Toyota’s massive recall of more than seven million vehicles in the United States — sparked by reliability problems with accelerator pedals — is to be extended to Europe and China, the company revealed today.
The announcements came hours after the company added a further 1.09 million vehicles to the tally of cars involved in its US recall. It is thought that at least 75,000 vehicles will be recalled in China.
Toyota drivers in the UK were none the wiser by lunchtime today as to whether their cars will be part of the global recall.
A spokesman for the company in London said: "We want to get the message out that there will be a recall but data is still being collated as to which exact models and exact number of cars."nitial speculation suggests American-built Toyota RAV4's imported into the UK could be among those in the recall.
The spokesman declined to comment on that or on whether faulty mechanisms form part of the UK-built Toyota model, the Avensis and the Auris.
In a statement Toyota GB said: "There is a possibility that certain accelerator pedal mechanisms may, in rare instances, mechanically stick in a partially depressed position or return slowly to the idle position.
"This is caused because the accelerator pedal mechanisms concerned may become worn. This progressive wear, combined with certain operating and environmental conditions, can cause friction in the mechanism to increase and intermittently result in the accelerator pedal being harder to depress, slow to return or, in the worst case, stick in a partially open position.
"In case of occurrence, the driver may notice that the accelerator pedal is progressively harder to depress or is slower to return. A rough or chattered feeling may also be experienced when depressing/releasing the accelerator pedal.
"Toyota will implement a recall in Europe for this matter. The details of corrective action and implementation will be communicated directly to customers with vehicles potentially affected. The models and exact number of potentially affected vehicles is under investigation.
"A running change in production using different parts has already been implemented model-by-model in the European production. Therefore there is no need or intention to stop production in Europe.
"Whilst this condition is rare we advise customers who have concerns to contact Toyota GB Customer Relations (0800 1388744) for assistance ahead of the recall instructions being issued."As further information becomes available it will be posted at www.toyota.co.uk."
Motoring groups are telling Toyota owners and drivers to get in touch with their local dealer or garage.
"If you are unsure, our advice if you are a Toyota customer is to get in touch with your Toyota dealer," said a spokesman for the RAC motoring organisation.
"If your car is developing any worrying signs you should get in touch with your local garage or dealer."We are currently still attempting to get details on the extent of the recall and how far this extends to Toyota's European operations."
The company said that it had “no need or intention” of halting vehicle production at its European factories.
American owners of the affected vehicles are being asked to bring them in for inspection after a series of incidents in which the accelerator pedals became stuck in the depressed position, causing accidents in some cases.
The latest US recall covers a range of models, including the Highlander and Corolla.
Toyota took the rare step yesterday of suspending production and sales of eight Toyota models built at its factories in the US.
The models affected by the suspension represent 70 per cent of those sold in the US in December, and include the popular Camry.
If the recall does affect a large number of vehicles in Europe, analysts said, it may suggest that the problem relates more to fundamental design than to specific production issues.
The three recalls in the US — 4.2 million vehicles in November, 2.3 million vehicles last week and 1.09 million today — are designed to check for two possible faults.
One problem appears to centre on the floor mats, which can come unstuck and cause the pedals to catch.
The second, more serious, problem is mechanical.
Toyota has said that the accelerator pedal can, in a worst case, stick in a “partially depressed position” when the mechanism becomes worn.
On its US website, the company recommends that drivers “step on the brake pedal with both feet using firm and steady pressure.”
The recalls, which are being treated as a rare opportunity by Toyota’s rivals to seize market share, could not come at a worse time for the Japanese company.
It is battling to restore the company to profit after fiscal 2008 saw Toyota’s first full-year loss since it switched from making looms to building cars 60 years ago.
The announcements sent Toyota’s shares tumbling heavily, adding a further 4.3 per cent fall to a rout that began last week.
Fitch, the credit ratings agency, said that Toyota's A+ credit rating, once the pride of Japanese industry, had been placed on watch for a possible downgrade.
“The recalls and sales and production suspension cast a negative light on Toyota's reputation for quality, just as the company emerges from an unprecedented downturn in the auto industry,” Fitch said.
Source:The Times
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