TOYOTA HAS confirmed it will recall 26,000 cars in Ireland in coming weeks due to a potentially faulty accelerator pedal that in some instances may stick.
The figure, higher than initially anticipated, is part of a global recall of Toyota cars over the issue. The Japanese brand expects it will have to recall 1.8 million cars across Europe, built between February 2005 and January 5th this year. The models affected are the IQ, Aygo, Yaris, Auris, Corolla, Verso, Avensis and Rav4.
Owners can expect to be contacted by Toyota within coming days. A spokesman said the brand’s dealer network has the capacity to check 1,100 cars a day. The procedure is likely to take about 20 minutes and will be carried out free of charge.
Mark Teevan, aftersales director, Toyota Ireland, said: “We anticipate sending the first batch of letters within 10 days. The first shipment of parts for the recall will begin arriving in Ireland next week. Concerned customers are advised to contact their local Toyota dealer or call a dedicated helpline at 01 4190222.”
There has been a knock-on impact of the Toyota recall after Peugeot announced it was having to recall 42 cars in Ireland over the same accelerator issue. The French brand’s 107 model – along with Citroen’s C1 – is built in partnership with Toyota at a plant in the Czech Republic. The French cars are built on the same production line as Toyota’s Aygo.
While the Aygo uses the electronically controlled accelerator pedal at the centre of the recall issue, the French brands only used this pedal in models fitted with stability control systems (ESP) or automatic gearboxes. Only two Citroen C1s sold in Ireland have the accelerator pedal involved.
News of the scale of Toyota’s recall here follows the announcement by Honda last week that it was recalling 3,000 cars in Ireland over a faulty electric window switch that may overheat and could start a fire. The recall concerns the previous generation of its Jazz model, specifically cars registered between 2002 and 2009. It follows the death of a two-year-old child in South Africa last year who was sleeping in this model of car when it caught fire.
Honda Ireland says it is working with the vehicle registration office in Shannon to identify current owners of models affected.