NATION

NATION

Potential fire hazard leads Toyota to recall 1.3M cars

NEW YORK — Toyota said Wednesday it will recall almost 1.3 million vehicles worldwide due to a defect that could cause a foam pad near the seat belt to ignite during collisions.

The Japanese automaker said the recall includes 134,900 model-year 2006 and 2007 Yaris subcompacts that were sold in the U.S. Toyota Motor Sales USA said it is working with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to recall the vehicles.

Toyota spokesman Brian R. Lyons said in “severe front-end collisions,” the mechanism that tightens the vehicle’s seat belt expels a gas that could cause a sound-insulating foam pad nearby to ignite. In a worst-case scenario, the problem could cause a fire, he said.

Nissan to cut 100 jobs, close 4 regional offices

FRANKLIN, Tenn. — Nissan Motor Co. is cutting 110 white-collar jobs and closing four regional sales offices in the United States in a long-planned restructuring designed to improve service to its dealers.

A spokeswoman said Wednesday the changes are unrelated to the downturn in automotive sales. Nissan’s U.S. sales fell nearly 11 percent last year.

Japan’s third-largest automaker said in a statement it will close regional sales offices in Atlanta; Aurora, Ill.; Pleasanton, Calif.; and Herndon, Va., and close a design facility in Farmington Hills, Mich.

Associated Press