Toyota Motor Corp. is considering a recall of the Lexus LS460, its top-of-the-line sedan, because of concerns that the engine may stall, The Nikkei reports in its Thursday morning edition.
Tens of thousands of units would be covered in a worldwide recall. The LS460, which has a 4.6-liter engine, debuted in 2006 and went through a partial remodeling last fall.
The engine is said to stall while the vehicle is running and may not start again in the worst-case scenario. The automaker reportedly has not received any reports of accidents related to this problem.
Toyota is investigating the cause. It will likely need to replace engine-related parts or upgrade control software. It may notify the Transport Ministry of a recall once it draws up measures to deal with the issue. It is also examining other models with the same engine to see whether there is a similar problem.
The automaker is expected to take similar steps in other markets where the model is sold, including the U.S.
Since fall, Toyota has recalled millions of vehicles worldwide, including its Prius hybrid. This prompted the firm to establish a special committee to address quality issues and take other steps to prevent a recurrence.
