Toyota annuncia il richiamo di 2,7 milioni di veicoli nel mondo per i problemi riscontrati al piantone dello sterzo e alla pompa idraulica in alcuni modelli ad alimentazione ibrida, di cui 1,5 milioni sul mercato domestico.  Toyota ha precisato che non sono stati rilevati incidenti a causa dei difetti.

Toyota ha spiegato che sono 10 i modelli, per complessivi 2,7 milioni di unita', ad avere difetti a piantone dello sterzo e al motorino elettrico della pompa che aziona il circuito di raffreddamento del gruppo batterie in alcuni modelli ad alimentazione ibrida.

Nel richiamo, che coinvolge pure la seconda generazione della Prius, ci sono 670.000 vetture vendute negli Usa (realizzate dal 2004 al 2009) e quasi 500.000 in Europa, secondo quanto precisato da una portavoce della casa automobilistica. 

PS Questo il comunicato ufficiale,  in inglese, diramato oggi da Toyota USA :

TORRANCE, Calif., Nov. 14, 2012 – Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. (TMS), will conduct two safety recalls involving Prius vehicles as part of the recall announced today by Toyota Motor Corporation.
 
Approximately 670,000 Prius vehicles are being recalled in the United States to inspect and in some cases replace the steering intermediate extension shaft.
 
Due to insufficient hardness treatment of some of the extension shafts, the splines that connect the extension shaft to the steering gear box may deform if the steering wheel is frequently and forcefully turned to the full left or full right position while driving at slow speeds.  This deformation may create increased internal clearance and the splines may eventually, over time, wear out.
 
Toyota dealers will inspect the extension shaft to determine if it needs to be replaced and, if confirmed, will replace it.  The inspection and repair will take approximately one hour depending on the dealer’s work schedule. 
 
Approximately 350,000 of these same Prius vehicles are also being recalled to replace the electric water pump for the hybrid system.
 
In the hybrid system, there is an electrically driven water pump that circulates coolant through the hybrid components to provide cooling.  There is a possibility that the electric motor installed in the water pump may stop functioning, leading to illumination of various warning lights in the instrument panel.  In limited instances, the electric power supply circuit fuse may open, causing the hybrid system to stop while the vehicle is being driven.
 
Toyota dealers will replace the electric water pump for the hybrid system.  The repair will take approximately two hours depending on the dealer’s work schedule.        
 
There have been no crashes or injuries reported for these two conditions.  Owners of vehicles covered by these safety recalls will receive an owner notification letter via first class mail starting in December 2012.  Any authorized Toyota dealer will perform these recalls at no charge to the vehicle owner.