Toyota has said it will recall 1.7 million vehicles worldwide over concerns about possible fuel leakages, in the latest setback for Japan's troubled car giant.
The move will see the company pull 1.28 million vehicles in Japan and 421,000 overseas, Toyota and the Japanese Transport Ministry said.
'Slight cracks may appear on the engine fuel pipes. If it continues to be used, the crack may be widened and there may be risks of fuel leakage,' the ministry said in a statement.
The recalls include around 245,000 of Toyota's luxury Lexus vehicles in the US over faulty fuel pressure sensors connected to engine fuel delivery pipes, it said. The car giant will pull 74,590 Lexus, Crown and other cars in Japan over similar leakage fears. No accidents have been reported out of more than 140 cases, it said.
Toyota Ireland is to recall 253 Avensis 2.0/2.4 litre petrol only vehicles to replace the fuel pipe and inspect the fuel pump check valve. The vehicles potentially affected were produced between July 2000 and September 2008. In addition Lexus Ireland is to recall 186 Lexus IS250 petrol vehicles to check the torque on the fuel pressure sensor.
No other Toyota or Lexus models in Ireland are involved. Toyota Ireland managing director David Shannon said there had have been no reports in Ireland involving these issues and the measure was precautionary.
In 2008 Toyota ended General Motors' 77-year reign as the world's largest car maker but the road has been a bumpy one for the Japanese giant, facing the impact of the economic crisis, recalls and recently a strong yen.
Previously praised for its vehicles' safety and reliability, a US recall of around four million vehicles in late 2009 swelled to nearly nine million units by February 2010 for brake and accelerator defects blamed for dozens of accidents.
On Monday Toyota said its global group sales rose 8% in 2010, enabling the firm to narrowly retain the title of world's biggest car maker despite its recall crisis, although a revitalised GM has narrowed its lead.
