TOKYO — Japanese carmakers Suzuki, Nissan and Daihatsu have recalled hundreds of thousands of vehicles in Japan over separate defects, the Transport Ministry said Thursday.
Suzuki Motor Co. recalled 432,366 vans belonging to two models — the Every and Scrum — produced from August 2005 to October 2009 over a design flaw in air conditioning parts that could cause a fire. Suzuki found two cases of partial fire damage, but no deaths or injuries were reported, the ministry said.
Nissan Motor Co., meanwhile, recalled 76,415 vehicles from 10 models, including the Tida, Note and March, over defective wiring in the engine that could stall the car. Those vehicles were produced between October 2007 and May 2008.
Daihatsu Motor Co., a Toyota subsidiary, plans to recall 60,774 vehicles from four models manufactured between December 1998 and April 2000 over faulty wiring that could accidentally launch their air bags.
Carmakers routinely issue recalls. For Nissan, Thursday's recalls were the third this month. However, the announcements come at a sensitive time as Toyota Motor Corp. is under intense scrutiny for its massive recent recalls.
Toyota recalled 8.5 million vehicles around the world for accelerator, braking and floor-mat problems. It was the biggest recall in the company's seven-decade history. The world's largest automaker is accused of responding too slowly to customer complaints, undermining its reputation for quality and safety.
Last year, more than 5 million domestic-made and imported vehicles were recalled in Japan, according to the Transport Ministry. (AP)