Toyota is recalling 2.77 million vehicles worldwide for two unrelated reasons, the first big a defective water pump and the second is a steering shaft fault, even though some models might need both defects fixed. Toyota was adamant to point out that there have been no accidents or injuries reported that relate to these two issues. So far, 670,000 cars are being recalled from the United States, 1.5 million in Japan, and 496,000 in Europe, including 75,000 from the UK.

Toyota will  inspect and in some cases replace the steering intermediate extension shaft of the 670,000 the second generation Prius cars recalled in the United States to begin with. Toyota added that approximately 350,000 of the 670,000 vehicles that are being recalled in the United States are also being recalled to replace the electric water pump for the hybrid system.

The recall in the UK concerns certain Avensis and Corolla models made from July 2001 to March 2009, and for Prius hybrids built between July 2003 and April 2009 with the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA). All models listed on the UK recall are previous generation models. There is a possibility that the Prius models that are being recalled in the UK that the water pump in the hybrid system may fail as well (as is the case on the North American model).

Image courtesy of motormais