Toyota recalls vehicles after leaks

Toyota recalled nearly 1.7 million cars yesterday following reports of fuel leaks, adding another dent to its tarnished reputation after a series of recalls in the past year.

The affected cars are mostly in Japan, but they also include the IS and GS Lexus luxury models in North America, where Toyota faces the biggest obstacles to winning back customer trust. Toyota's US sales lagged last year, putting General Motors within reach of reclaiming its place as the world's biggest carmaker, which it lost to Toyota in 2008.