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2009 Toyota RAV4.

Toyota is recalling some 99,000 RAV4 vehicles – some built at an Ontario plant – from Canadian roads to fix a suspension problem that could cause crashes. The company is also recalling 778,000 RAV4 SUVs and Lexus HS 250h sedans in the United States to work on the problem. RAV4s from the 2006 to 2011 model years are covered by the recall. The Lexus sedans are from 2010 only.

A spokeswoman for Toyota Canada said the affected vehicles were built in Canada and Japan. In Canada, RAV4s are manufactured at a plant in Woodstock, Ont.

Canadian customers can call 1-888-TOYOTA8, visit toyota.ca or their dealership. A detailed letter will be mailed to customers in the fall.

The company says if rear suspension nuts aren't tightened properly after a wheel alignment, the arms can rust and separate from the vehicle.

On Thursday, Toyota said it was recalling 600,000 vehicles in Europe suffering from the same problem.

The European recall concerns three models – RAV4 sport utility vehicles, Avensis family and Auris compact cars.

These latest recalls come a month after Toyota added two models to a controversial 2009 recall launched after floor mats became trapped under the accelerator and were linked to accidents which allegedly caused dozens of deaths.

Toyota's mishandling of the initial problem and other reports of sudden, unintended acceleration led to the recall of more than 12 million vehicles worldwide, a U.S. congressional probe, more than $50 million in fines from U.S. regulators and public apologies by its chief.

Toyota has worked hard since to regain its once-stellar reputation for safety, even as the Japanese giant faced the impact of the economic crisis, a strong yen and the devastating 2011 quake and tsunami.

- with files from AFP

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