Recall: 185,000 Toyotas for power steering failure

The 2012 Yaris may lose power steering, but only 74 cars in the U.S. are affected.

Toyota is recalling about 185,000 hatchbacks to fix electrical problems that can disable the power steering, according to Reuters and the company.

In the U.S., only 74 cars are affected – the 2012 Yaris hatchback – compared with about 130,000 cars in Japan, where the Yaris is sold as the Vitz. 

Due to moisture and manufacturing problems with the steering computer, which sends signals to an electric motor to assist the wheel, the system can short-circuit and disable the assist altogether. At low speeds without power steering, it will be harder to turn the wheel, and the driver will see a warning light on the dash if the problem occurs, Toyota said.

The rest of the cars are located in Europe, where the Yaris is Toyota's best-selling model. Toyota is also recalling the 2011 Yaris (the current-generation model was released one year prior to the U.S.) and another car called the Verso-S from 2011 and 2012, Reuters said.

Dealers will replace the power steering computer at a date that Toyota has not yet specifid. The 74 Yaris owners in the U.S. can visit www.toyota.com/recal​l or call Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.

In June, Toyota recalled 242,000 hybrids worldwide to fix weakened brakes, including about 87,000 in the U.S. In January, Toyota recalled 1.29 million cars, including 752,000 Corolla and Matrix models and 270,000 Lexus ISsedans in the U.S., for airbag computers that could short-circuit and windshield wipers that could detach.  

autos.msn.com