Toyota recalls cars in Japan

July 6, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

Associated Press

TOKYO

Toyota on Monday began recalling more than 90,000 luxury Lexus and Crown vehicles in Japan as part of a global recall over defective engines — the latest setback for the automaker beset with quality problems.

On Friday, Toyota Motor Corp. said it would recall a total of 270,000 Lexus and Crown vehicles worldwide to fix flaws in the valve springs, a crucial engine component, that could make the automobile stall while in motion. That includes 138,000 vehicles in the U.S., 91,903 in Japan, 15,000 in Europe, 10,000 in the Middle East, 6,000 in China, 4,000 in Canada and 8,000 in other regions.

“We apologize for inconveniencing our customers. We hope to fix the problem soon,” Toyota spokesman Paul Nolasco said in a statement.

No accidents or injuries have been reported because of the defect. About 220 complaints have been reported. Toyota said it is replacing the valve spring in the recalled vehicles, produced between July 2005 and August 2008 — Lexus models GS350, GS450h, GS460, IS350, LS460, LS600h, LS600hL and Crown models. Vehicles from the 2009 and 2010 model years are not affected.

The quality problem affecting top-of-the-line products comes as Toyota struggles to move on from massive global recalls that started in October.