Toyota recall: Faulty gas pedals to rental car worries

The future of Toyota Motor Corp., is ever-changing. Two massive recalls in North America since September 2009. The halt of sales and production at North American manufacturing plants. The suspension Toyota rental cars from major agencies. An expanded global recall of Toyota vehicles in Europe and Asia.

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.