Toyota recalls 1.35 million cars

28 January 2009

Toyota has been doubly impacted by falling production and sales and a huge recall some models. Toyota Motor Corp has said it would recall more than 1.35 million Vitz and two other models worldwide. The withdrawal is intended to fix either a defect in the seatbelt, or a component in the exhaust system or both.

In Japan, as many as 525,898 Vitz, Belta and Ractis cars built from January 2005 to April 2008 will be recalled.

Also 830,000 units of the Vitz subcompact (called Yaris in many markets) and Belta exported to Europe, North America and other markets will be needed to be recalled to fix the defects.

There have been two minor incidents that have triggered this product recall. One case of fire was reported in Japan due to the faulty seatbelt design. This could have caused a noise-absorber device to melt when the seatbelt tensioner is activated in a collision.

No accident was reported in Japan from the defective exhaust-gas recirculation (EGR) pipe. In case of EGR faluire, it could crack and cause exhaust gases that fail to clear emissions standards to leak.

Toyota did not disclose the estimated cost of the recalls.