Toyota recalling 94,000 2011 Sienna minivans over brake light bracket issue

Toyota has issued a voluntary recall for approximately 94,000 2011 Sienna minivans produced before the beginning of November 2010. The recall is a result of a Stop Lamp Switch Bracket placed near the parking brake. When the parking brake is fully applied it may deform the switch bracket. This could result in the brake lights remaining lit or even partial engagement of the brakes resulting in a reduction of brake effectiveness over time.

No other vehicles have been affected by the issue and no accidents or injuries have been reported as of a result. Owners of affected vehicles will receive a notice in the mail by the middle of January, which contains instructions on how to handle any affects they might feel if their switch bracket has been deformed. A second notice will be sent out in February to inform customers that replacement parts are now available and appointments can be made with local Toyota service departments. Hop the jump for the full details.

Toyota Prius has been Japan’s top-selling car for 18 straight months

The Toyota Prius has been the top-selling vehicle in its home market of Japan since its redesign in 2009 for the 2010 model year, due partly to a series of incentives created by the Japanese government to promote fuel efficient vehicles – more specifically, hybrids. Those incentives ended in September, leading many to wonder if Toyota’s hybrid hatchback could maintain its stranglehold atop the sales board.

Apparently, the answer is yes. According to data provided by the Japan Automobile Dealers Association and the Japan Mini Vehicles Association, Toyota managed to sell 21,400 Prius hybrids in November, more than enough to earn the fuel-sipper the top sales spot over the second-place Honda Fit (16,677 units).

It seems that the end of hybrid vehicle subsidies did take something of a toll on Prius sales, however. Though still on top, sales of Toyota’s hybrid hatchback were down by just over 20 percent when compared to the same period one year ago, when the Japanese government’s incentives were in full effect. Still, Toyota’s green jellybean has enjoyed 18 months at the top and still has quite a few carlengths on the Fit, and that’s nothing to be sneezed at.

Toyota Etios joins India’s B-car ranks

Toyota will officially join the Indian B-car segment with this, the 2011 Etios sedan. A hatchback version, Etios Liva, will follow in April. While the styling is decidedly sedate, Toyota hopes to attract shoppers with the Etios’ low price point – 496,000 Rupees, or just under $11,000 USD based on current exchange rates.

Power comes from a 1.5-liter inline-four mated to a five-speed manual transmission. Tuned specifically for fuel efficiency, athe engine produces just 89 horsepower and 97 pound-feet of torque. The Etios is capable of achieving 17.6 kilometers per liter, or roughly 41.2 miles per gallon.

Inside, the relatively spartan interior uses a center-mounted instrument panel, and amenities like steering-mounted audio controls and red seat inserts are available in the more upmarket models. The Etios is offered in four trim levels – J, G, V and VX – with pricing as high as 686,000 Rupees (roughly $15,287) for the top-tier Etios VX.

Hit the jump for Toyota’s official press release, and scan through the gallery below to see high-res images of the India-only Etios.

Toyota suing Old GM over shutdown of NUMMI plant?

Toyota is still upset about how its joint NUMMI venture with General Motors was handled, and according toAutomotive News, the Japanese automaker has now filed a lawsuit to the tune of $73 million. The suit is against Motors Liquidation Co., the company created to pick through the discarded ashes of “Old GM.”

Toyota states that when General Motors pulled away from the NUMMI facility in 2009, it breached the contract between the two automakers. The $73 million covers research and development costs that were poured into the Fremont, California facility before it was shuttered last year.

The plant now belongs to Tesla, who purchased it from Toyota in May of 2010, for $42 million.

Toyota to repair 650,000 Prius models globally over coolant risk

Toyota has announced that it will voluntarily repair 650,000 Prius models for a fault in the hybrid cooling system. According to Reuters, a glitch in the vehicle’s coolant pump could cause the vehicle to overheat and lose power, though no accidents or injuries have been reported in association with the problem to date. It’s worth noting that this isn’t an official recall in conjunction with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, it’s a service action.

According to the report, the way the electric water pump is designed can allow air bubbles into the system, a development that can slow coolant circulation and increase the heat build-up in Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive components. if the overheating problem isn’t tended to in a timely fashion, it could trigger a warning light and cause the vehicle to slip into limp mode.

The repair notice covers 2004-2007 model year Prius vehicles, 378,000 of which were sold in the U.S.. Toyota will repair the problem free of charge starting in December, and Prius owners can expect to be notified of the campaign shortly. The Japanese automaker is also stressing that it has changed the coolant pump design in the Prius since 2007 and that none of the company’s other hybrid vehicles are affected by the problem.