Here We Go Again!
TOKYO -- Toyota Motor Corp., struggling to restore its reputation for top quality, today recalled nearly 1.7 million vehicles globally for a variety of fuel system related problems, including 245,000 Lexus IS and Lexus GS sedans in the United States.
The North American vehicles are being called back to inspect for possibly faulty installation of fuel pressure sensors. In cases where the sensor is not fastened tightly enough, fuel can leak between the gasket that connects the sensor to the fuel delivery pipes, Toyota said.
Lexus dealers in the United States will inspect vehicles for fuel leaks. If none is found, they will tighten the sensor. If leaks are confirmed, the gasket will be replaced and the sensor tightened.
The move affects the following vehicles in the United States: 2006-2007 model year Lexus GS300/350; 2006-early 2009 Lexus IS250; and 2006-early 2008 Lexus IS350.
Today's actions bring the total number of Toyota recalls since the fall of 2009 to 18 million vehicles.
“After Toyota's recalls last year, the company is more sensitive to recall issues and conducting them as early as possible,” Satoru Takada, a Tokyo-based analyst at TIW Inc., told Bloomberg.
The move covering the fuel-pressure sensor covers 354,524 vehicles worldwide, including the Toyota Crown and Mark X sedans in Japan.
Also today, Toyota conducted a global recall targeting faulty fuel pipes and fuel check valves. That action affects 1.34 million vehicles, but none in North America.
Toyota said there have been no accidents related to any of the recall-related problems.
About 1.2 million of the vehicles in the second recall were sold in Japan, including the RAV4 SUV and the Voxy and Noah minivans. About 135,000 vehicles are in Europe, mostly the Avensis sedan and wagon manufactured at Toyota's plant in Britain.
A design flaw in those vehicles means that fuel pipes may develop cracks and leak. Some of the vehicles also have faulty check valves meant to prevent the reverse flow of fuel.
Rebuilding reputation
Toyota's lead as the world's largest automaker narrowed in 2010 as the automaker struggled to rebuild its quality reputation.
General Motors Co., the second-ranked global automaker, gained ground on Toyota after the Asian automaker's U.S. sales fell 0.4 percent in an overall market that improved by 11 percent. Toyota was the only large automaker to post a U.S. sales decline last year.
“Compared with last year, consumers are responding less to Toyota's continued recalls,” said Tadashi Usui, a Tokyo-based analyst at Moody's K.K. “It's still questionable whether Toyota will fully regain its reputation for quality.”
The recall is the company's largest since Oct. 21, when it said 1.53 million cars had brake-related problems that may cause fluid leaks. Defects linked to unintended acceleration led to recalls totaling more than 8 million units that began in September 2009.
President Akio Toyoda told reporters Jan. 10 in Detroit that the recalls inflicted "big damage" on Toyota. “Toyota cars are safe,” he said. "I'd like you to expect more good things to come from us.''
Market leader
Fifty years after entering the U.S. in 1957, Toyota passed Ford Motor Co. in U.S. sales in 2007, trailing only GM in what was then the world's largest auto market. In 2008, Toyota surpassed GM in global sales to become the world's largest automaker.
Toyota will remain the global market share leader in 2015 with sales of about 10 million vehicles, according to IHS Automotive, a research firm based in Lexington, Mass. The automaker will rank third in U.S. share that year with 2.5 million deliveries, following GM at 3.1 million and Ford at 2.75 million, IHS said.
Bloomberg contributed to this report.
PRESS RELEASE: Toyota Announces Voluntary Recall of Certain 2006-2007 Lexus GS 300/350, 2006-2009 IS 250 and 2006-2008 IS 350 Vehicles to Inspect the Fuel Pressure Sensor Installation Click here for Customer FAQ for Lexus IS and GS Fuel Pressure Sensor Re
Toyota Motor Corporation announces separate recall involving certain vehicles not sold in North America
TORRANCE, Calif., January 26, 2011 – Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc., today announced that it will conduct a voluntary Safety Recall involving approximately 245,000 2006 through 2007 Lexus GS300/350, 2006 through early 2009 Lexus IS250, and 2006 through early 2008 Lexus IS350 vehicles sold in the U.S. to inspect the fuel pressure sensor installation.
Due to insufficient tightening of the fuel pressure sensor connected to certain engine fuel delivery pipes (those with Nickel Phosphorus plating), there is a possibility that the pressure sensor could loosen over time. If loosening occurs, fuel could leak past a gasket used in the connection between the sensor and the delivery pipe and through the threaded portion of the sensor.
Lexus dealers will inspect the vehicle for fuel leakage and if no leakage is found, will tighten the fuel pressure sensor with the proper torque. If a fuel leak is confirmed, the gasket between the sensor and the delivery pipe will be replaced and the sensor will be tightened with the proper torque. The inspection and possible gasket replacement will be conducted at no charge to the vehicle owner.
Owners of the involved vehicles will receive a safety recall notification by first class mail once the parts that may be needed have been obtained. Lexus will also post this information on its website. Detailed information about this recall is available through Lexus Customer Satisfaction at 1-800-25 LEXUS or 1-800-255-3987 or at www.lexus.com/recall.
Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) today announced a separate recall involving 1.3 million vehicles worldwide to remedy a different condition on a different fuel delivery pipe and a high pressure fuel pump check valve. TMC's recall announcement does not involve vehicles sold in North America.
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