Govt demands Toyota recall documents

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By KEN THOMAS and STEPHEN MANNING, Associated Press Writers – 40 mins ago

WASHINGTON – The Transportation Department demanded documents related to Toyota's massive recalls in the United States on Tuesday to find out if the automaker acted swiftly enough. Toyota, meanwhile, said it will idle production temporarily at Texas and Kentucky plants over concerns the recalls could lead to big stockpiles of unsold vehicles.

The legal documents demand that Toyota tell the government when and how the company learned of the safety defects in millions of vehicles over the entrapment of gas pedals by floor mats and sticky accelerators. The documents were delivered to Toyota on Tuesday and the company must respond within 30-to-60 days or face fines.

The intensifying government investigation of Toyota and production halts at its assembly plants represented another sign of the ripple effect the recall of 8.5 million vehicles has had on the world's No. 1 automaker. Toyota faces separate probes by the Obama administration and Congress as it struggles to maintain its loyal customer base and its reputation for safety and quality.

Toyota said it was halting production temporarily in San Antonio, Texas, and Georgetown, Ky., to address concerns that too many unsold vehicles may be building up at dealerships because of the large recalls.

Company spokesman Mike Goss said the Texas plant, which builds the Tundra pickup truck, would take production breaks for the weeks of March 15 and April 12. The Kentucky plant, which makes the Camry, Avalon and Venza vehicles, plans to take a non-production day on Feb. 26 and may not build vehicles on three more days in March and April.

Govt demands Toyota recall documents - Yahoo! News

[gunner]

So let me get this straight. The u.S. government is going to make sure Toyota is doing everything right.But wait a minute , doesn't your u.s government own a part of a couple of competeing car makers, like maybe g.m and Chrysler .Now in my country that would be an obvious conflict of interest but i guess in America it is just fine.And you wonder why the rest of the world sees your government as corrupt .Nothing more than a massive smear campaign against Toyota. They still make the best cars in the world by far and didn't take any of my tax money in a bailout.