Toyota issues wide-ranging recall for Prius, Corolla models
TOKYO (AP) — Toyota Motor Corp. is recalling 2.77 million vehicles around the world for a water pump problem and a steering shaft defect that may result in faulty steering — the latest in a spate of quality woes for Japan's top automaker.
No accidents have been reported related to these two problems announced Wednesday, according to Toyota.
Some 1.51 million vehicles are being recalled for the steering defect in Japan and 1.25 million vehicles abroad — including 670,000 in the U.S. Affected models include the Prius hybrid, Corolla, Wish and other models produced from 2000 to 2011 in Japan, and from 2000 to 2009 overseas.
Of those vehicles, some 620,000 spanning five hybrid models, including the Prius, have a defective water pump in addition to the steering shaft defect. Those vehicles were produced from 2001 to 2010 in Japan, and from 2003 to 2011 overseas. Another 10,000 vehicles with only a pump problem are also being recalled.
The latest recalls — affecting Toyota's prized Prius hybrid, a symbol of its technological prowess — come on top of a recall last month for 7.43 million vehicles for a faulty power-window switch that could cause fires.
Toyota has been trying to fix its reputation after a series of massive recalls of 14 million vehicles over the last several years, mostly in the U.S., affecting faulty floor mats, braking and gas pedals.
Before that, Toyota had boasted a reputation for pristine quality, centered around its super-lean production methods that empowered workers to hone in on quality control. Toyota executives have acknowledged the escalating recalls were partly caused by the company's overly ambitious growth goals.
Executives had shrugged off last month's recalls as coming from products made before stricter quality controls kicked in following the soul-searching that came after the recall scandal in the U.S.
But the latest recall underlines how quality problems continue to dog Toyota, especially as it has gone back to pursuing aggressive growth.
Toyota is now headed to record vehicle sales around the world, offsetting a sales plunge in China with booming demand in emerging markets such as Indonesia, India and Thailand.
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Follow Yuri Kageyama on Twitter: www.twitter.com/yurikageyama
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.
Yes! Recall them ALL!
The smug factor is just too dangerous! ;-)
If i hear another person talk about buy american!.. wow! find a gmc,ford,dodge, or chevrolet that is not somehow made over seas. Even kia hyundai, toyota,honda, and should i go on have more plants here now!..so when you hear buy american think about it more... your american made car may not be all that american..Â
while getting the problems fixed they should do a "total recall" where they implant memories of the owners having stole the cars after carjacking somebody. that would be cool
Our environmentalist-in-chief Obama will be upset we can't be more like the European socialists driving their eco-friendly socialist boxy little cars
@archon312 yeah it's far better to destroy the environment and make the planet uninahabitable. That's the best way to go, right? Keep burning oil and coal at scary levels, pump more and more heat trapping gas into the atmosphere so that everyone in the world can experience Sandy like storms!
 @Ramsesthegreat  @archon312 Buy a Prius, stop a hurricane! So I wonder how we penalize a volcano for going over their emission cap limit?
YUP! this effects a friends of our Vehicle.
I guess Toyota will be keeping that car with the Pack Rat after all lol.
prius- buttugliest cars on the planet
@LostSoul actually most SUVs and ALL minivans are far, far uglier than any Prius.
@Ramsesthegreat actually ALL prius cars are hideous. and they are NOT environmental friendly.
Buy American, manufactured in America! Not that American car companies don't have their share of troubles but at least let's help someone have a job by buying cars made at an American plant.
@mkamom you know That Japanese automakers (Honda, Toyota, Nissan) build more cars in the US than Ford, Chrysler, and GM, right? The latter three make use of Mexican and Canadian labor to produce much of their fleet.