Al Futtaim Motors, the exclusive dealer for Toyota and Lexus vehicles in the UAE, said 1,347 selected 2007 and 2008 model year Lexus LS 460s are affected in the latest round of recalls initiated by the Japanese car maker.
“Lexus Japan has confirmed that due to possible defective valve springs there is a small possibility of abnormal engine noise or rough idling. In extremely rare instances, the engine may stall,” Simon Frith, Managing Director of Al Futtaim Motors, said in a statement to Gulf News.
“In the interests of delivering the highest standards of Lexus product quality and customer care, we will be contacting our customers directly for a complimentary replacement of the affected parts,” he said.
Toyota Motor Corporation, the world’s largest automaker, said on Monday it will recall 91,903 cars sold in Japan after saying engines in as many as 270,000 vehicles worldwide may have a defect that can lead to stalling, Bloomberg reported.
The company will recall Lexus GS 350, GS 450h, GS 460, IS 350, LS 460, LS 600h and LS 600hL models and some Toyota Crown cars because of problems with valves, according to a statement on the website of Japan’s Transportation Ministry.
Toyota is working to restore its reputation for quality after recalling about eight million vehicles globally for defects linked to unintended acceleration. The company recalled about 13,000 Lexus GX 460 sport-utility vehicles in April after Consumer Reports labelled the model a “safety risk” because it could roll over. The designation was removed in May.
The recall in Japan covers cars built between July 2005 and August 2008. The automaker will notify US regulators of the recall next week, Toyota said.
About 138,000 vehicles in the U.S. may have engine problems ranging from “abnormal” noise and idling to stalling while the vehicle is moving, according to the company.
The latest recall may cost the carmaker 20 billion yen (US$228 million), the Asahi newspaper reported last week. Toyota spokeswoman Ririko Takeuchi declined to comment on the potential cost.
