A new recall may be issued for 1.2 million cars, 2005, 2006 and 2007 Toyota Corolla and Matrix models, if investigations led by Toyota find a safety defect.
This time the issue would lie with the design of the protection system of the electronic management control unit. A badly manufactured seal could result in the engine turning off either at a standstill or during full acceleration.
Toyota sent a letter to the National Highway Safety Traffic Administration confirming that the matter was under investigation, but the manufacturer claims that the « safety of users is not in danger », according to the letter cited by the Detroit Free Press.
The investigation started last November, after 26 complaints had been filed for engines shutting down without warning. According to available data, the NHTSA may have received 76 complaints to date.
Toyota says the issue can be traced to two component subcontractors, Delphi being one of them. But the automaker is seeking to reassure the public, confirming that a warning light should first appear on the dash board if the situation were to arise.
At the moment the manufacturer is trying to find a quick fix for the problem and trying to get the NHTSA to admit that it is not a safety issue. If the American agency rejects this theory, Toyota will have to issue a new recall.
Note that if the measure is confirmed, GM will also be affected by the recall with its same-year Pontiac Vibes, which are manufactured together with the Toyota Matrix at the NUMMI plant in California.
Upon verification, no such case has yet been reported in Canada, and Toyota Canada has simply stated that it is strictly an American issue. “It seems that Toyota Motor North American Inc. (TMA) answered the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) request for information regarding the matter, and that both parties will discuss the information. It is not appropriate to speculate on the results of this discussion at the moment,” Toyota Canada simply stated.
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| photo: Toyota |
This time the issue would lie with the design of the protection system of the electronic management control unit. A badly manufactured seal could result in the engine turning off either at a standstill or during full acceleration.
Toyota sent a letter to the National Highway Safety Traffic Administration confirming that the matter was under investigation, but the manufacturer claims that the « safety of users is not in danger », according to the letter cited by the Detroit Free Press.
The investigation started last November, after 26 complaints had been filed for engines shutting down without warning. According to available data, the NHTSA may have received 76 complaints to date.
Toyota says the issue can be traced to two component subcontractors, Delphi being one of them. But the automaker is seeking to reassure the public, confirming that a warning light should first appear on the dash board if the situation were to arise.
At the moment the manufacturer is trying to find a quick fix for the problem and trying to get the NHTSA to admit that it is not a safety issue. If the American agency rejects this theory, Toyota will have to issue a new recall.
Note that if the measure is confirmed, GM will also be affected by the recall with its same-year Pontiac Vibes, which are manufactured together with the Toyota Matrix at the NUMMI plant in California.
Upon verification, no such case has yet been reported in Canada, and Toyota Canada has simply stated that it is strictly an American issue. “It seems that Toyota Motor North American Inc. (TMA) answered the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) request for information regarding the matter, and that both parties will discuss the information. It is not appropriate to speculate on the results of this discussion at the moment,” Toyota Canada simply stated.
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| photo: Toyota |