Toyota Announces Recall in China

Nearly 700,000 Cars Hit by Window Glitch, Posing Risk to Auto Maker's Image



By PATRICIA JIAYI HO and NORIHIKO SHIROUZU

BEIJING -- Toyota Motor Corp. recalled nearly 700,000 cars in China because of faulty window-control systems -- the Japanese auto giant's largest recall in the country and one that risks tarnishing the company's image here after a recent recovery in sales.
The recall involves four popular models, including the Corolla and the Camry, Toyota said Monday. In the 688,314 affected cars, the driver's side window-control device may short-circuit, and overheat in some cases, because excessive amounts of lubricant were applied during manufacturing. Toyota spokesman Hitoshi Yokoyama said the flaw has melted the switch in "a few rare instances" but that there have been no reports of fire or injuries.
The size of the recall exceeds the 585,000 total vehicles Toyota sold in China last year. The move comes four months after a recall for a brake problem in Camry sedans in China. Toyota's initial handling of that event was criticized by a Chinese consumer advocate, although the company said it did nothing wrong.
Toyota in recent years has stepped up efforts to reduce quality glitches. In 2006, the company was so jarred by a surge of recalls and quality problems world-wide that it delayed introductions of some models by as long as half a year. The postponement was designed to give engineers more time on vehicle and component design....