DUBAI // Toyota has begun the recall of 3,217 cars in the UAE due to an engine fault that could cause the car to stall.
Al-Futtaim Motors, the authorised distributor of Toyota vehicles in the UAE, said this included 1,541 Prado, 1,200 Hiace and 476 Coaster 2013 models.
Jon Williams, the managing director of Al-Futtaim Motors, said they were informed by Toyota Motor Corporation that the engines in these vehicles contained valve springs that could have been produced with corrosive pitting on the surface due to improper maintenance of manufacturing equipment by one of two suppliers.
“The corrosive pitting could lead to fatigue cracks, which could result in breakage of the valve spring over time,” he said.
“If this occurs, the driver can notice an abnormal noise and rough engine performance. In some cases, the engine could fail and stop while the vehicle is being driven.”
He said customers were already being contacted for appointments at service centres.
This is part of a global recall announced last week by Toyota Motor Corporation when it said it was forced to take action on 33,000 commercial vehicles, cars and pick-up trucks due to a problem with the equipment used to maintain the valve springs.
UAE customers have been asked to call the Al-Futtaim customer care centre from 8am to 7pm Saturday to Thursday for more information.
The recall comes a month after Toyota called back 1,395 vehicles in the UAE market because of an airbag fault.
The vehicles included Avalon models made between August 2011 and June this year due to a leak that could cause airbags to stop working or deploy suddenly.
rtalwar@thenational.ae
