07/07/2010 // WPB, FL, USA // Nicole Howley // Nicole Howley

Detroit, MI—Some 270,000 luxury Lexus and Toyota crown vehicles will be recalled over potential defects that could cause engine failures. On Tuesday, July 6, 2010, Toyota Motor Corp. said they received reports of faulty engine valve springs more than three years ago, which is already the center of last week’s U.S. recall of 139,000 Lexus vehicles, as reported by Reuters.

Luxury Lexus and Toyota Crown vehicles across the United States, Japan, Canada, Australia, Europe and other countries will be involved in the recall. The U.S. recall involves 138,874 Lexus IS 350, GS 350, GS 450h, GS 460, LS 460L and LS 600h L vehicles.

In March 2007, Toyota alerted the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that they had received a report from Japan that encountered abnormal noise and engine shaking, including a broken engine valve spring. The notice sent to NHTSA by Toyota said, “there was a possibility that valve springs could degrade over time, leading to failure.”

Although Toyota made improvements to its casting process after receiving the first report, more reports of broken valve springs continued to pour in. An increase of thickness to the valve springs was implemented in August 2008 and again in September 2009.

Toyota stated that they would provide a free replacement of the defective valve springs with the thicker ones.

Legal News Reporter: Nicole Howley-Legal news for product liability attorneys.

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