Toyota Recalls 17,000 Lexus HS 250h Hybrids, Stops the Model's Sales
Toyota Motor (TM) has recalled the 2010 Lexus HS 250h hybrid model after government tests showed it could leak fuel in a rear-end collision. The leakage could result in a fire, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The move affects a total of 17,000 cars: 13,000 HS sedans that have already been sold and 4,000 that are still with dealers, says NHTSA.
Toyota will also halt sales of the model and temporarily stop its production in Japan for the U.S. market, according to The Wall Street Journal. The 2010 Lexus HS 250h model was also included in another recall in February over reports of inconsistent braking when the anti-lock brake system was activated.
The latest problem, says the Los Angeles Times, "mirrors a recall of the Lexus GX 460 in April, which took place after the magazine Consumer Reports unearthed a handling problem in its testing. Toyota subsequently replicated that problem on its own and announced a recall of nearly 10,000 sport utility vehicles."
Toyota has been struggling with safety problems in its cars, most prominently with sudden acceleration issues in its Prius hybrid, and has been forced to issue several recalls affecting most of the models in its Toyota and Lexus lineup in the past year. Toyota President Akio Toyoda said Thursday he feared he would have to resign following hearings in Congress about the company's handling of the recall of millions of cars and apologized to shareholders.
