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Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

Thousands of Toyotas in Canadian recall

By: Staff Writer

27/11/2009 1:00 AM | Comments: 0

SHIZUO KAMBAYASHI / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Enlarge Image

Prius and many other Toyota models are being called in for modifications to their gas pedals and other parts — a move Toyota says is unrelated to a huge recall in the United States.

OTTAWA -- Toyota Canada will ask owners of thousands of Camrys, Tundras and other models to return them to dealers for modifications to gas pedals and other parts -- even though the automaker insists its Canadian vehicles are not subject to reported jammed-accelerator problems that prompted a huge recall in the United States.

The Canadian "safety campaign" announced Thursday follows an investigation by Toyota and Transport Canada and involves more than 200,000 vehicles.

Affected are 2004 to 2009 Priuses, 2005 and newer Tacomas and Avalons, 2006 and newer Lexus IS 230s and 350s and 2007 and newer Camrys, Tundras and Lexus ES 350s. Toyota will reconfigure the accelerator pedal in all vehicles and install a brake override system, or reconfigure the floor beneath the pedal in some.

"There is no risk of accelerator pedal entrapment when compatible Toyota and Lexus Canadian-designed all-weather floor mats are properly used in the affected models as they are different in design and material composition from the Toyota-supplied mats in the U.S.A.," Toyota Canada said in a statement.

The automaker did, however, advise owners of its new Venza model, subject to a separate recall, to remove their driver-side all-weather floor mats until they have been contacted by Toyota.

Dealer training is to begin in early 2010 and repairs should start in April.

-- Canwest News Service

Managers' bonuses slashed

TOKYO -- Toyota is slashing bonus pay for managers as the Japanese automaker tackles a massive recall in the U.S. and deep losses for the second straight fiscal year.

Toyota Motor Corp. said Thursday winter bonus payments for 8,700 managers in Japan will be cut by 20 per cent.

Japanese workers at major companies such as Toyota get twice-a-year bonus pay in addition to their monthly salaries which reflects the company's performance.

Toyota announced in the U.S. on Wednesday a massive recall affecting four million vehicles to replace the gas pedals that can get stuck in the floor mats and cause sudden acceleration.

-- The Associated Press

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition November 27, 2009 B7

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