Toyota Motor’s decision to recall 1,202,800 cars, including the domestic market Noah minivan, the RAV4L and other models due to possible leakage of fuel, reportedly is the second-largest recall on record since the Japanese transport ministry began its recall system in 1969.
According to the report filed with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, 16 models produced between May 2000 and October 2008 are subject to the recall, Kyodo News said.
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The Toyota vehicles subject to the recall may leak fuel as an engine pipe could crack or a valve connection could work loose.
The latest Toyota recalls – totalling over 1.7m cars – also include about 335,000 Lexus vehicles sold overseas and 141,000 UK-built Toyota Avensis units.
The recall to check for faulty fuel pumps and pipes is Toyota’s second-largest ever, according to Reuters, noting the automaker’s recalls have risen to nearly 16m units since late 2009.
Toyota will fix a faulty fuel pump and connecting pipe in 1.34m vehicles, including models sold in Japan, plus the 141,000 Avensis sold overseas.
That is Toyota’s biggest recall in six years and its second-biggest ever for a single defect, Toyota spokeswoman Shiori Hashimoto told Reuters.
Of the 335,000 recalled Lexus units sold overseas, about 245,000 were sold in the United States. These vehicles will be checked for problems with a fuel pressure sensor connected to an engine fuel delivery pipe.
Toyota has also said it would recall about 75,000 Crown models and about 6,200 Townace vans in Japan to fix the same fault found in the Lexus cars.
Toyota’s Hashimoto declined to tell Reuters how much the latest recalls would cost the automaker.
Toyota’s last big recall was in October when it said it would fix 1.66m Avalons, Highlanders [Kluger] and other models worldwide mainly for a defect in the master cylinder brake seal.
In a statement, Toyota Motor Sales USA said the fuel pressure sensor recall affected 2006–2007 Lexus GS300/350 models, 2006–2009 IS250 and 2006-2008 IS350 vehicles.
“Due to insufficient tightening of the fuel pressure sensor connected to certain engine fuel delivery pipes (those with nickel phosphorus plating), there is a possibility that the pressure sensor could loosen over time. If loosening occurs, fuel could leak past a gasket used in the connection between the sensor and the delivery pipe and through the threaded portion of the sensor,” the automaker said.
“Lexus dealers will inspect the vehicle for fuel leakage and if no leakage is found, will tighten the fuel pressure sensor with the proper torque. If a fuel leak is confirmed, the gasket between the sensor and the delivery pipe will be replaced and the sensor will be tightened with the proper torque.”
It added the recall involving 1.3m vehicles worldwide to remedy a different condition on a different fuel delivery pipe and a high pressure fuel pump check valve did not involve vehicles sold in North America.
Toyota GB said it would recall some Avensis and Lexus IS250 models here in the UK to modify fuel systems.
The UK unit said about 15,500 UK registered Avensis cars with two- and 2.4-litre petrol engines, built between July 2000 and September 2008 would be checked for small cracks that “can potentially develop after a long period of time” in the fuel system and “potential insufficient tightening of the fuel pump check valve [which] in the worst case… may cause fuel to leak”.
No complaints related to this issue have been reported in the UK, TGB noted.
The repair involves replacing the fuel pipe and the fuel pump check valve, taking two to four and a half hours to complete, at no cost to the customer.
Lexus IS250 petrol engine models, produced between August 2007 and February 2009, would have their fuel pressure sensors checked, as elsewhere worldwide, with the job taking one to three hours depending on the extent of any faults found.
About 3,100 UK registered Lexus vehicles are affected.
