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Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Now Toyota set to recall best-selling Corollas over steering fears

seller: Toyota is investigating possible problems with its Corolla models


Crisis-hit Toyota is considering a recall of the world's biggest selling car - the Corolla - after complaints about its power steering.

More than 32million have been sold worldwide since 1967.

It is the latest blow to the Japanese car-maker, which is already reeling from a string of recalls affecting 8.5million cars worldwide over safety problems with accelerators and braking glitches with its 'green' Prius.

Yesterday's disclosure came as Toyota announced a series of measures to boost confidence --including adding a 'brake override system' to all future models. This will cut engine power when the accelerator and brake pedals are applied at the same time.


'No cover-up': Toyota's Akio Toyoda

There are thought to be 100,000 Corollas on the road in Britain but Toyota said the steering problem affected only American-built models for the U.S. market and believed UK-built models were unaffected.

Toyota's quality boss Shinichi Sasaki said it was uncertain if a Corolla recall would be necessary but that it was being considered. Toyota said there had been fewer than 100 complaints.

The car giant's global president Akio Toyoda will not appear next week before a U.S. congressional hearing into the recall issue --instead putting forward one of his American-based executives.

Mr Toyoda said: 'We are not covering up anything, and we are not running away from anything.

'We are sending the best people to the hearing, and I hope to back up the efforts from headquarters.'

The firm faces the possibility of hefty fines in the United States for its allegedly poor handling of the crisis.


source: dailymail