The ministry has been following the recent recall of Toyota cars across the world because of technical flaws in some of its models.

“The company will begin a special maintenance campaign to install a small precision-cut steel reinforcement bar into the accelerator pedal assembly of 14,561 Avalon cars manufactured between January 2005 and January 2010 and 6,222 Sequoia models manufactured between November 2008 and January 2010,” the source said.

There is a standing government decree regarding the recall of vehicles, accessories or spare parts. The decree stipulates that the manufacturing companies or their local agents should inform the ministry in writing any recall of a product within 10 days of the recall date specifying the models, number of the products imported and sold in the Kingdom and a description of the flaw, including its cause.  The company should also inform the clients over telephone, e-mail or media of the fault, the government order said.

A source at ALJ, who preferred to remain anonymous, told Arab News ALJ would launch the special service campaign in coordination with the Toyota Motor Corporation.

“Although the two models suffered accidents very rarely in Saudi Arabia, the company launched the service campaign to ensure the safety of car owners,” the source added.

The Consumer Protection Association (CPA) commended the decision of TMC decision to recall cars for fixing their problems.

The CPA had demanded the government to implement a decree issued in 2001 that makes it compulsory for a carmaker and its local agents to recall all models that were proven to show faults.

Saeed Al-Bassami, secretary of the Car Committee in the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the government decree was prepared jointly by the ministries of Interior, Commerce and Industry and Transport as well as King Abduaziz City for Science and Technology to protect consumer interests in the Kingdom.