Toyota Motor Co. announced recently that it has again recalled a massive number of vehicles, totaling 550,000 worldwide, because of potential steering problems that could possibly cause a car accident.

Officials with the company said the vehicles are located mainly in the United States, with thousands also located in Europe, Australia, Asia, New Zealand and the Middle East.

Toyota, Japan's largest auto manufacturer, has been plagued with reports of car and truck defects for years, with recalls totaling more than 14 million vehicles. Although the recalls have caused the company to face damage lawsuits in many courts in the U.S., no reported injuries relating to the latest recall have yet been reported

The recent press release states the possibility of potential problems with the outer ring of the crankshaft pulley that is part of the engine. If the outer ring of the pulley were to become misaligned, the power steering belt that controls the power steering pump might become detached from the pulley, causing sudden steering difficulties.

The Toyota models included in the recall are Camry, Highlander, Sienna, Solara, Avalon, Highlander HV and Lexus. The recall process varies for each country, but Toyota will begin to notify owners of the possible defects in January, 2012.

Owners should take their vehicles to authorized dealerships to determine if replacement parts are needed. Officials advised that if a vehicle makes any strange noises or has unexplained warning lights, visit a dealership for inspection. Repairs will be made at no charge to the owner.

Source: ABC News, "Toyota recalls 550,000 cars for steering issue" Nov. 9, 2011