Toyota to Recall 521,500 Vehicles

New York, May 22 (Jiji Press)--Toyota Motor Corp. <7203> said Thursday that it will recall a total of 521,500 units of three vehicle models, mainly in North America, for free repairs due to problems in brake pedals or other parts. No accident related to these problems has been reported, according to the top Japanese automaker. The models in question have not been sold in Japan. Subject to the recall are some 450,000 units of the 2004-2011 model year of the Sienna minivan, 16,000 units of the 2013 model year of the Lexus GS luxury sedan and 55,500 units of the 2014 model year of the Highlander sport-utility vehicle. For the Sienna, water splashed with road salt can reach a spare tire carrier stowed under the vehicle because of variation in the placement of a splash protector or loss of the protector during normal usage, possibly resulting in corrosion of the spare tire carrier assembly cable, Toyota said. For the Lexus GS, there is a possibility that a brake pedal load sensing switch could improperly cause the brake system to activate without driver input, due to a manufacturing error. This could lead to unexpected moderate deceleration, the company said. Some seatbelt functions of the Highlander do not meet U.S. regulations, Toyota said. END