By Truman Lewis
ConsumerAffairs.com
Toyota is recalling 1.1 million Corolla and Matrix models that it says are prone to stalling. The recalled vehicles, from the 2005-08 model years, were all sold in North America. The recall also includes about 162,000 Pontiac Vibes, a "sister" vehicle to the Matrix.
The company said that on vehicles equipped with the 1ZZ-FE engine and two-wheel drive, engine control modules may have been improperly made, which could result in the stalling problems that more than 1,000 customers have complained about.
In most cases, if a crack occurs at certain solder points or on certain varistors, the check engine light may illuminate, harsh shifting could result, or the engine may not start, Toyota said. In limited instances, if cracking occurs on particular solder points or varistors, the engine could stop while the vehicle is being driven.
There are three unconfirmed accidents alleged to be related to this condition, one of which reported a minor injury, according to Toyota. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said it knew of six crashes, with no injuries.
The announcement brings Toyota's recalls since November 2009 to about 12.3 million vehicles worldwide and 10.5 million in the United States, most for sudden acceleration.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said earlier this week that it was upgrading its investigation of the Corolla.
Steve St. Angelo, Toyota chief quality officer for North America, said the recall was "an example of our commitment to standing by our products and being responsive to our customers."
As part of the recall, the engine control module on involved vehicles will be replaced at no charge to the owner. Beginning in mid-September 2010, Toyota will mail an interim notification to advise owners of this recall and the fact that they will receive a future notice when parts become available to complete the repairs. Owners who have previously paid for replacement of the ECM to address this specific condition should refer to the owner letter for reimbursement consideration instructions.
Detailed information and answers to questions are available to customers at www.toyota.com/recall and at 1-800-331-4331, Monday through Friday, 5 a.m. to 6 p.m., or Saturday 7 a.m. through 4 p.m. PDT.
Owners of the recalled Pontiac Vibes can take them to any GM dealership, the company said.
