Japanese carmaker says latest recall affects nine models, including the Avensis, Corolla and Prius
Toyota has launched a recall of 2.8m cars with faulty steering wheels and water pumps just a month after calling back more than 7m vehicles with faulty windows.
The Japanese company said the latest recall affects nine models, including the Avensis, Corolla and Prius. About 75,000 cars will be recalled in the UK, 496,000 across Europe, 670,000 in the United States and 1.5m in Japan.
Toyota said it had not received any reports of crashes and injuries resulting from the faults. It said the steering problem was caused by "insufficient hardness" of the steering shaft, which could deform if the wheel is turned forcefully at slow speed.
The company said some its Prius models also have a fault with a water pump in the cooling system, which could blow a fuse in the electricity power circuit and stall the vehicle.
Toyota drivers are encouraged to visit the company's website where they can enter their registration number to learn if their car is affected. It will also contact the owners of all affected vehicles within six weeks to advise them to take their car to the nearest Toyota dealer. It said most problems could be fixed within an hour-and-a-half.
Toyota had been trying to improve its reputation after a series of recalls of 14m vehicles over the last several years, mostly in the US, affecting faulty floor mats, braking and gas pedals.
Just last month it recalled 7.4m cars after discovering faulty window switches in 12 models – the biggest single recall since Ford took 8m vehicles off the road in 1996.