyota recalling about 90,000 Highlander SUVs over seat belt problem

WASHINGTON: Toyota Motor Corp. plans to recall about 90,000 Highlander sport utility vehicles in the United States. The Japanese automaker wants to fix a problem that could prevent the seat belt in a third-row seat from securing a rear-facing child seat.

Toyota spokesman Bill Kwong said Friday the company had issued a stop sale of the 2008 Highlander SUV and hybrid version with third-row seats to retrofit changes to the seat belt.

There have been no complaints or injuries tied to the seat belts. The vehicles under the recall were built between May 2007 and March 2008. Kwong says owners will be notified of the recall in June, and dealers will install a newly designed seat belt component.