Toyota issues safety recall

In the biggest auto recall since 1996, Toyota Motor Corp. announced it would recall more than 7.4 million vehicles. The reason: Defective window switches. Of these vehicles, 2.47 are in the United States, with most of the remainder in China and Europe. However, vehicles in Australia, Asia, the Middle East and Canada are also subject to the recall.

Toyota stated that no deaths or injuries were known to be associated with the defective window switches. However, they could cause fires and smoke when commercial lubricants are used on the window mechanism. The switches are on the driver’s side of cars and SUVs such as Yaris and Corollas. Other models affected include Vios, Matrix, Auris, Camry, RAV4, Highlander, Tundra, Sequoia, xB and xD produced between 2005 and 2010.

Toyota did not say how much the recall would cost, but announced that repairs to the power switch should take no more than 40 minutes per vehicle.

The recall is seen as part of Toyota’s ongoing effort to rebuild its reputation after the safety problems caused by sticky accelerators and defective floor mats, which caused numerous accidents and injuries before being the subject of a recall. The recall of vehicles with the defective window switches is not anticipated to hurt the automaker as much as the previous safety recalls.

Drivers who own these vehicles should check with their dealers to determine how to get repairs completed.

The problems was first reported in September 2008 in the United States.

Source: Reuters, “UPDATE 4-Toyota recalling 7.4 mln vehicles over window switch,” Oct. 10, 2012.