Japan’s Toyota to recall 7.43 m vehicles globally

JAPAN: Japan’s Toyota on Wednesday announced a global recall of 7.43 million vehicles, including its popular Camry and Corolla models, over a possible fire risk, in a fresh blow to the firm’s reputation for safety.

The country’s biggest automaker ordered the recall, which amounts to slightly more vehicles than it sold worldwide in its fiscal year to March, because of a fault with its electric windows.

“There is a defect in the driver’s side power-window switch, which can cause earlier wear in the switch and lead to it malfunctioning,” a Tokyo-based company spokeswoman told AFP.

“There is another concern that commercially-offered lubricant used to smooth the switch’s movement can cause it to erode,” she added. About 2.47 million vehicles will be recalled from the United States, where at least one case of smoke coming from a window switch was recorded, the spokeswoman said.

“We cannot pinpoint its cause and there was no report of a fire.”

However, a statement on the firm’s US website said: “If commercially available lubricants are applied to the switch in an attempt to address the ‘notchy’ or sticky feel, melting of the switch assembly or smoke could occur and lead to a fire under some circumstances.”

Another 2.8 million cars will be recalled from Europe and China while the remainder were from around the world including Japan, Canada, Australia and the Middle East, she said.

AFP