Dubai: Another recall of Toyota cars is hitting the UAE as a fallout of the Japanese carmaker's 12th "service campaign" in which 480,000 Toyota and Lexus drivers worldwide are again asked to visit a mechanic.

Toyota's distributor in the UAE, Al Futtaim Motors, announced yesterday that it is recalling 3,711 cars in the UAE due to possible mechanical problems. The company says it will contact the owners of Toyota Avalon, Toyota Corolla and Lexus LX470 models.

"We will explain the situation and organise free of charge rectification," said Hugh Dickerson, Senior General Manager Sales and Marketing Toyota at Al Futtaim Motors.

There are 816 Avalons and 55 Corollas affected, each of the model years 2000 and 2001. Of the Lexus LX470, model years 2002 to 2007, Al Futtaim said it will recall 2840 cars.

"Al Futtaim Motors will work closely with the UAE's Ministry of Economy with regard to the implementation of these campaigns," Dickerson said.

Repairs

The Avalon models need repair to the steering lock mechanism, in the Corollas the airbag needs an overhaul, and the Lexus LX470 is being recalled because of a glitch in the steering shaft mechanism.

Globally, about 400,000 Avalons as well as 80,000 Land Cruiser and Lexus LX 470s are recalled in this latest campaign.

Toyota has become the record holder in car recalls this year worldwide. So far, the company has issued 12 recall campaigns, equally divided between the Lexus and Toyota brands.

Over the past year, about 9.5 million Toyota and Lexus vehicles have been recalled only in the US, according to an Associated Press count. No other carmaker has had so many recalls in recent history.

In the US, those recalls prompted congressional hearings and a record $16.4 million (Dh60.2 million) fine.

Tomorrow Toyota will report its first quarter results for the fiscal year. Interestingly, the company expects a gradual recovery from the sales plunge caused by the financial crisis and the loss of consumer confidence after the recalls were annnounced.

Rise in sales

Sales have picked up recently, and for the fiscal year through March 31, 2010, Toyota posted a 209 billion yen (Dh8.9 billion) profit, a dramatic reversal from a 437 billion yen loss the previous fiscal year, the automaker's worst annual red ink since being founded in 1937.

Toyota said it is expecting its annual profit to rise 48 per cent to 310 billion yen ($3.3 billion) for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2011.

Faulty vehicles

Lexus

  • LX470: Steering problems
  • LS: Valve springs
  • HS250h: Fuel safety in a crash
  • LS: Steering problems
  • GX460: Stability software
  • HS250h: Brakes

Toyota

  • Avalon: Steering problems
  • Sequoia: Steering problems
  • Sienna: Spare tyre cable
  • Tacoma: Drive shaft
  • Prius: Brakes
  • RAV4, Corolla, Matrix, Avalon, Camry, Highlander, Tundra, Sequoia: Sticky accelerator pedals