Toyota recalls nearly 6.4 million vehicles

Toyota announced a global recall of 6.39 million vehicles Wednesday, just a month after rival General Motors ignited a scandal with its own major recall.

About 2 million of recalled Toyotas are in North America. The recall covers 27 models, including the Corolla, Camry, Matrix and Highlander, and covers automobiles made as far back as 2004.

{mosads}The cars were recalled for having at least one of five identified safety issues, including engine flaws that could cause fires and a defect that could prevent a driver-side airbag from deploying.

The recall is the second largest in Toyota’s history, behind a 7.4 million vehicle recall in 2012.

In March, rival General Motors announced a recall of over 2.6 million cars for problems related to a faulty ignition switch.

In contrast to GM’s defect, which has been tied to at least 13 deaths, no crashes or deaths have been linked to Toyota’s safety flaws, according to CNN.

Toyota is only three weeks removed from a record $1.2 billion settlement it reached with the U.S. government over its handling of a 2009 recall caused by defective gas pedals. The company admitted in the settlement that it had continued to produce and sell cars after discovering safety issues that could cause cars to accelerate uncontrollably.

Following the settlement, Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda pledged to improve the company’s recall procedures. Wednesday’s announcement might be linked to that pledge, while also allowing the company to avoid much media scrutiny due to the focus on GM.