Toyota recalls 7.4 million vehicles for faulty window switch

Toyota Motor Corp. is recalling 7.43 million vehicles worldwide over a faulty power-window switch — the latest, massive quality woes for Japan's top automaker.

The voluntary recall, announced Wednesday, affects more than a dozen models produced from 2005 through 2010.

Toyota Canada said about 240,000 vehicles were being recalled in Canada.

The power-window switch on the driver's side didn't have grease applied evenly during production, causing friction in the switch and sometimes smoke, according to Toyota.

Toyota Canada says it is recalling an estimated 239,459 vehicles. The models are:

• 2007 to 2008 Yaris.
• 2007 to 2009 RAV4.
• 2007 to 2009 Tundra.
• 2007 to 2009 Camry.
• 2007 to 2009 Camry Hybrid.
• 2008 and 2009 Sequoia.
• 2008 Highlander.
• 2008 Highlander Hybrid.
• 2009 Corolla.
• 2009 Matrix.

Owners of vehicles covered by this safety recall will receive an notification letter in the mail starting in late October, Toyota Canada said.

Recalled in North America are the Yaris, Corolla, Matrix, Camry, RAV4, Highlander, Tundra, Sequoia and Scion models xB and xD, spanning 2.47 million vehicles.

No crashes, injuries reported

No crashes or injuries have been reported related to the problem. But more than 200 problems were reported in United States, and a fewer number of problems were reported elsewhere, including 39 cases in Japan, Toyota spokesman Joichi Tachikawa said.

There was also one case related to the issue reported in the U.K., but no reported accidents, according to Toyota U.K.

Some 460,000 vehicles have been recalled in Japan. The models are the Vitz, Belta, Ractis, Ist, Auris and Corolla Lumion. The Yaris, Corolla, Auris, Camry and Rav-4 are being recalled in Europe, totalling 1.39 million vehicles.

The sprawling recall also applies to cars in Australia, China and elsewhere in Asia and the Middle East.

Toyota has been trying to fix its reputation after a series of massive recalls of 14 million vehicles over several years.

Before that, Toyota had boasted a reputation for pristine quality, centred around its super-lean production methods that empowered the worker to focus on quality control.

Toyota executives have acknowledged the escalating recalls were partly caused by the company's overly ambitious growth goals.

Toyota is also suffering from a sales plunge in China where car buyers are shunning Japanese brands because of a territorial dispute over islands claimed by Japan, China and Taiwan.