Toyota knew two years ago about the engine problem behind its latest Lexus recall, even changing the spring part to correct it, but did not think a recall was warranted until recently, a company official said Tuesday.
Toyota Motor Corp. started a recall Monday over engine defects in its Lexus luxury models sold around the world, as well as the Crown sold in Japan, moving to repair some 270,000 vehicles to replace valve springs — crucial engine components — that are flawed and could cause vehicles to stall.
In August 2008, Toyota changed the spring part, making it thicker, to prevent the problem, spokesman Hideaki Homma said. That is why the latest recall doesn't affect vehicles produced after that time.