Toyota recalls 1.8m vehicles over accelerator problem

Business Jan 30, 2010 Japanese auto giant Toyota said on Friday it will recall “up to 1.8 million vehicles” in Europe due to an accelerator pedal problem that has already led to massive recalls in the United States.

“The precise number of involved units is still under investigation but may reach up to 1.8 million vehicles,” the company said in a statement in Brussels, citing “a potential accelerator pedal issue.”

The models involved are the AYGO, iQ, Yaris, Auris, Corolla, Verso, Avensis and RAV4 series, covering a variety of periods going back to February 2005.

“No Lexus models and no other Toyota models are affected,” Toyota added.“We understand that the current situation is creating concerns and we deeply regret it,” said Tadashi Arashima, President and CEO of Toyota Motor Europe. The company said it has “identified a remedy,” pending “final evaluation and confirmation.”

Toyota last week recalled 2.3 million US cars and trucks because of problems with sticking accelerator pedals there.
Then the Japanese giant on Thursday announced a further recall of almost 1.1 million more vehicles in the United States to replace floor mats that could trap accelerator pedals.

The total number of cars and trucks affected now stands at almost 5.3 million — equivalent to more than two-thirds of Toyota’s worldwide sales last year of 7.81 million vehicles.

Rival Japanese carmaker Honda Motor also said on Friday it was recalling some 646,000 of its Fit/Jazz and City cars sold globally due to defective parts on a window switch.

The Toyota AYGO recalls cover the period from February 2005 to August 2009; the iQ from November 2008 to November 2009; the Yaris from November 2005 to September 2009; the Auris from October 2006 to 5 January, 2010; the Corolla from October 2006 to December 2009; the Verso from February 2009 to 5 January, 2010; the Avensis from November 2008 to December 2009; and the RAV4 from November 2005 to November 2009.