Toyota recalls 1.7 million cars for fuel leaks In latest hit to quality image, Toyota recalls 1.7 million cars because of possible fuel leaks

Toyota recalls 1.7 million cars for fuel leaks

In latest hit to quality image, Toyota recalls 1.7 million cars because of possible fuel leaks

TOKYO (AP) -- Toyota recalled nearly 1.7 million cars worldwide Wednesday for possible fuel leaks, the latest in a ballooning number of quality problems that could further tarnish the company's reputation in the United States.

The recalls are mostly in Japan, but include Lexus IS and GS luxury sedans sold in North America. That's where the world's No. 1 car company faces the biggest challenges in winning back customer trust.

U.S. dealers will inspect cars to see if loose fuel pressure sensors caused leaks. There were no accidents suspected of being caused by those problems, according to Toyota. The car maker has received 77 complaints overseas, 75 of them in North America, and more than 140 in Japan.

The latest quality hitch follows a spate of recalls that began in late 2009, mostly in North America, which now cover more than 12 million cars and trucks. The recalls involve defective floor mats and gas pedals that get stuck, some of them suspected of causing unintended acceleration.

Wednesday's recalls come exactly one year after Toyota stopped selling eight models in the U.S. because of unintended acceleration problems. The sales suspension affected 60 percent of Toyota's lineup in the U.S., and was the first of four sales halts last year. .

Koji Endo, auto analyst with Advanced Research Japan Co. in Tokyo, said the newest recalls will cost Toyota about 20 billion yen ($240 million), but won't hurt its earnings much.

"But there is that perception of here we go again, and that hurts Toyota's image, especially in North America," he said.

The biggest damage to Toyota's image has been in the U.S. where its response to safety problems was seen as slow. The company's U.S. sales lagged last year despite an industry recovery. Some believe that Toyota's relentless drive for growth hurt quality.

The company has lost some potential U.S. customers: A survey done by consumer website Edmunds.com showed that 17.9 percent of all car shoppers last month were considering a Toyota, a 3.8 percent point drop from a year earlier. That drop in consideration could be blamed on Toyota's recalls, as well as its aging lineup.

"Toyota needs to overcome not just the PR damage sustained by last year's recalls, but also the reality that many of its models are stale," said Jessica Caldwell, director of pricing and industry analysis for Edmunds.

Toyota has stayed popular in Japan, partly because government incentives for green vehicles sent sales of its Prius gasoline-electric hybrid booming.

The company is likely trying to be aggressive with recalls and so the latest one is not a sign that quality is taking another dive at the company, Endo said.

To help respond to customer complaints and investigate quality concerns quickly, the company recently opened two new field offices, in Houston and Jacksonville, Fla. It plans to open another in Denver by the end of the first quarter, and already has offices in New York and San Francisco. The offices are part of Toyota's plan to improve global quality and communication within the company.

In the latest recalls, the largest number of the affected vehicles was in Japan at nearly 1.3 million -- the second-largest auto recall in that nation's history. It involved two different problems.

In one of the problems announced Wednesday, an improper installation of a sensor to measure fuel pressure may cause the device to loosen as a result of engine vibrations, and possibly cause fuel to leak, the company said. That problem also affects 280,000 Lexus cars sold abroad, most in North America.

Included under that recall are the 2006 through 2007 Lexus GS300/350, 2006 through early 2009 Lexus IS250, and 2006 through early 2008 Lexus IS350 sold in the U.S.

Lexus dealers will inspect the vehicles for fuel leakage and will tighten the sensor, if nothing is leaking. If a leak is confirmed, the gasket between the sensor and the delivery pipe will be replaced, it said.

That same problem was also found in the Crown and Mark X models sold in Japan.

The second problem, which affects 141,000 Avensis sedans and station wagons sold in Europe, and New Zealand, was caused by irregular work on the fuel pipe, which may cause cracks and fuel leakage, Toyota said.

That problem was also found in 16 models sold in Japan, including the Noah subcompact, RAV4 sport-utility vehicle and Wish cars.

Toyota also recalled 6,000 trucks made by group company Daihatsu Motor Co., which were sold under the Toyota brand in Japan, for a problem with a metal part connecting a spare tire to the bottom of the truck. The tire could come loose and fall on the road, Toyota said.

Chief Executive Akio Toyoda, the grandson of the automaker's founder, has vowed to regain trust and respond quicker to customer needs.

Toyota shares fell nearly 2 percent to close at 3,400 yen ($41) in Tokyo.

