Toyota recall: Faulty gas pedals to rental car worries

Here in capsule form are facts and figures of Toyota’s current predicament:

* Toyota is temporarily suspending sales of eight models involved in last week’s recall: 2009-2010 RAV4, 2009-2010 Corolla, 2009-2010 Matrix, 2005-2010 Avalon, 2007-2010 Camry, 2010 Highlander, 2007-2010 Tundra, 2008-2010 Sequoia.

The Camry and Corolla sedans are the top two best-selling cars in the U.S. market. Combined, those eight models sold 1,008,611 units last year, representing 57 percent of Toyota’s 2009 U.S. sales.

* Toyota has expanded the recall by at least two million cars, to include cars and trucks in Europe and China with the same gas pedals from CTS.

* Toyota vehicles in Japan do not use a gas pedal manufactured by CTS.

* Toyota will halt production of the models for at least the first week of February while it seeks to finalize a remedy for the safety crisis.

* Production facilities in Texas, Kentucky, Indiana and Canada are affected by the decision.

* The faulty accelerator pedals used on Toyota’s eight vehicle models were made by CTS Corp, based in Elkhart, Indiana. Toyota’s purchases comprise only three percent of CTS business.

* The National Highway Safety Administration (NHSA) reported Toyota dealers are legally obligated to not sell any vehicle identified as defective.