Toyota extends open hours to fix faults

And service centres are also expected to extend current opening hours to cope with the repercussions of the massive global recall by the Japanese manufacturer. Work started last Wednesday, when repairs began at 206 service centres in the UK.

The motor manufacturer claims it has the capacity to repair 6,000 vehicles per day. Locally more than 1,000 cars are likely to be recalled. And many NI owners have already received letters from Toyota UK, advising them that they will hear from their dealership.

There was 100,000 accelerator pedal repair parts delivered to the UK last friday and dealers have also received a software upgrade for Prius brakes.

Toyota technicians have received specific training in the repair; the parts arenow in stock and the first cars are being attended to, according to the company.

The accelerator pedal recall involves 180,865 vehicles in the UK and Toyota anticipates it can be accomplished in a matter of weeks, thanks to service centres extending their opening hours. The pedal repair should take no longer than 30 minutes to complete.

Steve Settle, Toyota GB Customer Services Director said: “We are doing everything we can to ensure our customers’ vehicles are attended to as promptly as possible. With the assistance of the DVLA and the commitment of all our centres, we have been able to launch a repair programme that is thorough, efficient and effective in ensuring all the vehicles affected by the recall are fixed.”

“Toyota service centres will be working extended hours and weekends. As a consequence, they have the combined capacity to repair 6,000 vehicles per day. Last Friday we received 100,000 repair parts from Japan. We have implemented the recall as quickly as possible,” he said.