Vieing with Toyota

Last year Toyota had the largest number of cars recalled in the U.S., 5.3 million vehicles; Chrysler had 4.7 million and Honda 2.8 million. GM will likely top Toyota this year, as after only three months it has recalled 4.8 million vehicles; in all of last year it recalled 800,000.

Some of the problems causing the recalls:

• loose fitting for the transmission’s oil cooler line, which could allow oil leaks and possibly lead to fires. 
• right-front axle half-shaft could break, cutting power to the front wheels.
• defect with the ignition switch on their compact cars; this has caused at least 13 deaths.

This last problem is not a new one; G.M. knew about the defective ignition switches for more than a decade but did not recall the vehicles.