Toyota recalls 1.13 million Corollas over engine defect

Toyota Motor Corporation yesterday said that it was recalling 1.13 million Corolla and Corolla Matrix vehicles in the US and Canada over defects in the electronic control units of engines, leading to questions as to when the Japanese carmaker would finally gets its spate of quality problems sorted out.

The Japanese auto maker, which has already issued global recalls for over 9 million vehicles this year, said the current recall is for the 2005-2008 model Corolla and Corolla Matrix vehicles sold in the US and Canada to address some engine control modules (ECM) that may have been improperly manufactured.

The recall was initiated after the besieged carmaker said that there were three unconfirmed accidents allegedly related to this condition, one of which reportedly led to a minor injury.

Toyota said that it is not aware of any accidents or injuries related to the recall in Canada. Most of the recall was in the US, with 200,300 recalled in Canada.

The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) had opened a preliminary evaluation in November after it received 26 complaints of the 2005-2008 Corolla and Corolla Matrix vehicles stalling, but launched full investigation and opened an engineering analysis when it later received 163 complaints.

Toyota said that on vehicles equipped with the 1ZZ-FE engine and two-wheel drive, there is a possibility that a crack may develop at certain solder points or on the electronic component used to protect circuits against excessive voltage (varistor), on the ECM circuit board.