Toyota recalls 396,000 vehicles in N. America

Toyota Motor Corp. is recalling 396,000 vehicles in North America for a third time due to a suspension issue that could result in loss of control when driving.

The recall involves the Toyota RAV4 sport-utility vehicle from the 2006-2011 model years and the Lexus HS 250h sedan from the 2010 model year.

The latest action is the third time these vehicles have been the subject of a suspension-related recall, following ones in 2012 and 2013.

Toyota said rust can form on the suspension arm threads if the nuts for adjusting rear-wheel alignment were not tightened correctly. Continued rust damage could lead to the suspension arm separating from the vehicle and a loss of control.

==Kyodo

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Toyota recalls 625,000 Prius cars, other hybrids globally

Toyota on Wednesday recalled 625,000 hybrid vehicles globally, mostly the Prius model favored by the eco-conscious including Hollywood celebrities, over a defect that can bring the car to an unexpected stop.

The Japanese automaker said the problem was linked to software that controls a power converter, similar to an issue last year that led to the recall of 1.9 million Prius cars -- Toyota's biggest ever for its signature petrol-electric vehicle.

Toyota, the world's biggest car maker, added that no accidents or injuries had been reported.

"In limited instances, the hybrid system might shut down while the vehicle is being driven, resulting in the loss of power, bringing the vehicle to stop," it said.

The latest call back affected the Prius V, which is also sold as the Prius Alpha and Prius+, as well as some Auris hybrid vehicles.

More than half the recalled vehicles were sold in Japan with most of the others in North America and Europe between May 2010 and November 2014.

The Prius was one of the first hybrid cars to go mainstream and was quickly adopted as a symbol of green technology, with the likes of actors Leonardo DiCaprio and Cameron Diaz snapped behind the wheel.

Toyota has sold more than seven million hybrid cars globally since the debut of its Prius hybrid in 1997 in the first mass production of green cars.

It has roughly 30 hybrid models sold in more than 90 countries worldwide.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Toyota, Nissan recall 6.5-M cars globally over exploding airbag fears

TOKYO - Toyota and rival Nissan on Wednesday announced the recall of about 6.5 million vehicles globally in the latest chapter of an exploding airbag crisis linked to at least five deaths.

The world's biggest automaker said its recall of five million vehicles affected 35 models globally produced between March 2003 to November 2007, while Nissan said its recall of 1.56 million vehicles worldwide was also due to faulty airbags made by embattled supplier Takata.

"This will affect many of our markets, including Japan, Europe and North America," a Nissan spokesman told AFP, adding that the explosion risk was among a range of problems seen in the defective airbags.

"There might be many factors. (But) we have seen risks that the metal casing for inflators can malfunction."

Nissan's recall affects a range of models produced between 2004 and 2008.

Both automakers said there were no reports of deaths or injuries linked to their latest airbag-linked recall.

The announcement comes after about 20 million vehicles produced by major automakers, including General Motors and Honda, were recalled because of the risk that their Takata-made airbags could improperly inflate and rupture, potentially firing deadly shrapnel at the occupants.

At least five deaths have been linked to the defect, with one US woman's death intially investigated as a murder due to her grisly injuries.

The scandal has seen Japan-based Takata -- one of the world's biggest airbag suppliers -- hit with lawsuits and regulatory probes.

Toyota said the latest recall affects 1.35 million vehicles sold in Japan, 637,000 sold in the United States and 1.26 million in Europe.

"We have been conducting various ongoing investigations regarding Takata-produced airbag inflators," it said in an email.

"Among the parts collected from the Japanese market, certain types of airbag inflators were found to have a potential for moisture intrusion over time. As a result, they could be susceptible to abnormal deployment in a crash."

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Toyota Lexus to recall some 2006-2011 models

DETROIT - Toyota Motor Corp will recall 422,509 of its luxury brand Lexus vehicles in the United States because of a possible fuel leak that increases the risk of fire, U.S. regulators said on Friday.

