Posted: Saturday, February 6, 2010     Source: GNA

Toyota Camry cars problem is limited to those manufactured in USA

Ms. Hannah Tetteh, Minister for Trade and Industry, on Friday said the operational problems surrounding the Toyota Camry cars were limited to those manufactured in United States of America (USA).

She said this in Parliament in an answer to an emergency question from Mr. Andrew Adjei-Yeboah, member for Tano South on measures the ministry was taking to check the importation of Toyota Camry cars from the US since Toyota US was recalling about four million of such cars because of operational problems.

She identified Toyota Ghana limited and Sterling Automobile as the two major companies that import Toyota cars into the country adding that the two companies import their Toyota cars from Japan and Middle East respectively.

She stated that those from the Middle East were built to the suit hot weather condition of the Middle East adding that the Toyota brand that Sterling Automobile imports from the US were the Toyota Avalon and till date Avalon was the only brand the company imported into the country.
She noted that as at now, no complains had been received to that effect.
She said when Toyota Ghana limited was contacted it stated that importation of Camry cars was not done on a large scale basis but mostly by individuals who have resided in the US and decided to bring their cars home.

Ms. Tetteh said two individuals contacted Toyota Ghana Limited to complain about the recall problem because they had purchased their cars from the US.
She said no Lexus Division or Scion vehicles were affected by these actions and added that Toyota Prius, Tacoma, Sienna, Venza, Solara, Yaris, 4Runner, FJ Cruiser, Highlander, Hybrid and certain Camry models including Camry Hybrid remain for sale.
Ms. Tetteh said the ministry would work with the destination inspection companies to ensure that such vehicles were not released on to the Ghanaian market without being checked for such defects.

She said Camry RAV4, Corrola and highlander vehicles with vehicle identification numbers VIN that begin with "J" were not affected by the accelerated pedal recall.
The US recently announced its intention to recall approximately 2.3 million select Toyota Division Vehicles equipped with specific pedal assembly and suspended sales of the eight models involved in the recall.

The Toyota vehicles affected are Certain 2009-2010 RAV4, Certain 2009-2010 Corolla, 2009- 2010 Matrix, 2005-2010 Avalon, Certain 2007-2010 Camry, Certain 2010 Highlander, 2007- 2010 Tundra, 2008-2010 Sequoia.