IE 11 is not supported. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser.

Total Toyota recalls this week: More than 1 million

The Rav4 gets a second recall after Toyota announced that a fix last year may not have been adequate.
The Rav4 gets a second recall after Toyota announced that a fix last year may not have been adequate.TheDetroitBureau.com

It’s been a tough week so far for Toyota: The automaker has recalled more than one million vehicles in three separate recalls.

Toyota and the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration announced those recalls on Monday, including a recall of a 780,000 cross-overs and hybrids that were recalled last year but may not have been properly fixed.

Read more: VW's New Golf Goes Electric 

This doesn’t bode well for the Japanese car company, which has had more of its vehicles recalled than any other manufacturer operating in the U.S. in three of the last four years.  

Toyota Senior Vice President Bob Carter last week told reporters in Detroit that quality and safety are two of the maker’s top priorities, saying that the company had redoubled its efforts in the wake of a series of problems involving so-called unintended acceleration that led to the recall of more than 10 million Toyota products worldwide.

Read more: Jaguar Unwraps First-Ever Crossover 

The Lexus RX 400h was previously covered by an unintended acceleration recall.
The Lexus RX 400h was previously covered by an unintended acceleration recall.TheDetroitBureau.com

The bulk of Monday’s recall apply to two vehicles: The 2010 Lexus HS250 hybrid and the 2006 through 2011 Toyota Rav4 crossover, one of the maker’s most popular models.

Toyota, which seemed well on its way to re-establishing its peerless reputation for quality, also said it was recalling 133,091 hybrids from 2006-2010, including the Highlander and Lexus RX 400h models. Toyota said there was a potential for shutting down of the hybrid system, causing the vehicle to stall.

Read more: Automakers Charge into Frankfurt Motor Show with Array of New Battery Vehicles

Finally, Toyota is recalling 101,584 Lexus GS 350 and IS 350 models from 2006 and 2011 for loose bolts on the Variable-Valve Timing system gear assembly, potentially causing the engine to stop while driving. The GS 350 was replaced with a new model last year and the IS 350 was replaced earlier this year.

Bolts used to secure the variable valve timing control device can loosen, causing the vehicle to stop while being driven. Early warning for this condition can be an abnormal noise just after start up.

Read more: For complete coverage of all the new products and news headlines at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show 

Despite such problems, Toyota’s reputation has largely rebounded from its unintended acceleration problems, notes George Peterson, chief analyst with AutoPacific, Inc., though he cautions that continuing problems with quality and safety could again tarnish the maker’s long-standing reputation.

Joseph Szczesny contributed to this report.