(RTTNews) - Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc., the US division of Japan's Toyota Motor Corp. (TM: News ), announced Wednesday that it will launch a voluntary safety recall with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, or NHTSA, involving about 95,700 Toyota and Scion vehicles sold in the U.S., citing possible brake problems in extremely cold temperatures.

The recall affects certain 2009 and 2010 model year Toyota Corolla, Corolla Matrix, and 2008 and 2009 Scion xD vehicles, all equipped with 1.8 liter engines. Toyota stated that if the vehicle is operated in extremely low ambient temperatures, there is a possibility that condensed moisture from the positive crankcase ventilation, or PCV, port may seep into the brake system vacuum port and freeze. If the condition continues, ice may slowly accumulate at the brake system vacuum port and in the extreme case, ultimately plug the vacuum port, with which power assist to the brakes would gradually decrease and lead to lengthened vehicle stopping distances.

The Japanese auto giant said it will notify vehicle owners from 19 affected states in early September, 2009. Those states, where low temperatures are typical, include Alaska, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

Toyota also said its dealers will install a newly designed intake air connector which relocates the brake system vacuum port, with the process taking about one hour, depending on the dealers work schedule, at no charge to the vehicle owner. The company said no other Lexus, Toyota, or Scion vehicles are involved.
On Monday, Toyota recalled almost 690,000 cars in China because of faulty electrical window switches. The recall affects the company's Camry, Corolla, Vios and Yaris models made at two joint ventures in China - Guangzhou Auto and Tianjin FAW.

Meanwhile, the Nikkei business daily reported Wednesday that Toyota will slash its global production capacity by 10%, or 1 million vehicles, as early as the current fiscal year in order to improve utilization at underused plants. By slashing capacity, Toyota intends to return to operating profit in fiscal year 2010.

TM closed Wednesday's regular trading session at $86.91, up $0.31 or 0.36%, on a volume of 503,959 shares. In the after-hours trading, shares declined $0.12 or 0.14% to $86.79.

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by RTT Staff Writer

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