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Toyota denies exhaust problems with Fortuner

Toyota Motor Thailand has announced that it has found lower-than-normal levels of carbon monoxide from exhaust gases in the passenger cabin of its Fortuner sport utility vehicles.

The company said it had conducted a careful inspection of Fortuners on its production line following complaints from a disgruntled Fortuner owner, who claimed that exhaust gases from the engine were able to penetrate into the cabin near the rear right seat, where a patch of black soot had been found.

Toyota did not inspect the Fortuner in question, company officials said.

However, the black substance found on the rear seat could simply have been dust from the atmosphere which entered the cabin through the air circulation system or through drainage holes in the doors. This could have caused darkening of the seat upholstery.

"After careful testing, we found that the carbon-monoxide level as well as dust level in the cabin of the Fortuner is much lower than the regulations demand," said executive vice president Vudhigorn Suriyachanthananant.

However, any Toyota customer who is concerned about the problem can make an appointment with an authorised Toyota service centre for a free inspection, he said.