Ford recalls F-series pickups, Edge, Lincoln MKX

DETROIT (Reuters) – Ford Motor Co is recalling about 20,000 new vehicles in North America, mainly its heavy duty pickup trucks, due to the chance than an electrical short could cause a fire, Ford and U.S. federal regulators said on Thursday.

Ford will inform owners of its F-series pickups, small sports utility vehicles Edge and Lincoln MKX of the potential problem by January 10, according to a filing with the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

About 15,000 of the affected vehicles were sold in the United States, and most of the rest in Canada, said Wes Sherwood, Ford spokesman.

Sherwood said the automaker is not aware of any injuries, crashes or fires resulting from the issue.

In a six-day period, a supplier not identified by Ford made body control modules that may produce an electrical short, Ford told NHTSA in a filing.

Sherwood said the suspect vehicles were built between late October and mid-November.

"If an electrical short develops, an overheating condition may occur which can result in an unattended vehicle fire," the NHTSA filing said.

Of the nearly 20,000 vehicles affected, 13,200 are Super Duty F-Series trucks, which are the F-250, the F-350 and the F-450 models.

Some 476 F-150 pickup trucks were affected. That model is the biggest selling vehicle in North America.

About 6,200 Edge and MKX models are affected, Sherwood said.

Edge and MKX are also known as crossover vehicles, because they are built on a car platform rather than a truck platform as are larger SUVs.

Ford will pay for repairs performed at Ford dealerships. Sherwood said the repair time is relatively short, but he did not specify how long each repair will take or how much they will cost the automaker.

(Reporting by Bernie Woodall; Editing by Derek Caney, Dave Zimmerman)

Auto industry recalled 20 million vehicles in 2010 Led by Toyota, automakers recalled about 20 million vehicles in US in 2010

Auto industry recalled 20 million vehicles in 2010

Led by Toyota, automakers recalled about 20 million vehicles in US in 2010

Ken Thomas, Associated Press, On Wednesday December 29, 2010, 6:11 pm EST

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Automakers recalled about 20 million vehicles in 2010, led by high-profile recalls by Toyota that prompted new scrutiny of the auto industry's safety record.

The number of recalls this year was the largest in the United States since 2004, according to an analysis of federal data by The Associated Press. The auto industry set a record with 30.8 million recalled vehicles that year.

Toyota Motor Corp. recalled about 7.1 million vehicles in 2010 to fix faulty gas pedals, floor mats that could trap accelerators, defective braking and stalling engines. The safety woes by the world's No. 1 automaker brought more attention to auto safety from government regulators and the public, which filed more than 64,000 complaints with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, nearly double the number in a typical year.

Safety recalls can cost car companies tens of millions of dollars or more and have become more common since 2000, when Congress passed legislation to spot safety defects more quickly in the aftermath of the massive Firestone tire recalls. In 2010, lawmakers held several hearings on the Toyota recalls but sweeping legislation to increase penalties against car companies, require automakers to meet new safety standards and empower the government to demand a recall stalled in Congress.

Toyota was fined $48.8 million by the government for its handling of three recalls dating back to 2004. Toyota has vowed to take a more proactive approach to safety, creating engineering teams that can quickly examine cars that are the subject of consumer complaints while giving its U.S. offices a more direct role in safety related decisions.

Toyota spokesman Brian Lyons said the company has "committed to be more responsive to our customers and federal agencies" and its recalled vehicles are getting fixed at a faster rate than the industry average of 72 percent recall completion after 18 months.

Among other automakers, General Motors Co. recalled about 4 million vehicles in 2010 while Japanese rivals Honda and Nissan both recalled more than 2 million cars and trucks. Chrysler recalled about 1.5 million vehicles and Ford called back more than 500,000 vehicles. The recall data was preliminary and the government was expected to release final numbers next year.

"More and more recalls are being voluntarily initiated by automakers and we think that's a good sign," Transportation Department spokeswoman Olivia Alair said Wednesday. "Safety is NHTSA's first priority and improved cooperation from automakers will help resolve safety issues more quickly and comprehensively."

Wade Newton, a spokesman for the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, which represents a dozen car companies, including GM, Toyota and Ford, said automakers "are doing a better job of identifying and pinpointing safety-related issues and taking faster action." He said safety advances in new vehicles helped traffic deaths decline last year to its lowest levels since 1950.

Toyota recalls 412,000 cars in US, 16,000 in Japan

Toyota recalls 412,000 cars in US, 16,000 in Japan, for steering problems

TOKYO (AP) -- Toyota is recalling 412,000 passenger cars, mostly the Avalon model, in the U.S., and another 16,420 vehicles in Japan for steering problems, the automaker said Thursday.

