LaHood: Stop Driving Recalled Toyotas

(CBS/ AP)  Updated at 12:17 p.m. EST

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood is telling owners of recalled Toyotas to stop driving the vehicles and get them fixed.

LaHood's warning came Wednesday in testimony before a House Appropriations subcommittee on transportation. LaHood says his advice to owners is to "stop driving it. Take it to a Toyota dealer because they believe they have a fix for it."

The Japanese automaker has recalled nearly 4.5 million vehicles worldwide because of faulty gas pedals. On Monday, the company said it began shipping replacement parts to dealerships to begin repairs.

LaHood told reporters earlier in the day that Toyota owners should contact their dealer immediately and "exercise caution until repairs can be made."

Meanwhile, LaHood said the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will conduct an investigation into the potential problems with the electronic throttle control systems in Toyota cars.

Read more about the Toyota recall at CBSNews.com:

LaHood: Toyota Resisted Safety Fix
Analyst: Recall Costs Toyota $155M a Week
Does Toyota's Problem Go Beyond Pedals?
Toyota: New Pedal Parts on Way to Dealers
Government OKs Toyota Gas Pedal Fix

NHTSA has conducted several investigations into possible causes of sudden acceleration incidents in various Toyota vehicles.

While NHTSA has not identified additional causes for sudden acceleration beyond pedal entrapment and sticky floor mats, the agency is continuing to investigate the issue and has urged Toyota to take every necessary measure to ensure consumer safety.

NHTSA's continuing investigation includes looking at the possibility that electromagnetic interference might somehow be causing Toyota's electronic throttle controls systems to malfunction, though NHTSA has not seen evidence to support that yet.

LaHood said the government "has the resources" to conduct the investigation.

During an appearance at Discovery Forum 2010, Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak speculated that Toyota may have problems with its software, not just the faulty accelerators. Wozniak, who owns a Prius hybrid, said he's had some "very scary" experience with unlimited acceleration while his car is on cruise control.

LaHood has been critical of Toyota's response to the issue, calling the company "a little safety deaf" during an Associated Press interview Monday. LaHood said the automaker only went ahead with the recall after pressure from the government.

"If it had not been for the work of (the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) pushing Toyota to make the recall, traveling to Japan, meeting with the top officials of Toyota in Japan and telling them that their folks in the United States seem to be a little safety deaf when it came to us talking to them, I don't know if the recall would be taking place," LaHood said.

Meanwhile, Federal safety officials also have widened their investigation of Toyota's sticky gas pedals to see if the same problem could exist for other automakers.

The NHTSA has sent a letter to CTS Corp., the Indiana company that made the pedals behind Toyota's recall of millions of vehicles.

The safety agency wants to know more about pedals that CTS made for other auto companies.

CTS said it makes pedals for companies like Honda, Nissan and a small number of Ford vehicles in China.

CTS been adamant that the issues are limited to Toyota alone. Other automakers have also said their pedals are based on different designs and aren't at risk for the same problems.

LaHood also said Wednesday he will call Toyota President Akio Toyoda in the coming days to make sure the Japanese automaker is aware of the government's concerns about safety issues with Toyota vehicles.

In an effort to help with the recall effort, Toyota is giving U.S. dealers payments of up to $75,000 to help win back customers' trust.

In a letter obtained by The Associated Press, Toyota group vice president Bob Carter thanks dealers for extending service hours and providing car washes and other services. Carter says the payments will help with those measures.

Toyota is sending checks this week based on the number of cars each dealer sold last year. Dealers who sold fewer than 500 cars will get $7,500. Dealers who sold more than 4,000 will get $75,000.

[Scimajor]

Yup, just as I said. He just did a "sudden reversal".

[gerryrigger]

I congratulate Toyota for being able to build such a loyal following of Toyota die-hards! I only wish no more of them would die after a hard impact in their beloved vehicles! I only hope that nothing bad will happen to whomever they convince to keep driving their recalled vehicles, because personally if somebody got maimed or killed because they did as I said, it would haunt my conscience for the rest of my life.

[greeneyedgal]

I've always driven a Toyota. I won't stop because of this.

Frankly, I agree with the commenter who stated that when SUVs were shown to flip, they didn't tell everyone to stop driving them.

While American made cars have gotten better over the years, I talk to friends who own them who have serious issues with them on a regular basis.

As for the Audi issue, I did some research on that myself, and it wasn't nearly as bad as 60 minutes made it out to be, but 60 Minutes did a huge number on Audi. Which kept the company down and almost out for a lot of years.

[ekucrew]

I agree green...

I was one of those saps who saved money to buy "my first car" after high school before going to college. Of course I bought American! A large group of my relatives living in Michigan built these vehicles for a living and I felt loyal...HAH! The lemon I bought barely made it through four years of college.(I think I paid for my mechanic's children to all get braces with all the replacements of various parts) Twenty-eight years ago I junked that clunker. I bought a Toyota Corolla and have stayed with the brand.

All the replacements will take time but I think Toyota will makes things right.

[rightbehind]

BTW, If it had not been for Toyota and Honda most Americans would have no clue as to how a car could be made fuel effecient. Both companies produced sucessful hybrid vehicles. The Japanese are very innovative people. I personally want to thank them.

[book_of_wally]

Crosleys got 50 mpg in the 1950's dude.

[ranger1960]

Who taught the Japanese how to build cars?

[rightbehind]

The lawyers at work. We are fast becoming the "United afraid to do anything states". Toyota builds a fine car. I have one in my drive way that has over 230 thousand miles on it. It's parked next to my Chevy truck with 190 thousand miles on it. Things get old. Things break. Deal with it.

[Scimajor]

This is just LaHood going after a non-American auto manufacturer. His statement is a typical politically based wild overreaction and an attack on a foreign company because they are foreign.

Let?s think about this in historical perspective. Think about SUV?s and the issue decades ago when it became clear that they have a natural inclination to flip in a accident due to number of design factors. Did they auto industry tell everyone ?STOP driving SUV?s!!!?? No. They did what then? NOTHING because SUV?s are also made by domestic car manufacturers.

Mark my words it will come out that American Cars use a control system that is from the same manufacturer and he will:

1. Either do a sudden reversal.
2. He will deny any trouble with American made cars regardless of any facts.

This guy's in the back pocket of the American Auto industry and he just proved it.

[grandfatherdizzy]

Audi had a similiar problem. They messed that up real bad. If I remember correctly; the problem was shown nationally on 60 Minutes. It took some time to get back on there feet. They never identifed the problem publically. I'm a Toyota owner. Sounds like USA automotive (GM / Crysler) are clawing back customers by scare tactics. I still will buy another Toyota. However; there are so many sensors that may cause the problem. Start with the the temperature sensors.

[fbrodya]

Terrific. So, what about those of us who work for a living, and/or have kids to drive around, and/or have no second car or public transportation available? Will Toyota pay for my rental? I'll bet not.

[ranger1960]

Next time try buying American

[I_am_me1953]

What, do your kids have two legs? Tell them to walk and walk with them, the exercise would probably do all of you some good.