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Johannesburg - There is no need for local car owners to
panic because of Toyota's worldwide vehicle recall, the car manufacturer said
on Thursday.
"It's not a case where motorists must stop driving and
bring in their vehicle immediately," Toyota SA spokesperson Leo Kok said in
Johannesburg.
"We are currently going through our database and
running a check to match vehicle identity numbers, and should have a better
idea of numbers later today.
"All affected vehicle owners will be contacted and
there is definitely no cause for panic."
Kok said any drivers who were not the original owners of the
vehicle were also welcome to contact the call centre if they were concerned.
Worldwide, 7.4 million vehicles would be recalled for the
incorrectly applied lubrication to the master switch on the driver's door,
which controls the electric windows.
"The main switch was not properly lubricated in the
manufacturing process," Kok explained.
"If the lubrication was not applied correctly it can
carbonise and dry out. The fluorine grease which we will use to re-lubricate
the switches is being flown in from overseas, as we speak."
In the worst-case scenario, a switch could spark, which may
cause some smoke, but it was more likely to malfunction or stick.
"We are viewing it as an international service campaign
where owners can take their vehicles to their nearest dealer and sit and have a
cup of coffee while the switch is either re-lubricated or, if damaged,
replaced."
There would be no cost to owners and warranties would not be
affected.
Vehicles likely to be recalled were specific models of the
Corolla, Yaris, Auris, Camry and Rav4, manufactured at plants in China, Japan
and the Philippines.
Kok said it varied between the different countries, but the widest net was for models manufactured between 2005 and 2009.
