Toyota is recalling over 36,000 cars in Ireland as part of a major global recall of over 7.4 million vehicles.
It relates to a fault with the electric window switches. On the driver's door is a panel of switches that can control each of the car's electric windows and it's the switch for the front seat passenger window that can potentially stick or fail to work.
This could ultimately lead to the switch melting, or in the worst case catching fire if a lubricant is applied during efforts to release the switch.
According to a spokeswoman for the firm in Japan, the first time the problem was reported was in September 2008 in the United States. No accidents, injuries or deaths have been reported as a result of the problem, though there is a possibility that the malfunctioning switches could emit smoke, she said.
The Irish recall involves 9,232 Yaris, 10,357 Auris, 14,112 Corolla and 2,392 RAV 4 vehicles manufactured between September 2006 and December 2008.
A spokesman for Toyota Ireland said the firm was first informed of the recall last Friday by the car firm and is currently seeking the current details of owners from the Government's database before contacting motorists directly to arrange for vehicles to visit their nearest dealerships. It will involve a 60-minute procedure at the dealer.
Toyota declined to disclose how much the recall would cost, or how it might affect its earnings.
The recall will include 2.47 million vehicles in the United States, as well as 1.4 million vehicles in China and 1.39 million vehicles in Europe.
The move comes as Japan's biggest car firm tries to rebuild trust after a series of recalls between 2009 and 2011 in which it recalled around 10 million vehicles.
Yesterday, Toyota reported that its sales fell 48.9 per cent year-on-year in China in September. Japanese car brands have suffered as a result of an outbreak of anti-Japan sentiment in China in response to a territorial dispute between the two countries.
It is one of the largest single recalls since 1996, when Ford called back eight million vehicles to replace defective ignition switches that could have caused engine fires.
Toyota says owners who have a query about the recall can contact its customer service centre on 01 - 4190222.