The 373,000 Avalons being recalled in the U.S. range from the 2000 model year through to 2004 and have improper casting of the steering lock bar -- a component for the steering system -- causing cracks to develop on the surface.

In some cases, the crack can cause the lock bar to break, potentially leading to a crash if the steering wheel locks, the world's No. 1 automaker by car sales said. No injuries have been reported from the accidents that may be caused by the defect, it said.

Recalled in Japan for a similar problem are 6,750 vehicles, called Pronard, built from February 2000 through January 2004, Toyota and the Japanese transport ministry said. There have been three reported problems linked to the defect but no accidents in Japan, the ministry said.

Also being recalled in the U.S. are 39,000 Lexus luxury model LX 470s for the 2003-2007 model years because of a steering shaft problem, which is different from the Avalon steering problem, according to Toyota.

That problem affects 9,670 vehicles in Japan, two Land Cruiser models, the ministry said. One problem has been reported but no accidents are suspected of being linked to the defect, it said.

Toyota said it will fix the Avalon steering problem by replacing a part called the steering column bracket. The problem with the LX 470 will be fixed by replacing a component in the steering shaft called a snap ring. Customers affected by the recalls will begin receiving mailings in August instructing them to take their cars to their dealer for the repairs, Toyota said.

The latest recall comes on top of some 8.5 million vehicles that have been recalled around the world by Toyota Motor Corp. since October for a spate of problems, including faulty floor mats, defective gas pedals and braking software glitches.

The recall crisis has damaged Toyota's reputation for quality and customer service.

Toyota executives have repeatedly vowed to put customers first. But it has been criticized as lagging in its response to quality lapses, and was slapped with a record $16.4 million fine in the United States for responding too slowly when the recall crisis erupted.

Earlier this month, Toyota announced a recall of some 270,000 vehicles, mostly Lexus cars, for engine problems, dealing a further blow to its image because Lexus is its top-end luxury brand.

Toyota faces more than 200 lawsuits in the U.S. tied to accidents involving defective automobiles, the lower resale value of Toyota vehicles, and a drop in its stock value.

"Toyota is continuing to work diligently to address safety issues wherever they arise and to strengthen our global quality assurance operations so that Toyota owners can be confident in the safety of their vehicles," said Steve St. Angelo, Toyota chief quality officer for North America.

Owners of Avalon and Lexus cars are being notified next month, being asked to bring in their cars to nearby Toyota and Lexus dealers for a free fix, according to Toyota.

"Our engineers have thoroughly investigated this issue and have identified a robust and durable remedy that will help prevent this condition from affecting drivers in the future," said Mark Templin, group vice president and general manager of Lexus.

AP Auto Writer Dan Strumpf contributed to this report from New York.

Chrysler recalls almost 700,000 Jeeps, minivans

DETROIT (AP) -- Chrysler is recalling almost 600,000 minivans and Jeep Wranglers in the United States and another 100,000 elsewhere because of brake or wiring problems that could create safety issues, the company and federal regulators said Monday.

Chrysler said it is recalling 288,968 Jeep Wranglers from the 2006 through 2010 model years due to a potential brake fluid leak.

It also is recalling 284,831 Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country minivans from the 2008 and 2009 model years because a wiring problem can cause a fire inside the sliding doors.

Another 76,430 Wranglers and 34,143 minivans are being recalled in Canada, Mexico and other international markets, Chrysler said.

Neither problem has caused any crashes or injuries, Chrysler Group LLC said.

It was the second notable recall in the past week for Chrysler. The company recalled nearly 35,000 Dodge Calibers and a limited number of Jeep Compasses last week to fix a potential problem with sticky gas pedals, the same issue that has afflicted millions of Toyotas.

In the latest recall, the front inner fender liners on the Jeeps can rub against the brake fluid tubes and cause a leak. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said the leak could lead to a partial brake loss.

The minivans can have improperly placed wires that can come into contact with sliding door hinges that could cut through the insulation, Chrysler and NHTSA said.

Chrysler spokesman Nick Cappa said the defect could lead to a fire inside the minivan door "in rare instances."

Chrysler will notify owners and dealers about the repairs, which will be made free of charge. The recall is expected to start later this month.

The Wranglers affected by the recall were made from May 15, 2006 through Aug. 9, 2010, according to NHTSA. The minivans were made from February 2007 through September 2007.

Associated Press Writer Ken Thomas in the Washington, D.C., bureau contributed to this report.