Toyota Motor Sales USA Inc. decided on Tuesday to recall approximately 245,000 Lexus cars from the U.S. market due to technical defects, the latest in quality control woes for the Japanese automaker.
The company said in a statement it will use the opportunity to check the installation of the fuel pressure sensor.
The recall involves various models of Lexus, including 2006-07 Lexus GS 300/350, 2006-09 Lexus IS 250, and 2006-08 Lexus IS 350 vehicles sold in the United States, said the company which is based in Torrance, Los Angeles.
Brian R. Lyons, a Toyota spokesman, said improper installation of the sensor connected to certain fuel delivery pipes that with nickel phosphorus plating, may cause the bolt to loosen over time, and possibly cause fuel leakage.
Lexus dealers will inspect the vehicles for fuel leakage, if no problem is found, the sensor will be tightened with a proper torque, and if fuel leak occurs, besides the tightening measures, the gasket between the sensor and the fuel rail will be replaced, Lyons said.
The costs of the check and possible replacement will not be shouldered by vehicle owners, Lyons said.
Owners of the relevant vehicles will receive a formal notification by mail once the needed parts are available, Lyons said, but he did not say whether the technical problems had caused any accidents.
The decision is part of a wider recall announced almost at the same time by Toyota. Tokyo-based Toyota Motor Corp said earlier it will recall about 1.2 million units of the Noah minivan and other models in Japan as well as about 140,000 Avensis models sold overseas to fix faulty fuel pipes and high-pressure fuel pumps.
Since late 2009, Toyota has recalled more than 15 million vehicles worldwide.
