Toyota Motor Corp filed Monday for a recall of 91,903 units of its luxury Lexus and Crown models with the Transport Ministry due to an engine defect, the company said, DPA reported.
About 180,000 units of those models sold abroad are also expected to be recalled, a company spokeswoman said last week.
Some units could have a problem with a valve spring in the engine causing an unusual sound or making idling unstable. The engine could stall while the vehicle is moving and in the worst-case scenario, might not restart, the company said.
Toyota said it had received 220 complaints of the problem but no reports of related accidents or injuries.
The affected models are Toyota Crown, Lexus IS350, GS350, GS450h, GS460, LS460, LS600h, LS600hL, the company said.
It was the latest in a series of quality problems for Toyota. The world's biggest automaker has recalled more than 10 million vehicles worldwide over problems with accelerator pedals, floor mats and brakes, which tarnished its reputation for safety and quality.
Toyota shares were up 0.5 per cent as of 11:00 am (0200 GMT) Monday.