Sealing issue triggers huge Toyota recall

Tokyo - Toyota is recalling 1.7 million vehicles globally to address three separate defects including a faulty brake master cylinder that could hinder the brake's performance.

The Lexus IS, GS and LS sedans and Toyota Auris are among the models being called back.

The measures include a voluntary safety recall of around 423,000 Lexus vehicles, issued by Toyota Motor Sales USA Inc.

In these vehicles, the fuel delivery pipes in the engine compartment were manufactured with a plating to protect against corrosion.

According to Toyota, some of the pipes could have been produced with plating particles on the gasket seating surface where the fuel pressure sensor is installed. This, it said, could degrade the sealing property of the gasket seated between the pressure sensor and the pipe.

“During vehicle operation, fuel could leak past the gasket. In the presence of an ignition source, this could increase the risk of a vehicle fire,” added, Toyota, though it is not aware of any fires, crashes, injuries or fatalities caused by this condition.

Lexus dealers will repair the gasket seating surface of the fuel delivery pipe where the fuel pressure sensor is installed, replace the gasket with a new one, and re-install the fuel pressure sensor.