Toyota's latest 1.5-million recall tops 12.5 million globally

Japan's Toyota Motor Corp has issued a global recall of more than 1.5 million cars over brake and fuel pump defects, the latest in the long list of recalls this year for the world's biggest carmaker.

The besieged car maker is recalling 740,000 certain Avalon, Highlander and Lexus cars in the US, 600,000 in Japan, 17,000 in the UK and the remainder in other parts of the world.

The recall is for 2005 through 2006 Avalon, 2004 through 2006 Highlander (non Hybrid) and Lexus RX330, and 2006 Lexus GS300, IS250, and IS350 vehicles.

Toyota said the recall is being made to address the possibility that a small amount of the brake fluid could slowly leak from the brake master cylinder, resulting in illumination of the brake warning lamp.

Toyota said that its genuine brake fluid used during vehicle assembly for vehicles sold in the US contains polymers. The polymers act as lubricants for certain brake system components.

If during vehicle maintenance, brake fluid is used that does not contain such polymers or only small amounts, a part of the internal rubber seal (brake master cylinder cup) located at the end of the brake master cylinder piston may become dry and may curl during movement of the piston.