Toyota may recall 270,000 Lexus GS, IS, LS cars due to engine problems

Reports from Toyota headquarters in Tokyo say that the automakers may recall 270,000 vehicles worldwide due to engine problems. The company says 137,000 cars are affected in the United States. According to the Wall Street Journal, there is a problem with the valve spring in the 4.6-liter V8 and 3.6-liter V6 engines in the following models: LS 460, LS 600h, LS 600hL, GS 350, GS 450h, GS 460 and IS 350 and the Toyota Crown sold overseas. The problem could cause the vehicle to stall. One third of the vehicles were sold in Japan, the rest were in other countries, including the United States.

Toyota has received about 200 complaints about the problem, according to the Detroit News, but no injuries or accidents have been reported.

Toyota has released the following in a statement:

Lexus has discovered faulty valve springs in some V8 and V6 engines in certain Lexus models sold in the U.S. Due to slight variations during the manufacturing process, some foreign material may have contaminated the valve springs resulting in potential breakage.
 
In such a situation, there is a remote possibility that abnormal engine noise or idling may occur.  In extremely rare instances, the engine may stop while the vehicle is in operation.

The manufacturer has been under intense scrutiny following the sticking pedal and floor mat problems that led to 8.5 million vehicles recalled. Toyota is still working with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on related investigations. No word yet on whether this will become a formal recall in the U.S., but it is likely, since the company has been criticized for delaying other recalls and has promised to act quickly to any safety issue.

A separate recall on 17,000 Lexus HS 250h sedans was announced late last week.

—Liza Barth

Updated 7/1/2010