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Toyota to recall 270,000 Lexus cars over stalling enginesThe Lexus models involved in the worldwide recall are the LS460, LS600h, LS600hL, GS350, GS450h, GS460 and IS350
(9)Tweet this (26)Graeme Wearden guardian.co.uk, Friday 2 July 2010 09.05 BST Article history
Toyota has recalled 270,000 Lexus cars over an engine problem. Photograph: Nicky Loh/Reuters
Toyota is recalling up to 270,000 luxury cars worldwide to fix an engine problem that can cause vehicles to stall.
Seven models of Toyota's luxury Lexus range are involved with the recall, along with its Crown model. It will begin in Japan next Monday, where 90,000 of the affected cars are based.
Around 3,200 of the models are based in Britain. A Toyota spokeswoman said the company had not decided whether to recall cars in the UK, but Japan's transport ministry told reporters in Tokyo that Toyota was planning a recall in the US and Europe.
Toyota said that it is not aware of any crashes caused by the fault. However the recall, which is thought to be costing up to ¥20bn (£150m), follows a series of safety problems that have dogged the Japanese car giant for the last 18 months.
As reported yesterday, the problem is thought to be caused by a problem with the valve spring, which in extreme cases can cause the engine to stall while the car is being driven.
Shares in Toyota dropped 2.2% in Tokyo trading today.
"Investors thought Toyota had implemented a thorough quality control system, and the market's reaction is, 'is this happening again?'" Fumiyuki Nakanishi, manager at SMBC Friend Securities, told Reuters.
"But we also have to keep in mind that automakers are always recalling cars and most don't get reported widely."
The Lexus models involved in the recall are the LS460, LS600h, LS600hL, GS350, GS450h, GS460 and IS350.
(9)Tweet this (26)Graeme Wearden guardian.co.uk, Friday 2 July 2010 09.05 BST Article history
Toyota has recalled 270,000 Lexus cars over an engine problem. Photograph: Nicky Loh/Reuters
Toyota is recalling up to 270,000 luxury cars worldwide to fix an engine problem that can cause vehicles to stall.
Seven models of Toyota's luxury Lexus range are involved with the recall, along with its Crown model. It will begin in Japan next Monday, where 90,000 of the affected cars are based.
Around 3,200 of the models are based in Britain. A Toyota spokeswoman said the company had not decided whether to recall cars in the UK, but Japan's transport ministry told reporters in Tokyo that Toyota was planning a recall in the US and Europe.
Toyota said that it is not aware of any crashes caused by the fault. However the recall, which is thought to be costing up to ¥20bn (£150m), follows a series of safety problems that have dogged the Japanese car giant for the last 18 months.
As reported yesterday, the problem is thought to be caused by a problem with the valve spring, which in extreme cases can cause the engine to stall while the car is being driven.
Shares in Toyota dropped 2.2% in Tokyo trading today.
"Investors thought Toyota had implemented a thorough quality control system, and the market's reaction is, 'is this happening again?'" Fumiyuki Nakanishi, manager at SMBC Friend Securities, told Reuters.
"But we also have to keep in mind that automakers are always recalling cars and most don't get reported widely."
The Lexus models involved in the recall are the LS460, LS600h, LS600hL, GS350, GS450h, GS460 and IS350.
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