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| Toyota defends car recall delay | Toyota defends car recall delay |
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| Toyota has defended the timing of a recall of 220,000 vehicles in the UK following an accelerator problem. | Toyota has defended the timing of a recall of 220,000 vehicles in the UK following an accelerator problem. |
| Although concerns were raised about vehicles in late 2008, they were a quality rather than a safety issue, Toyota's Scott Brownlee told the BBC. | Although concerns were raised about vehicles in late 2008, they were a quality rather than a safety issue, Toyota's Scott Brownlee told the BBC. |
| Reports about the latest issue with "sticky accelerators" began in October but a recall has now been put in place. | Reports about the latest issue with "sticky accelerators" began in October but a recall has now been put in place. |
| The carmaker said models including the Yaris, the Corolla and the RAV4 sports utility vehicle were affected. | The carmaker said models including the Yaris, the Corolla and the RAV4 sports utility vehicle were affected. |
| The company is recalling up to 1.8 million cars across Europe, including about 220,000 in the UK, having announced it was recalling millions of cars in the US and China. | The company is recalling up to 1.8 million cars across Europe, including about 220,000 in the UK, having announced it was recalling millions of cars in the US and China. |
| The eight models recalled are the Aygo, iQ, Yaris, Auris, Corolla, Verso, Avensis and RAV4 and cover manufacturing dates going back to February 2005. The recall does not affect Lexus models, Toyota said. | The eight models recalled are the Aygo, iQ, Yaris, Auris, Corolla, Verso, Avensis and RAV4 and cover manufacturing dates going back to February 2005. The recall does not affect Lexus models, Toyota said. |
| Toyota said it was not aware of any accidents resulting from the issue and that only a limited number of incidents involving accelerator pedals had been reported in Europe. | Toyota said it was not aware of any accidents resulting from the issue and that only a limited number of incidents involving accelerator pedals had been reported in Europe. |
| Defence | Defence |
| In an interview with the BBC Working Lunch programme, Mr Brownlee said that there had been reports in the winter of 2008 of a stiff accelerator pedal, but then the reports dried up from March. | In an interview with the BBC Working Lunch programme, Mr Brownlee said that there had been reports in the winter of 2008 of a stiff accelerator pedal, but then the reports dried up from March. |
| We had to investigate to identify the cause of the problem to see if there was a common issue and identify how we could fix it Scott Brownlee, Toyota | We had to investigate to identify the cause of the problem to see if there was a common issue and identify how we could fix it Scott Brownlee, Toyota |
| The pedal was redesigned and began to be fitted in models from August. | The pedal was redesigned and began to be fitted in models from August. |
| "There was no indication at that point of a sticking throttle that was going to cause a safety issue," he said. | "There was no indication at that point of a sticking throttle that was going to cause a safety issue," he said. |
| "The first indication we had of a problem that was going to be a safety issue was in late last year [2009]." | "The first indication we had of a problem that was going to be a safety issue was in late last year [2009]." |
| The first reports came in the US in October and the UK in November, and Mr Brownlee said the recall had come "as quickly as possible" after that. | The first reports came in the US in October and the UK in November, and Mr Brownlee said the recall had come "as quickly as possible" after that. |
| "We had to investigate to identify the cause of the problem to see if there was a common issue and identify how we could fix it," Mr Brownlee said. | "We had to investigate to identify the cause of the problem to see if there was a common issue and identify how we could fix it," Mr Brownlee said. |
| There had been 26 reports of the problem in Europe. | |
| He added that an accelerator pedal could be stiff or heavy to press, and "in the worst case" would stick. If that happened a driver should press firmly on the brake, put the car into neutral, and pull over when safe. | He added that an accelerator pedal could be stiff or heavy to press, and "in the worst case" would stick. If that happened a driver should press firmly on the brake, put the car into neutral, and pull over when safe. |
| He said that anyone who suffered a problem should call the Toyota hotline, and should not get the problem fixed independently. | |
| The carmaker is also working with the DVLA and will write to car owners whose vehicles could be affected - a process that could take 10 days. This will also include owners who have bought the cars second-hand. | The carmaker is also working with the DVLA and will write to car owners whose vehicles could be affected - a process that could take 10 days. This will also include owners who have bought the cars second-hand. |
| A website that would allow owners to check their vehicles registration number was also being developed. |