The recall covers Lexus LS from model years 2007 to 2010, Lexus GS from 2006 to 2011 and Lexus IS from 2006 to 2011.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said fuel might leak where the fuel pressure sensor is attached to the fuel delivery pipe. If a spark occurs, fire could start.

Toyota told the NHTSA that it was not aware of any fires or injuries caused by this condition.

Beginning next month, Toyota is to notify owners of various versions of the three models affected and tell them to bring their vehicles into dealerships for repair.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Toyota to recall over 70,000 Crown, hybrid cars

TOKYO - Toyota Motor Corp. said Wednesday it will recall a total of 74,662 vehicles including five gasoline-powered models and two hybrid cars.

Subject to the recall are the Crown luxury car, the Mark X sedan, the Lexus GS350, the Lexus IS350C, and the Harrier and Kluger hybrids.

The automaker will also recall a total of around 290,000 vehicles exported overseas, it said.

In a report to the Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Ministry, Toyota said the engines of the gasoline-powered models could stall due to a fault in a device controlling air intake.

As for the hybrid models, an electronic part in their hybrid systems could be damaged due to heat, causing motors and power generators to stop working.

No accidents have been reported so far.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Toyota to recall 7.4 million vehicles

TOKYO - Japan's Toyota Motor Corp announced a massive recall on Wednesday to fix malfunctioning power window switches, saying it will pull back 7.43 million vehicles worldwide in the biggest single recall since 1996, performed by Ford Motor Co.

The move comes as Japan's biggest automaker tries to rebuild trust after a series of recalls between 2009 and 2011 in which it pulled back around 10 million vehicles, and as it struggles with plummeting Chinese sales as a result of a Sino-Japanese territorial dispute.

The recall primarily affects cars in the United States, China and Europe. Toyota's main rivals in the U.S. include Ford and General Motors Co, while in China they include Volkswagen AG, Hyundai Motor Co  and Nissan Motor Co Ltd, and in Europe Hyundai and Nissan.

The recall will include some Yaris and Corolla models on which the power window switches can be repaired in about 40 minutes, the company said.

"The process to repair (the power window switch) is not an extensive one," spokeswoman Monika Saito said, adding that it would involve putting heat-resistant lubricant on the switches, or exchanging them.

Toyota declined to disclose how much the recall would cost, or how it might affect its earnings.

The recall will include 2.47 million vehicles in the United States, as well as 1.40 million vehicles in China and 1.39 million vehicles in Europe.

In Japan, Toyota is recalling about 459,300 vehicles, including the Vitz, produced between 2006 and 2008.

The firm is also recalling 650,000 vehicles in Australia and Asia, 490,000 vehicles in the Near and Middle East, 240,000 vehicles in Canada and 330,000 vehicles elsewhere, said Shino Yamada, another spokeswoman for Toyota.

The vehicles recalled outside Japan include certain models of the Yaris, Vios, Corolla, Matrix, Auris, Camry, RAV4, Highlander, Tundra, Sequoia, xB and xD produced between 2005 and 2010.

The first time the problem was reported was in September 2008 in the United States, Saito said.

No accidents, injuries or deaths have been reported as a result of the problem, though there is a possibility that the malfunctioning switches could emit smoke, she said.

The move comes a day after Toyota reported that its sales fell 48.9 percent year-on-year in China in September. Japanese car brands have suffered as a result of an outbreak of anti-Japan sentiment in China in response to a territorial dispute between the two countries.

In 1996, Ford pulled back 8 million vehicles to replace defective ignition switches that could have caused engine fires.

source: abs-cbnnews.com

Another Toyota Recall

Another Toyota Recall Toyota plans to recall nearly 270,000 Toyota models over engines that could interrupt due to defective valve springs. Cars involve include the luxury Lexus sedans.

There are roughly 270,000 Lexus brand vehicles affected worldwide. The recall is not yet official and Toyota PR team has not announced their intentions yet. Toyota spokesman Hideaki Homma said the company was taking all measures to reduce the problem of defective engines place while the vehicle is running. He refused to confirm the withdrawal is considered. The agreement with the sources, there are circumstances where the engines produce models of an unusual noise or idle becomes unstable due to defects in components connected and related to the engines.