Toyota to hold world's biggest car recall for 16 years

By NBC News wire services Japan's car giant Toyota will voluntarily recall 7.4 million vehicles globally, including certain Vitz, Yaris and Corolla models, due to malfunctioning power window switches, the company said Wednesday. The firm will recall 2.47 million vehicles in the United States, as well as 1.40 million vehicles in China and 1.39 million vehicles in Europe, making it the biggest single recall since Ford Motor Co pulled back 7.9 million vehicles in 1996. Government investigates Honda Pilot, Odyssey rollaway risk The recall comes a day after Toyota reported its sales fell 48.9 percent year-on-year in China in September. Japanese car brands have suffered as a result of an outbreak of anti-Japan sentiment in China in response to a territorial dispute between the two countries. In Japan, Toyota is recalling about 459,300 vehicles, including the Vitz, produced between 2006 and 2008. GM recalling almost 474,000 cars over problem with gear shift The firm is also recalling 650,000 vehicles in Australia and Asia, 490,000 vehicles in the Near and Middle East, 240,000 vehicles in Canada and 330,000 vehicles elsewhere, said Shino Yamada, a spokeswoman for Toyota. The vehicles recalled outside of Japan include certain models of the Yaris, Vios, Corolla, Matrix, Auris, Camry, RAV4, Highlander, Tundra, Sequoia, xB and xD produced between 2005 and 2010. No accidents, injuries or deaths have been reported as a result of the window problem, Yamada said. Toyota recalls 3.8 million vehicles over potentially dangerous floor mats In 2009, Toyota recalled 3.8 million vehicles in the United States -- the company's largest-ever U.S. recall -- to address problems with a removable floor mat that could cause accelerators to get stuck and lead to a crash.The recall involved popular models such as the Toyota Camry and the Toyota Prius, the best-selling gas-electric hybrid. Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.