Toyota is considering a recall of its hot-selling Corolla subcompact after complaints about power steering problems — another blow to the world’s largest automaker already reeling from a string of recalls for safety problems.
Company President Akio Toyoda, meanwhile, said he won’t be attending the U.S. congressional hearing on the automaker’s safety lapses, entrusting the job to U.S.-based executives — though he did say he would consider appearing if summoned. He said he wanted to focus his energies on improving quality worldwide.
“I trust that our officials in the U.S. will amply answer the questions,” Toyoda told reporters Wednesday. “We are sending the best people to the hearing, and I hope to back up the efforts from headquarters.”
He said Yoshi Inaba, who heads Toyota Motor Corp.’s North American unit, was more familiar with the U.S. situation and was the best executive to deal with the hearing. Toyoda said he was still making plans to go to the U.S. and dates have yet to be set.
But in an alarming disclosure that could widen Toyota’s recall crisis, the Toyota executive in charge of quality controls, Shinichi Sasaki, said Toyota was taking seriously the complaints about power-steering problems in the Corolla, the world’s best-selling car.
Sasaki said drivers may feel as though they were losing control over the steering, but it was unclear why. He mentioned problems with the braking system or tires as possible underlying causes of the steering problem.
There have been fewer than 100 complaints, the automaker says.
Speaking at Toyota’s Tokyo office, Sasaki said it was still uncertain if a Corolla recall would be necessary but the automaker is considering one. The number of affected vehicles is unclear, he said.
The company was putting customers first in a renewed effort to salvage its reputation and would do whatever is necessary if a fix is needed, he said.
FULL STORY
http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/2010-02-17-toyota-president-no-appearance_N.htm
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