Torrence, CAToyota has agreed to pay federal officials $32.4 million in fines resulting from investigations into the handling of several massive recalls the Japanese automaker instigated in 2009 and 2010. According to a report on CNN.com the two fines - $16.375 million and $16.05 million – are the most severe allowed by law. These fines are in addition to the $16.375 Toyota has already paid for failure to notify the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration within five days of learning of the 'sticky pedal' effect. The so-called effect resulted in some Toyota vehicles accelerating without the ability to stop.
Since 2009, Toyota has issued recalls totaling some 8 million vehicles, the latest major recall involving 1.33 million Corolla and Matrix vehicles built between 2005 and 2008 and sold in the US and Canada.
Additionally, in November, a federal judge tentatively ruled that owners of Toyota vehicles that had filed a class action against the company alleging mechanical defects, could proceed.