Toyota and Lexus cars may have problems with stalling engines

More than a quarter-million Toyota cars sold worldwide--including many Lexus cars--have engines that may suddenly stall while the car is moving, Toyota said on Thursday.

So far, Toyota has not recalled the vehicles, which total about 270,000 units. And its announcement in Japan did not say how Toyota discovered the problem.

A Toyota spokesman in Japan said that up to seven Lexus models could be affected by the engine issue--the GS 350, the GS 450h, the GS 460, the IS 350, the LS 460, the LS 460h and the LS 600h L. Only about 90,000 of the affected cars were sold in Japan.

A U.S. Toyota spokesman said the company had nothing to announce in terms of a recall or service action related to the engine issue.

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