Toyota Motor, the world’s biggest automaker by sales, has announced that it will suspend shipments of some of its models, including the Hilux truck and Land Cruiser 300 SUV, after it discovered irregularities in certification tests for diesel engines developed by affiliate Toyota Industries. Ten models worldwide use the affected engines, including the Hiace van, Fortuner SUV, Innova multi-purpose vehicle, and Lexus-branded LX500D SUV.
A special investigative committee discovered irregularities during horsepower output testing for the certification of three diesel engine models. Toyota Industries sold around 84,000 of the affected automobile diesel engines during the financial year to March 31, 2023. The CEO of Toyota, Koji Sato, revealed that the company uses around 36,000 of the affected engine models worldwide each month, amounting to an annual 432,000 units.
The company has been separately dealing with a case of misconduct related to rigged collision safety tests at small car specialist Daihatsu. Toyota has disclosed that it aimed to provide authorities with a thorough explanation of the matter and would take the required measures, such as running new engine certification tests in the presence of regulators, as necessary.
According to Toyota Industries President Koichi Ito, there was a lack of communication with Toyota Motor and inadequacy in coordinating testing processes and procedures that should have been followed. In Japan, the shipment halt influenced production at four plants, affecting six production lines.
Toyota confirmed that the affected vehicles and their engines comply with engine performance output standards. The investigation also revealed that electronic control units used during horsepower output testing were different from those implemented during engine production. Japan’s transport ministry has planned an on-site investigation of Toyota Industries’ Hekinan plant in central Aichi prefecture, where the company manufactures automotive and industrial engines.
Initially, Toyota’s investigation focused on certification regulations related to emissions performance of forklift and construction machinery engines, in which the special investigative committee confirmed misconduct. Amid climate change concerns across the automotive industry, Toyota’s recall of the affected diesel engines demonstrates its commitment to prioritizing transparent and efficient certification practices.