Toyota Recalls Over Million Cars in US, Japan

The Japanese automaker said bolts in the bottom of the windows may come loose, causing the glass to rattle, or even worse, to shatter. The recall covers Corollas and Matrixs models released in 2003 and 2004, which are equipped with power windows.

Toyota said it will notify vehicle owners by mail, beginning in late April. It advised owners to contact their local Toyota dealer for inspection and repairs.

Toyota spokesman Joe Tetherow said 143 cases have been reported in which bolts came loose resulting in one minor accident and 15 injuries. The affected vehicles are in the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico and the U.S. territories, he said.

Meanwhile, in Japan, the automaker recalled 628,239 Noah and Voxy minivans produced from November 2001 through May 2007 because of defective fuel tanks that may crack.

Toyota, on course to overtake U.S. giant General Motors Corp. as the world's top selling automaker, has had a wave of large recalls in recent years, causing executives to urge the company to resolve quality issues.

President Katsuaki Watanabe said in March the company's rapid global growth is partly to blame for a surge in quality problems and that the auto maker is taking steps to correct problems.

Shares of Toyota fell 1.3 percent to end at $95.20.