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Toyota recalls 6.4 million vehicles over faults Toyota recalls 6.4 million vehicles over faults
(about 3 hours later)
Japanese car manufacturer Toyota has recalled 6.4 million vehicles globally over five separate glitches, affecting more than 35,000 cars in the UK.Japanese car manufacturer Toyota has recalled 6.4 million vehicles globally over five separate glitches, affecting more than 35,000 cars in the UK.
The company said the glitches were found in various parts ranging from faulty steering wheels, airbags to seats. Toyota said it is not aware of any vehicle crashes, injuries or fatalities caused by the glitches, which were found in 27 models including the RAV4, Hilux, Yaris and Urban Cruiser. The Japanese giant said that five separate production faults were the cause, taking the number of Toyota recalls beyond 25 million over the past two and a half years.
However, it confirmed it received two reports of fires in connection with the engine starter problem. Some 3.5 million vehicles are being recalled to replace a spiral cable which could mean the airbag fails to activate in a crash. Another 2.32 million models might have faulty seat rails, causing the seat to slide forward in a crash. Other problems affect the wiring, engine starters and windscreen wipers.
In some Toyota Yaris and Urban Cruiser models a spring mechanism locking the driver and, in three-door cars, the front passenger seats in position on the adjustment rails may be under-strength and could break if seats are frequently moved back and forwards. Toyota said it was not aware of any crashes or injuries caused by these glitches, which affect 27 of its models. Some 2.3 million of the affected vehicles are in the US, another 1.4 million in Japan, and about 35,000 UK cars are being recalled. These are the RAV4 and Hilux models bought between June 2004 and December 2010 and some Yaris and Urban Cruisers built between January 2005 and August 2010.
If the spring breaks, seats may not lock in position and could move in a crash, increasing the risk of injury to the occupant. Just two months ago, Toyota was forced to call 1.9 million of its most-advanced Prius cars — almost half of the model’s total production — back to garages because of a computer glitch in its hybrid power system.
In addition, the automaker said some 3.5 million vehicles will be recalled to replace a spiral cable attached to the driver's side airbag that could be damaged when the steering wheel is turned, causing the air bag to fail to activate in the event of a crash. Another seven million Toyota vehicles were recalled in 2012 because of a fire risk connected to faulty window switches. In 2009 the carmaker faced serious safety questions after it was found that floor mats could trap the accelerator pedal of models including the Rav4 and Corolla, causing accidents that allegedly led to dozens of deaths around the world. That recall battered the car giant’s reputation and culminated in a record $1.2 billion (£717.1 million) fine with US prosecutors agreed only last month. More private lawsuits are pending.
Toyota said in a statement: "We sincerely apologize to our customers for the inconvenience and concern brought by this recall announcement." The Japanese firm’s deluge of recalls have damaged a brand once famed for its reliability.
The automaker did not say how much the recall would cost. Today’s news sent shares in Toyota down nearly 5% to 5364 yen (£31.40).
It did not specify if the faults stemmed from suppliers or its own manufacturing process. Toyota said it will contact customers in the coming weeks to book free repairs. Drivers can check if their vehicle is affected on the Toyota website.
The latest recall, the largest announced on a single day, comes after the Japanese company agreed to pay $1.2 billion to settle a criminal probe into safety issues in the US last month. The recalls come as rival General Motors is being investigated for failing to act on a known ignition-switch defect linked to a dozen deaths. It has recalled 1.6 million vehicles over the issue.