DETROIT (AP) – Toyota is recalling nearly 423 000 Lexus luxury brand cars in the US to fix fuel leaks that can cause fires.
The recalls affect the 2006 to 2011 GS, 2007 to 2010 LS and the 2006 to 2011 IS models.
Toyota says that the cars’ fuel lines have nickel phosphate plating to protect against corrosion. Some lines could have been built with particles coming in contact with a gasket. That can cause the sealing property to deteriorate and trigger fuel leaks.
Toyota says it’s not aware of any fires or injuries caused by the problem.
The company first began looking into the matter in June of 2010 after getting a report of gasoline odour coming from a customer’s engine compartment, according to documents posted Friday by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Toyota investigated, but didn’t find the cause until this year, the documents said. It decided to do the recall in October.
The company and dealers received six reports from the field and 238 warranty claims about the problem.
Dealers will repair the gasket seating surface at no cost to owners.
Some of the Lexuses were recalled in 2009 to fix leaks in aluminium fuel pipes.
