Toyota subsidiary recalls over 880,000 minicars in Japan due to defective door mirrors
By APThursday, October 7, 2010
Toyota unit recalls over 880,000 cars in Japan
TOKYO — Daihatsu Motor Co., a subsidiary of Toyota, is recalling over 880,000 minicars in Japan due to defective door mirrors.
The recall of 882,006 cars was due to loose attachments that could cause the mirrors to fall off, Japan’s transport ministry said Thursday. There have been no reports of accidents due to the defective mirrors.
The recalled cars are only sold in Japan, the ministry said. Under Japanese law, automakers must inform the ministry of a recall.
Toyota Motor Corp., the world’s No. 1 automaker, owns 51.3 percent of Daihatsu.
Mini vehicles are defined by specifications unique to Japan: maximum length of 3.4 meters (11.15 feet), width of 1.48 meters (4.86 feet), height of 2 meters (6.56 feet) and engine displacement of less than 660 cc.
The category is hugely popular in Japan for its money-saving potential, including lower fuel costs and taxes. Minicars currently comprise about a third of Japan’s annual vehicle sales.
