An investigation into the sale of counterfeit brake pads containing the banned substance asbestos has lead to an online supplier recalling the parts in Australia.
The news follows an earlier announcement from Toyota Australia that warned owners of its popular HiLux and HiAce vehicles that the counterfeit pads were being advertised on eBay as genuine Toyota parts.
It is understood that the counterfeit brake pads had been sold online between June 2013 and October this year. Asbestos has been banned from use in brake pads since 2003.
This week, Toyota Australia and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission have confirmed that the vendor, Westend Spares, has been instructed to recall the brake pads and to offer affected customers a full refund.
Specific instructions for return or disposal of the extremely hazardous products can be found on the recalls.gov.au website.
Toyota Australia corporate manager Wayne Gabriel said that although the carmaker was “shockedâ€, it is “pleased with the supplier’s swift actionâ€.
“We will continue our ongoing work to stamp out counterfeit parts that put customers’ safety at risk,†Gabriel said.
The carmaker is also in the middle of an investigation into counterfeit airbag spiral cables sold in Australia as genuine Toyota parts.
Speaking with CarAdvice today, Toyota Australia acting manager for corporate affairs Beck Angel said that the company hopes “to have an outcome soon, which we will share when finalisedâ€.
It is believed that the supplier of the counterfeit brake pads may also be selling the phony spiral cables, along with water pumps and wheel bearings.
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