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Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc., today announced that Lexus intends to conduct a voluntary safety recall of approximately 39,000 2003-2007 Model Year LX 470 vehicles to address a steering shaft condition. No other Toyota or Lexus vehicles are involved in this safety recall.

This action follows an announcement made by Toyota Motor Corporation in Japan on July 29, 2010.

Lexus has determined that the construction of the steering shaft on involved LX 470s is such that the snap ring on the shaft may disengage when the vehicle experiences an unusually severe impact to the front wheels, such as striking a deep pothole. If the snap ring becomes disengaged and the steering wheel is then repeatedly turned to the full locked position, the steering shaft may disengage over time.

Lexus is not aware of any accidents related to this condition.

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3,800 Lexus LS sedans were recalled in the U.S. to address a steering system problem. This is a similar recall made by Toyota Japan earlier. The recall covers 2009 and 2010 LS 460 and LS 600h sedans.

The recall is designed to fix a problem in which the steering wheel becomes off-center after a specific driving maneuver. The problem should not occur during normal driving. Lexus dealers will be contacting owners to set up appointments to have the repair performed.

The company has received 12 complaints of the problem in Japan but no accidents caused by the problem were reported either in the U.S. or Japan.

The LS 460 is Lexus’s highest-end four-door sedan, starting at $65,380 in the U.S. The LS 600h is the hybrid version and is priced at $108,800.

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