Toyota recalls 520,000 vehicles globally
The world's biggest car manufacturer made the announcement just days after US rival General Motors said it was recalling 2.4m more vehicles in the United States.
Both car companies have been struggling with product recalls in recent years with Toyota last month calling back 6.39m vehicles over a string of problems, dealing another blow to its long-held reputation for quality and safety.
Toyota said its announcement covered about 450,000 Sienna minivans produced between 2004 and 2011, including 370,000 in the US and 80,000 in Canada.
The move was tied to concerns that salt used on snowy roads in both countries during the winter could corrode a cable that secures the vehicle's spare tyre.
Other problems
"In an extreme case, the cable may break due to excessive corrosion and the spare tire may separate from the vehicle," Toyota said.
The vehicles also have a glitch in software that controls the front passenger seatbelt on 55,000 Highlander sports utility vehicles, sold mostly in the US, Canada and Mexico, which were manufactured between November 2013 and May 2014.
Another 16,000 Lexus GS 250 and GS 350 luxury sedans made in 2012 would be recalled, mostly in North America, Europe and China, over a brake pedal issue that could cause the vehicle to slow down more than expected.
Toyota recalled nearly 9m vehicles globally in late 2009 and early 2010 due to an accelerator pedal issue.
Despite record sales and bumper profits, the company has been fighting to protect its brand in the wake of the recall problems and earlier this year reached a deal to pay US$1.2bn to settle US criminal charges that it covered up a sticky pedal blamed for dozens of deaths.
US rival General Motors has also been side-swiped by accusations that it hid a decade-long ignition and airbag problem linked to 13 deaths.
This week, GM announced four separate recalls for various models dating back to 2005. Even some of the new 2015 models are being recalled already by the company.
Source: AFP via I-Net Bridge
Source: I-Net Bridge
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