Toyota Recalls 6.4 Million Vehicles for Multiple Faults

Toyota Motor Corp. has launched five simultaneous global recalls of 6.4 million vehicles to fix problems in 27 of its models.

The campaign is Toyota's largest since it recalled 10 million vehicles in 2009-2010 to fix carpet and accelerator pedal linkage flaws tied to unexpected acceleration.

In some cases, the same model is involved in more than one of the recalls announced earlier today. The campaigns also include 2004-2013 Pontiac Vibe and Subaru Trezia, which are variants of Toyota's Maxtrix five-door hatchback.

Of the total vehicles involved, 2.3 million are in North America, 1.1 million in Japan and 810,000 in Europe. Toyota says smaller numbers are in Africa, the Middle East and South America.

The largest recall, which covers 3.5 million vehicles, will replace an electrical cable in the steering column that could break and prevent the driver's front airbag from inflating in a crash. Half the affected vehicles are in North America. The recall covers 2004-2010 model Yaris small sedans, Camry and Corolla midsize cars, RAV4 small SUVs, Toyota Matrix/Pontiac hatches, Tacoma pickup trucks and Highlander SUVs.

A second recall involves 2.3 million three-door hatchbacks with defective seat rail locks that could allow the front seats to slide forward in a crash and injure their occupants. Affected vehicles in this group most of them in Japan are 2005-2010 model ist/Scion xD small people movers, Toyota Belta/Ractis/Vitz and Subaru Trezia small five-door hatches and Urban Cruiser small crossovers.

Three other campaigns involve defects in 760,000 steering column brackets, 160,000 windshield wiper motors and 20,000 starter motors.