Toyota Prius recalled for two fixes

Toyota Motor Corp. will recall 2.77 million vehicles worldwide--including 670,000 Prius hybrids in the United States--to fix a possible water pump problem and steering defect.

The electric water pump recall covers five models globally for a tally of 630,000 vehicles. The steering recall affects 10 models worldwide totaling 2.76 million vehicles.

About 620,000 second-generation Prius hybrids are covered in both recalls, putting the net figure at 2.77 million units. The Prius models recalled in the United States are from the 2004 to 2009 model years.

The recall comes just a month after Toyota announced its biggest-ever single component recall. That callback affected 7.43 million vehicles to fix a faulty power-window switch.

U.S. dealers will check the intermediate extension shaft in Prius steering systems and replace if needed. The splines connecting the steering shaft to the steering gear box can deform over time with forceful steering, Toyota said.

Inspection and repair should take about one hour, the company said.

About 350,000 of those 670,000 Prius models in the United States will also be inspected to replace the electric water pump, which circulates coolant through the hybrid drivetrain components.

The electric motor driving this pump can stop, causing the car's hybrid powertrain to stop when the car is being driven.

"We have not received any reports of accidents or injuries related to either issue," spokesman Dion Corbett said.

Owners will be notified of the recall by mail starting in December. Repairs will be done at no charge to the customer.

Toyota's October recall for the faulty power window switches was the industry's biggest single recall since Ford Motor Co. took 8 million vehicles off the road in 1996.

A series of Toyota recalls involving more than 10 million vehicles between 2009 and 2011 damaged the firm's image, but it recovered and earlier this month raised its full-year net profit forecast to $9.7 billion, citing solid sales.

Toyota has sold about 3.3 million Prius hybrid vehicles globally since the car went on sale in December 1997. The total number of hybrid vehicles it sold worldwide, including the Camry, was 4.6 million as of end-October.

By Hans Greimel- Automotive News