Toyota Motor announced on Wednesday that it is recalling 3.2 million vehicles globally to address a fuel pump problem that could cause engines to stall.
The recall adds 1.2 million vehicles to a major recall in the United States, bringing the total to 1.8 million. Toyota recalled almost 700,000 vehicles in the US for the same issues, in January this year.
An engine stalling can increase the dangers of a crash, though Toyota would not divulge if there have been any such incidents. The Japanese auto giant said that around 118,000 vehicles in the January recall should not have been included.
The vehicles include sport utility vehicles, trucks, minivans and cars across the company's model lineups of Toyota and its Lexus luxury vehicle brand. Auto dealers will fix the issue by replacing the fuel pump system with a new one.
Toyota launched an investigation into the fuel pump malfunction in June last year. The automaker disclosed to the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that it had knowledge of 66 field reports and 2,571 warranty claims in connection to the fuel pump glitch in the vehicles that were included in the first batch of recalls.
Toyota said owners of vehicles that were not involved in the January batch recall will be informed in early May this year about when to set a service appointment. Owners have complained of rough engine function, loss of engine power while driving at low speeds and even engines not starting at all. Toyota noted that the reports happened more commonly in regions of the southern US with warmer temperatures.
In another development, Toyota Motor Corp. has appointed Kenta Kon, currently acting as Accounting Group Chief Officer, as Chief Financial Officer. Koji Kobayashi, who is currently chief financial officer, will continue as Chief Risk Officer for the carmaker. Masahiko Maeda, currently, Powertrain Company (president), will fill the post of Chief Technology Officer.
Meanwhile, the spread of the coronavirus is dealing a heavy blow on Japan's largest auto company. Top executives of Toyota Motor said the business landscape in China has collapsed. Toyota said sales of new vehicles in China have fallen 70.3 percent for February from the previous year at 23,800 units.
Models of the Lexus have been an important factor for Toyota in the world's largest auto segment. But profits crashed after the coronavirus outbreak forced a good number of dealerships to shut down operations for a long period. Some branches that have resumed business said customer figures remain low.
