Toyota probes Corolla power-steering complaints

Toyota is looking into possible power-steering problems with the Corolla subcompact, the world’s best-selling car, the car giant’s quality control executive said today.

Shinichi Sasaki said the company was considering a recall, but no decision had been made as Toyota was still looking into the complaints in the US, which are fewer than 100.

Mr Sasaki, who oversees quality at Toyota Motor Corp in Japan, said details of what may be wrong and possible numbers of repairs were still unclear.

Meanwhile, all future Toyota models worldwide will have a brake override system, the car giant’s president announced today.

The move is designed to be a safety precaution following acceleration problems which have led to massive recalls of vehicles.

The system is a mechanism which overrides the accelerator if it and the brake pedal are pressed at the same time.

Toyota Motor Corp chief Akio Toyoda also said the car maker would strengthen its communication among regions to beef up quality checks, appointing an official overseeing quality in each geographical area.

Mr Toyoda told reporters at the company’s Tokyo office today that he will head a special committee which is being set up to revamp quality controls and that committee will hold its first meeting on March 30.