NEW YORK — Toyota recalled 1.33 million Corolla sedans and Matrix hatchbacks in the U.S. and Canada on Thursday because their engines may stall, the latest in a string of quality problems at the Japanese automaker.
The recall covers vehicles from the 2005-08 model years sold in the U.S. and Canada. Three crashes and one minor injury have been reported, though Toyota said a link to the engine issue has not been confirmed.
Toyota’s latest recall is one of its largest since it began recalling cars and trucks last October. The automaker has now recalled more than 10 million vehicles worldwide for problems that run from faulty gas pedals and floor mats that can trap accelerators to problems with its Prius hybrid.
Toyota said Corollas and Matrixes equipped with 1ZZ-FE engines may contain a defective engine-control module, the computer that regulates engine performance. In some cases, a crack may develop on the module’s circuit board, which could prevent the engine from starting or could cause harsh shifting or an engine stall.
General Motors is recalling 200,000 Pontiac Vibes in North America for the same problem. The Vibe is similar to the Matrix and was built under a joint venture between Toyota and GM.
