Toyota Motor has suspended shipments of some models including the Hilux truck and Land Cruiser 300 SUV after finding irregularities in certification tests for diesel engines.
A special investigative committee found irregularities during horsepower output testing for the certification of three diesel engine models.
Ten models use the affected engines globally, Toyota said, including the Hiace , Fortuner SUV, Innova multi-purpose vehicle and Lexus-branded LX500D SUV.
Toyota, the world’s biggest automaker by sales, has been separately seeking to resolve a case of misconduct related to rigged collision safety tests at small car specialist Daihatsu.
The company said it would take measures such as running new engine certification tests in the presence of regulators as needed.
“There was a lack of communication with Toyota Motor and not enough coordination about testing processes and procedures that should have been followed,” Toyota Industries President Koichi Ito said at a press conference.
Japan’s transport ministry said it would conduct on Tuesday an on-site investigation of Toyota Industries’ Hekinan plant in central Aichi prefecture where the company makes automotive and industrial engines.
Toyota’s investigation initially focused on certification regulations relating to emissions performance of forklift and construction machinery engines, where the special investigative committee also confirmed wrongdoing.
The company holds a near 25% stake in Toyota Industries, which is a key Toyota group company. The supplier in turn owns about 8% of Toyota shares itself.
