BackToyota recalls 1.75 million vehicles to fix Lexus, Auris flaws
The Lexus LS full-size luxury sedan and Toyota Auris compact hatchback are among the 1.05 million vehicles called back in Japan
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Tokyo/Osaka: Toyota Motor Corp., the automaker under supervision in the US by an independent safety monitor, recalled 1.75 million vehicles worldwide to fix flaws including defective brakes.
The Lexus LS full-size luxury sedan and Toyota Auris compact hatchback are among the 1.05 million vehicles called back in Japan, according to the nation’s Transport Ministry. The automaker is not aware of any fires, crashes, injuries or fatalities caused by this condition, the company said in an e- mailed statement.
The safety campaign is Toyota’s fourth this year involving at least 1 million vehicles as the auto industry responds to scrutiny over tardy recalls. General Motors Co. has called back a record 30 million cars and trucks this year in North America, while Toyota has dealt with renewed attention to safety after recalling more than 10 million vehicles in 2009 and 2010 for defects related to unintended acceleration.
Wednesd’s recall is the first major global campaign by Toyota since David Kelley, a New York-based partner at Cahill Gordon and Reindel Llp and former US Attorney, was appointed by the US Justice Department in August appointed to supervise the carmaker’s safety procedures.
Renewed scrutiny
Kelley will review Toyota’s policies and verify the accuracy of its public statements for three years as part of the automaker’s $1.2 billion settlement for the unintended-acceleration recalls.
The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration last month said it would renew scrutiny of claims involving unintended acceleration. As many as 1.69 million Toyota Corollas with model years from 2006 to 2010 could be subject to investigation depending on the regulator’s evaluation of an owner’s claim of unintended “low-speed surging."
Toyota in June expanded a 14-month-old recall of more than 2 million vehicles for faulty air bags after supplier Takata Corp. told customers further fixes may be needed. The carmaker added about 650,000 vehicles in Japan including Corolla cars to the safety campaign.
In April, Toyota recalled more than 6 million vehicles for five potential hazards involving almost 30 models. In February, the Toyota City, Japan-based company called back 1.9 million Prius hybrids to update software and fix defects that could cause the cars to lose power or shut down and stop.
Toyota has sought to repair its reputation for quality after the recalls contributed to the company losing its title as the world’s top-selling automaker in 2011 to GM. The company regained leadership in each of the last two years and clung to its lead over Volkswagen AG through the first half of 2014. Bloomberg
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