Toyota recalls 7.4m cars over fire risk
By Lu Nengneng |
October 11, 2012, Thursday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
TOYOTA Motor Corp, Asia's biggest carmaker, yesterday said it would recall 7.4 million vehicles worldwide, including nearly 1.4 million units in China, for faulty power-window switches that pose fire risks.
The recall, its biggest since 2009, covers 14 models produced between 2005 and 2010, affecting 2.47 million vehicles in the United States, 1.39 million in Europe and 459,300 in Japan.
The recall in China, which will start in November, includes nine domestically-made and imported models and involves 1,395,796 units.
Toyota said the recall will enable it to inspect and apply special fluorine grease to the driver-side power window master switch, which doesn't operate smoothly probably due to "an uneven application of the grease during the switch assembly process at the supplier."
Attempts by car owners to redress the problem with commercially available lubricants could cause the switch assembly to melt, and in the worst case, start a fire, Toyota warned.
No accidents have been reported so far as a result of the problem, which was first detected in September 2008 in the US.
Toyota's recall announcement came on the same day China's State Council passed a draft regulation on recalling defective automobiles, which requires producers to stop making, selling or importing vehicles when a common safety problem occurs.
Auto manufacturers have to recall the defective cars with timely information release, apply solutions to eliminate the safety risks and cover all fees for transporting and fixing the affected vehicles.
The recall, its biggest since 2009, covers 14 models produced between 2005 and 2010, affecting 2.47 million vehicles in the United States, 1.39 million in Europe and 459,300 in Japan.
The recall in China, which will start in November, includes nine domestically-made and imported models and involves 1,395,796 units.
Toyota said the recall will enable it to inspect and apply special fluorine grease to the driver-side power window master switch, which doesn't operate smoothly probably due to "an uneven application of the grease during the switch assembly process at the supplier."
Attempts by car owners to redress the problem with commercially available lubricants could cause the switch assembly to melt, and in the worst case, start a fire, Toyota warned.
No accidents have been reported so far as a result of the problem, which was first detected in September 2008 in the US.
Toyota's recall announcement came on the same day China's State Council passed a draft regulation on recalling defective automobiles, which requires producers to stop making, selling or importing vehicles when a common safety problem occurs.
Auto manufacturers have to recall the defective cars with timely information release, apply solutions to eliminate the safety risks and cover all fees for transporting and fixing the affected vehicles.
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