Toyota orders worldwide recall of 6.5 million vehicles

Nathan Bomey | USA TODAY

Toyota is recalling 6.5 million vehicles worldwide to fix potentially defective power window switches in a sweeping move that underscores the downside of sharing parts across the globe.

The recall — which is equivalent to about two-thirds of the automaker's annual global production — covers some of the company's most popular vehicles, with model years ranging from 2007 to 2011.

The company said the window switch "may have been manufactured with insufficient lubricant grease," which could short-circuit, overheat and melt, causing a fire.

The issue has bedeviled the automaker before. It has previously recalled other 2007-09 models in the U.S. to fix a similar problem.

The new recall, which affects different vehicles, has caused at least 11 incidents in which the switch or car door burned, says spokesman Scott Vazin. In one case, a motorist in the U.S. reported a hand burn.

Some 2 million vehicles are included in the recall in the U.S. Models include the 2009 to 2011 Corolla, Matrix, Sequoia, Tundra and Scion xB. Also included are the 2008 to 2011 Highlander and Highlander Hybrid, 2006 to 2011 RAV4, 2006 to 2010 Yaris and 2009-10 Scion xD. There is also the 2007 and 2009 Camry and Camry Hybrid,

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