More bad news for Toyota owners – including this (unhappy!) writer. The embattled Japanese auto manufacturer announced late last week that over a million late-model Corollas and Matrixes were in the process of being recalled. It’s said that issues with these vehicles’ engine control modules could cause the cars to stall. An estimated one point one million of the affected hatchbacks and sedans will be officially recalled in mid-September, at which point their owners will begin receiving letters from the company detailing the situation. It’s unknown which VIN numbers have been affected, although it is known that the vehicles in question are from model years 2005-2008.
It’s being claimed that three accidents, including one with minor injuries, have been reported as a result of the defect. Toyota would not confirm that these incidents definitely had anything to do with the engine problems, however. The affected engines (two-wheel drive, four cylinder) are known as ‘IZZ-FE’ engines. The faulty ECMs in these engines contain circuit boards that are prone to crack. If this takes place, the car might not be able to start, might shift harshly, or might stall out. Toyota announced plans to fix or replace the damaged parts at no charge to consumers.
It was announced that federal auto industry regulators have been aware of and investigating the stalling issues in Corollas and Matrixes since December. Toyota has, of course, been unde tremendous scrutiny this year after a grand total of over ten million recalled cars, trucks, and SUVs since January. The problems, which have affected virtually all of the manufacturer’s best-selling lineup, include faulty brakes, trapped accelerators, and gas pedal (accelerator) issues.
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