Toyota is facing a fresh wave of recalls on one of its top selling models.
The Japanese car maker said it was now looking into complaints of steering trouble with Corolla models launched since 2009, and was considering a recall.
It comes as the company announced a plan to reduce factory operations, with demand for its cars falling.
Toyota has said it will fit all new models with a safety system that cuts engine power to prevent runaway car accidents behind its global recall of millions of vehicles.
Toyota President Akio Toyoda is to lead a taskforce to improve quality control and enable the group to respond more quickly to reports of defects.
The motor company's image for reliability has been battered by the recall crisis, which saw more than 8.5m vehicles recalled for problems with braking and unintended acceleration.
The new brake over-ride system, to be introduced worldwide, would cut engine power when the accelerator and brake pedal are depressed at the same time.
Accidents blamed on unintended acceleration have allegedly been linked to more than 30 deaths in the US.
The world's biggest car maker faces a number of class action lawsuits that could cost it billions of dollars.
Mr Toyoda said his company had never covered up safety problems. His comments come as a US watchdog investigates whether Toyota was quick enough to recall vehicles with possible defects.
'If problems are detected, we will not be evasive. We have not withheld information and we shall not do so in the future,' Mr Toyoda, the grandson of the company's founder, told a news conference.
The company took full-page ads in major Japanese newspapers today to apologise for the recalls.
Last night, US car safety watchdog, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, demanded that Toyota hand over documents to its officials.
Executive Vice President Shinichi Sasaki said Toyota is also investigating a possible defect in the power steering of its best-selling Corolla model and will recall it if it is found to be faulty.
