Toyota Motor Corp has decided to recall some 11,500 Lexus cars worldwide due to problems with the steering system, the automaker said on Wednesday.
The Transport Ministry has received 12 reports of steering system troubles in the luxury brand models since March, major daily Yomiuri reported Wednesday. The affected units are the LS460 and LS460L and two hybrids, the LS600h and LS600hL, the daily said.
“After having feedback from customers, we are making preparations for recall,” a Toyota spokesperson said, confirming the report.
The automaker is to recall about 4,500 vehicles in Japan and 7,000 overseas, he said.
It was only around six months ago when Toyota started to sell these vehicles. The automaker is expected to report the recall the Transport Ministry on Friday. These models have been also sold in around 50 countries and the automaker is to report the matter to authorities soon, unnamed company officials told Kyodo News. Toyota was recalling about 34,000 Lexus GX460 sport-utility vehicles worldwide last month to update the stability software programme. US magazine Consumer Reports’ “Don’t buy” warning prompted the automaker to take the step. The latest trouble with the four Lexus models could further erode the world’s biggest automaker’s reputation, which has been battered in recent months by a global recall of millions of vehicles due to brake problems and uncontrollable acceleration.
Toyota said Tuesday it paid a record US fine for failing to report the troubles promptly.
