Toyota says 270,000 vehicles have faulty engines

July 1, 2010

BY SHINO YUASA, Associated Press Writer Shino Yuasa, Associated Press Writer –

28 mins ago

TOKYO – Toyota Motor Corp. said Thursday about 270,000 cars sold worldwide —

including luxury Lexus sedans — have faulty engines, the latest quality lapse to

hit the automaker following massive global recalls.

Japan's top-selling daily Yomiuri said in its evening edition that Toyota will

inform the transport ministry of a recall on Monday. The paper cited no sources.

Toyota spokesman Hideaki Homma said the company was evaluating measures to deal

with the problem of defective engines that can stall while the vehicle is

moving. He would not confirm a recall was being considered.

The automaker has been working to patch up its reputation after recalling more

than 8 million vehicles worldwide because of unintended acceleration and other

defects.

Of the 270,000 vehicles with engine problems, some 180,000 were sold overseas

and the rest in Japan. They include the popular Crown and seven models of luxury

Lexus sedans.

Toyota said it has received around 200 complaints in Japan over faulty engines.

Some drivers told Toyota that the engines made a strange noise.

Homma said there have been no reports of accidents linked to the faulty engines.

The automaker's shares dropped 2.3 percent to close at 3,010 yen in Tokyo on

Thursday.

U.S. authorities recently slapped Toyota with a record $16.4 million fine for

acting too slowly to recall vehicles with defects. Toyota dealers have repaired

millions of vehicles, but the automaker still faces more than 200 lawsuits tied

to accidents, the lower resale value of Toyota vehicles and the drop in the

company's stock.

In the aftermath of the recalls, Congress is considering an upgrade to auto

safety laws to toughen potential penalties against automakers, give the U.S.

government more powers to demand a recall and push car companies to meet new

safety standards.

Toyota said last week it will recall 17,000 Lexus luxury hybrids after testing

showed that fuel can spill during a rear-end crash.

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