The carmaker has announced that the recall will affect around 74 model year 2012 Toyota Yaris vehicles in the USA while Reuters has reported that 185,000 vehicles including the Verso-S will be recalled worldwide, including around 130,000 vehicles in Japan, approximately 7,050 in Germany and about 7,000 vehicles in France.

The problem with the vehicles involved lies in a relay in the Power Steering Control Module of the electronic power steering system, which could experience a short circuit due to insufficient distances between terminals in the relay and moisture contamination of relay coil windings. This could cause a loss of power steering assist, resulting in increased steering effort at low speeds.

If this condition should occur, the Electronic Power Steering (EPS) warning light on the instrument panel will illuminate and a buzzer will sound to alert the driver that the system is not operating as designed.

No accidents related to the problem have been reported.

In the USA, owners of vehicles subject to this recall will receive a notification by first class mail. The remedy will involve replacement of the Power Steering Control Module.