Toyota has announced it will recall 270,000 cars worldwide because of an engine fault. Toyota said the recall included seven luxury Lexus models - some of them in the UK - and the popular Toyota Crown. The latest quality problem follows the recall of more than 8m vehicles which had problems with sticking accelerator pedals earlier this year. The company was fined $16m (£10.6m) in the United States for its slow response to the accelerator fault. The company is still facing more than 200 lawsuits tied to accelerator accidents. Labour disputes A spokeswoman for the firm said some vehicles might have a problem with the valve spring in their engines, which could cause the car to stall while being driven. The defective 4.6-litre V8 and 3.5-litre V6 engines had been installed in eight top-line models including some hybrids - the Lexus GS350, GS450h, GS460, IS350, LS460, LS600h and LS600hL as well as the Crown sedan. No accidents had been reported, the spokeswoman said. Some 3,200 Lexus vehicles in the UK were involved, a spokesperson said, but no Toyotas. "Lexus will do whatever it can to ensure that our customers' inconvenience is minimised as much as possible, decide on the details of any action, and inform our customers promptly," a company statement said. Owners with concerns should contact their local dealer. Car recalls are not uncommon, with 227 in the UK alone last year, according to the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency. Source: BBC