Safety recalls: steering, brakes and air

• Toyota recall nearly 40,000 cars for checks
• Alfa want to inspect 3720 cars
• Audi has concerns over 90 models

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Fading brakes, breaking steering systems and airbags that don't inflate are behind the latest batch of safety recalls.

Toyota's recall to check the steering systems of Prius, Corolla and Avensis models is the largest and covers 39,372 cars built between January 2003 and December 2005.

The manufacturer has found that connections between the intermediate shaft of the steering and the sliding reach adjustment could become loose and lead to a loss of control.

Owners of Prius and Corolla cars are being contacted first, while letters will be sent to the owners of potentially affected Avensis models over the next three months.

Alfa Romeo wants to inspect 3720 147 and GT models over concerns that braking efficiency could be compromised on cars fitted with space-saving spare wheels.

It has discovered that the Vehicle Dynamic Control stability control system on cars built between February 2003 and November 2005 doesn't work with the space-saving wheel and leads to a drop in braking power in emergency situations.

Audi's recall to check the curtain airbags on A3 Sportback cars built between June and July last year is the smallest of the trio and affects 90 cars. A defective weld seam on the gas canister used to inflate the airbag could allow gas to gradually escape. The airbag would consequently fail to deploy in a collision.