Toyota is considering a recall of its hot-selling Corolla subcompact after complaints about power steering problems — another blow to the world’s largest carmaker already reeling from a string of recalls for safety problems.
Company president Akio Toyoda, meanwhile, said he won’t be attending the United States congressional hearing on the carmaker’s safety lapses, entrusting the job to US-based executives — though he did say he would consider appearing if summoned. He said he wanted to focus his energies on improving quality worldwide.
“I trust that our officials in the US will amply answer the questions,” Toyoda told reporters on Wednesday. “We are sending the best people to the hearing, and I hope to back up the efforts from
headquarters.”
He said Yoshi Inaba, who heads Toyota’s North American unit, was more familiar with the US situation and was the best executive to deal with the hearing. Toyoda said he was still making plans to go to the US and dates have yet to be set.
But in an alarming disclosure that could widen Toyota’s recall crisis, the Toyota executive in charge of quality controls, Shinichi Sasaki, said Toyota was taking seriously the complaints about power-steering problems in the Corolla, the world’s
best-selling car.
Sasaki said drivers may feel as though they were losing control over the steering, but it was unclear why. He mentioned problems with the braking system or tyres as possible underlying causes of
the steering problem.
There have been fewer than 100 complaints, the carmaker says.
Speaking at Toyota’s Tokyo office, Sasaki said it was still uncertain if a Corolla recall would be necessary but the carmaker is considering one. The number of affected vehicles is unclear, he
said.
The company was putting customers first in a renewed effort to salvage its reputation and would do whatever is necessary if a fix is needed, he said.
Toyota has recalled 8,5-million vehicles globally during the past four months because of problems with sticking accelerator pedals, floor mats trapping accelerators and faulty brake programming.
The US House Oversight and Government Reform Committee is holding a hearing on February 24 on Toyota’s gas pedal problems. The House Energy and Commerce Committee has scheduled one the next day.
Inaba, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and NHTSA Administrator David Strickland are expected to testify at both meetings. The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee
has scheduled a March 2 hearing.
Toyoda reiterated his promise to put customers first in beefing up quality controls at the world’s number one carmaker.
He promised a brake-override system in all future models worldwide that will add a safety measure against acceleration problems that are behind the recent massive recalls.
‘Not running awa from anything’
The system is a mechanism that overrides the accelerator if the gas and brake pedals are pressed at the same time.
“We are not covering up anything, and we are not running away from anything,” Toyoda said.
Toyota has also commissed an independent research organisation to test its electronic throttle system, and will release the findings as they become available.
Toyota took full-page ads in major Japanese newspapers on Wednesday to apologise for the massive recalls, most of which affect cars outside of Japan.
“We apologise from the bottom of our hearts for the great inconvenience and worries that we have caused you all,” the black-and-white ads say.
Toyota has published similar ads of apology in US papers.
Toyota has also stopped airing TV ads in Japan for models affected by the recall, although it has continued them for other models.
Toyota in Japan had no immediate comment on the order on Tuesday from the US Transportation Department to hand over documents related to its massive recalls. The department wants to know how
long the automaker knew of safety defects before taking action.
Toyota’s US unit said in a statement that it “takes its
responsibility to advance vehicle safety seriously and to alert government officials of any safety issue in a timely manner”.
“We are reviewing NHTSA’s request and will cooperate to provide all the information they have requested,” it said.
Death toll
Toyota must respond within 30 to 60 days or face fines.
Reports of deaths in the US connected to sudden acceleration in Toyota vehicles have surged in recent weeks, with the alleged death toll reaching 34 since 2000, according to new consumer data
gathered by the US government.
Under federal law, carmakers must notify the department’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration within five days of determining that a safety defect exists and promptly conduct a recall.
LaHood has said the government is considering civil penalties for Toyota over its handling of the recalls. – Sapa-AP