Toyota Motor is recalling about 550,000 vehicles worldwide -- 420,000 in the U.S. -- for a potential steering problem.
The defect involves the crankshaft pulley on V-6 Toyota- and Lexus-brand vehicles -- four-cylinder models are not affected. Toyota said it has 79 reports about the defect dating back to 2007 -- and no reports of related accidents or injuries.
According to the Associated Press, the global recall is of 447,000 vehicles in the U.S. and Canada, 38,000 in Japan, 25,000 in Australia and New Zealand, 14,000 in Europe, 10,000 in the Middle East and 14,000 in Asia outside Japan.
The massive recall adds to a string that over the past couple years have involved about 14 million of its vehicles. It also comes as the carmaker is dealing with production woes due to the March tsunami in Japan and the recent flooding in Thailand. The company yesterday reported a quarterly profit of $1 billion, down 19%, and said those disasters have shaved about a billion dollars from its results.
The latest recall is because the outer ring of the V-6 engine's crankshaft pulley could become misaligned with the inner ring. It would be known to the driver because of noise or illumination of a warning light. But if not fixed, the power steering pump belt could come off and steering would suddenly become very difficult, Toyota's U.S. unit said in a release.
Among 283,200 Toyota brand vehicles to be recalled in the U.S. and 137,000 Lexus vehicles:
- 2004-05 Camry, Highlander, Sienna and Solara
- 2004 Avalon
- 2006 Highlander hybrid
- 2004-05 ES330 and RX330
- 2006 RX400h
U.S. owners will be notified starting in January to bring the vehicles to dealers to be fixed, the release said. In the meantime, if any abnormal noise is heard coming from the engine compartment, the owner is asked to make an immediate appointment at a dealer for an inspection.
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