Feds Demand Toyota Documents on Recalls

Last Updated 1:29 p.m. ET

The Transportation Department is formally demanding documents related to Toyota's massive recalls in the United States to find out if the automaker conducted three of its recalls in a timely manner.

The legal documents — delivered to Toyota Motor Corp. on Tuesday and obtained by The Associated Press — demand that the company tell the government when and how Toyota learned of the safety defects in millions of vehicles.

Investigators are looking into whether Toyota discovered the problems during pre-production or post-production of the affected vehicles.

Toyota has recalled 8.5 million vehicles globally during the past four months because of problems with gas pedals, floor mats and brakes, threatening to undermine the safety and quality reputation of the world's No. 1 automaker.

Under Federal law, automakers must notify the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) within five days of determining a safety defect exists, and conduct a prompt recall.

"Safety recalls are very serious matters and automakers are required to quickly report defects," said Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.

The agency is seeking information on production data, incidents, complaints, warranty complaints, copies of tests, dates of meetings, timelines, and supplier information.

The three recalls in question (two of which relate to floor mats trapping the gas pedals) cover Toyota and Lexus vehicles. The first recall, announced in September 2007, was following by a second one in October 2009, which was expanded January 29, 2010 to include additional vehicles. The third recall was announced on January 21, 2010.

Consumer groups have criticized NHTSA for not forcefully regulating the auto industry and limiting its use of fines and failing to seek detailed information from car companies.

Toyota has been fixing vehicles under recall. Toyota Vice President Bob Carter told reporters at the National Automobile Dealers Association convention in Orlando, Fla., on Monday that the company had repaired about 500,000 of the 2.3 million vehicles recalled over a potentially sticky gas pedal.

In other developments, Toyota said Tuesday it plans to idle production temporarily at assembly plants in Texas and Kentucky while it grapples with massive recalls in the United States.

Toyota said its president, Akio Toyoda, on Wednesday will answer more questions in Japan on the beleaguered company's recalls. Toyoda will give updates on the global recall of some 400,000 Prius gas-electric hybrids at the Tokyo news conference, the company said Tuesday.