Toyota recalls 6.5m vehicles due to window defect

Toyota, which has already recalled around 10m cars worldwide as a result of faulty air bags linked to a number of deaths, said it will recall 6.5m vehicles globally due to a faulty window switch.

Toyota said the faulty window switch affects the Yaris model, as well as the Corolla, Camry, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, RAV4, Sequoia, Tundra, and Scion.

The company said the power window master switch in the involved vehicles may have been manufactured with insufficient lubricant grease. If not enough grease is applied, under certain conditions the switch may develop a short circuit that can cause the switch assembly to overheat and melt. A melting switch can produce smoke and potentially lead to a fire.

The recall affects cars made between 2005 and 2010, with around 2.7m of the cars sold in North America, 1.2m in European and 600,000 in Japan.