Toyota Considering Corolla Recall
Updated from 4:07 a.m. EST
TOKYO (
) --
Toyota
(TM) - Get Report
is considering a recall of the Corolla subcompact because of possible power-steering problems.
Toyota's executive in charge of quality controls, Shinichi Sasaki, said Toyota was taking seriously the complaints about problems in power-steering in the Corolla, the world's best-selling car, the
Associated Press
reports.
There have been fewer than 100 complaints. The automaker is investigating what might be wrong.
In a press conference Wednesday, Toyota's president said the world's No. 1 automaker would include a brake-override system in all its future models worldwide.
The brake-override system would add a measure of safety against the sticking-gas pedal problems that led to Toyota's
of millions of vehicles.
The press conference follows apologies from Toyota earlier Wednesday in major Japanese newspapers and an announcement from the company that it has begun fixing braking probklems for two of its hybrid models, the
Associated Press
reports.
On Tuesday, the U.S. Transportation Department ordered Toyota to hand over documents related to the recalls, wanting to know how long Toyota knew about the safety defects before it took action.
Some U.S. lawmakers, meanwhile, want President Akio Toyoda to appear at a Congressional committee hearing next week that is looking into the problem of the sticking gas pedals.
Toyoda, however, said Wednesday he wouldn't be attending the hearing but would send Toyota's U.S. executives instead,
AP
reports.
-- Reported by Joseph Woelfel in New York.
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