LOS ANGELES — Toyota Motor Sales USA Inc. said Thursday that it will recall 1.13 million 2005 to 2008 model year Toyota Corolla and Corolla Matrix vehicles sold in North America to address a problem with an electronic component called an engine-control module that may have been improperly manufactured.
The decision came days after U.S. auto-safety regulators stepped up an investigation into the risk that Corolla and Matrix vehicles could stall because of defective electronic engine-control units.
This latest action raises the number of vehicles Toyota has recalled in the past year to about 10 million worldwide, a figure that is approaching the total number of vehicles that will be sold by all manufacturers in America this year.
The quality issues have affected the automaker’s sales position and hurt its reputation for reliability and dependability. Through the first seven months of this year, Toyota’s U.S. market share has dropped to 15.2 percent from 16.3 percent, dropping it to third place in the U.S. auto market behind No. 1 General Motors Co. and Ford Motor Co.
Toyota has been plagued by a rash of quality problems involving floor mats, brakes, electronic stability control systems, steering systems and other defects.
In the Corollas, Toyota said, there is a crack that may develop at various points on or in the component. When this happens, the check-engine light may go on and the driver may experience harsh shifting. The engine might not start, and in some instances the engine can stall while the vehicle is being driven. Toyota said there are three accidents purported to be related to this condition, one of which might have resulted in a minor injury.
Toyota plans to replace the module on all of the recalled vehicles at no charge to owners. It will mail notice of the recall to owners starting in the middle of September. Owners will be told to take their cars to dealers as replacement parts become available. Owners who have already experienced the problem and paid for the repair will be instructed on how to collect reimbursement.
People with questions can go to www.toyota.com/recall/ or call Toyota at (800) 331-4331.
On Wednesday, safety regulators began an engineering analysis of stalling in Corolla and Matrix cars.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration had received 26 complaints of vehicles stalling when it opened a preliminary evaluation in November. It reported 163 complaints when it opened the engineering analysis.
“The engine can stall at any speed without warning and not restart,” the agency said on its website.
Business, Pages 25 on 08/27/2010