Following yesterday's news that Toyota is recalling a further 1.7-million cars globally over concerns about potential fuel leakages, Toyota has responded to our query about local cars and it's emerged that certain South African Avensis models are involved in the recall.
Toyota's statement refers to it as a "special service campaign" (amusing the words they'll come up with to avoid that dreaded 'r' word, although other carmakers are guilty of this too).
Anyway, this campaign "will seek to proactively correct possible weakening of the fuel line and of the fuel pump check valve," said the statement.
The recall, um… campaign, involved 3516 previous generation Avensis vehicles fitted with the 2.0 and 2.4-litre petrol engines.
Owners of these vehicles are requested to visit their nearest Toyota dealer for a preventative check, in which the fuel line and check valve will be inspected and replaced at no cost.
The reason behind the recall, says Toyota, is to address the possible appearance of small cracks on the fuel line of affected Avensis models. A separate inspection will be done on the fuel pump check valve to inspect the sealing gasket.
These cracks have appeared on a small number of vehicles internationally although, to anyone's knowledge, no accidents have occurred as a result.
While South African owners have gotten off lucky on this one, it's not so rosy overseas where a total of 1.7-million vehicles are involved in the recall globally, also including models other than the Avensis.