Toyota has announced that dealers nationwide have received the parts and training necessary to repair the sticking brake pedal involved in the recent recall of 2.3 million Toyotas nationwide.

Due to the volume of the recall and the media attention surrounding it, dealers are being encouraged to go above and beyond for customers affected by the recall. The fix takes approximately 30 minutes and priority is being given to customers who are experiencing problems with their pedals. Dealers are expanding hours- some remaining open 24-hours to meet demand. Many are also offering no-charge amentities such as car washes and oil changes to their customers. Toyota has promised to send checks to dealers based on volume- up to $75,000- to cover the added costs.

Toyota owners generally remain positive in the face of the recalls. There is a perception that the media is blowing the situation out of proportion. Though some have shown fear and distrust, most owners seem to feel that, though Toyota has handled the recalls poorly, Toyota quality is still generally excellent and the company can redeem itself.

In fact, interest in the Prius has spiked immediately following indications of a potential brake problem. The theory is that the problem is minor but that people are hoping the negative publicity will lower prices at the dealer.

Also, perceptions are starting to clear up as people realize that the recall issues are being fixed, that they’re relatively rare and that these types of problems are not limited only to Toyotas. In fact, incidents of sudden acceleration have been reported in virtually every model car sold in the US. For December, 2009, only 41% of reports of sudden acceleration involved Toyota or Lexus vehicles. 59% of such reports involved other manufacturers and 28% of the incidents involve US models (Ford, GM and Chrysler).

Problems continue to mount for Toyota as yet another safety issue surfaces- this time with the popular Prius hybrid vehicle. Toyota issued a statement regarding a potential safety issue with the braking system on the Prius, calling it “inconsistent brake feeling.”

Toyota is now blaming a software glitch for the problem on 2010 models which can cause less than a 1-second delay in braking under some conditions. The Japanese government has warned Toyota to take seriously mounting complaints with the Prius. Toyota Vice President Shinichi Sasaki met with Japan’s transport minister on Wednesday.

In Japan, 14 complaints about brakes in the Prius have been lodged since July. The complaints are that the brakes response time is slightly delayed when the car hits pot holes or slippery conditions. The delay is less than a second, but long enough to allow a vehicle going 60 mph to travel about 90 feet before the brakes respond.

The Prius braking system is somewhat different from that of a standard car. As a hybrid, the brakes recover energy to recharge the battery. The engine also is involved in braking, to further convert braking energy to electricity to recharge the battery.

Currently, it is only the 2010 model Prius that is affected and Toyota is as yet unwilling to issue a recall. However, a recall for the problem is almost inevitable at this point. Further, it should come as no surprise if the problem surfaces in other hybrid models and perhaps earlier model years.

Toyota has issued the following statement regarding the 2010 Prius-

“In certain 2010 model year Prius vehicles, Toyota has received reports that some customers have experienced inconsistent brake feel when the vehicle is driven over potholes, bumps or slippery road surfaces.

“Toyota is currently in the process of confirming these reports and investigating the vehicle driving conditions under which the reported phenomenon occurs. It would be premature to comment until the investigation has been completed.

During a Capitol Hill hearing Wednesday, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood stated that anyone driving a car affected by Toyota’s recent recall should, “Stop driving it and take it to a dealer.” LaHood later back-pedaled, saying that he meant that drivers should get their cars fixed as soon as possible.

Toyota issued a statement thanking LaHood for his “clarification,” stating in part, “we appreciate Secretary LaHood’s clarification of his remarks today about Toyota’s recall for sticking accelerator pedals.”

Toyota took advantage of the attention to point out that a sticking pedal is rare and generally does not occur suddenly. “In the rare instances where it does occur, the vehicle can be controlled with firm and steady application of the brakes,” Toyota stated

The statement added, “Our message to Toyota owners is this – if you experience any issues with your accelerator pedal, please contact your dealer without delay. If you are not experiencing any issues with your pedal, we are confident that your vehicle is safe to drive.”

Referring to the repair required to fix the problem, Toyota issued the following statement, “Nothing is more important to Toyota than the safety and reliability of the vehicles our customers drive. Our entire organization of 172,000 North American employees and dealership personnel is working around the clock to fix the accelerator pedals for our customers.”

Toyota’s troubles continue to mount in the wake of its latest recall due to sticking accelerator pedals.

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has issued a harsh criticism of the auto maker’s handling of the recall. LaHood had earlier stated, “I have no criticism of Toyota on this,” adding, “They followed the law and they’re doing what they’re supposed to do.” Now, DOT officials are saying that that statement relates specifically to Toyota’s decision to halt production, not to its handling of the recall.

Secretary LaHood now criticises the company for taking so long to react to the defective gas pedals. “While Toyota is taking responsible action now, it unfortunately took an enormous effort to get to this point,” LaHood stated. The DOT is even considering civil action against Toyota due to the slow response.

According to Secretary LaHood, DOT officials met with Toyota officials in the US and in Japan in December and January to urge a prompt recall. According to Toyota, “Secretary LaHood said to us that the soonest possible action would be in the best interests of our customers, and we took his advice very seriously and instituted a recall,” adding, “We are very grateful for his advice and we feel that we have been given a chance to regain our customers’ trust.”

Toyota has issued the following statement regarding its recalls:

Nothing is more important to us than the safety and reliability of the vehicles our customers drive. Since these issues first came to our attention, we have understood that the soonest possible action would be in the best interests of our customers and have acted accordingly. We are very grateful for the advice of all the government agencies involved and feel that through our handling of the recall we have a chance to regain the trust of our customers. We will continue to cooperate fully with NHTSA on all vehicle safety issues.

Meanwhile, the House Energy and Commerce Committee has scheduled a hearing on the Toyota recalls for February 25. Two Democrats on the committee have complained that Toyota’s statements to Congress regarding its floor mat recall differ from public statements the company has made in recent days.

“If Toyota now believes that sticking accelerator pedals are responsible for incidents of sudden, high-speed acceleration, we ask that you provide the Committee with any new evidence that became available to Toyota following the briefing on January 27, 2010,” Rep. Henry A. Waxman (D., Calif.), the Commerce Committee chairman, and Rep. Bart Stupak (D., Mich.) wrote in a letter to James Lentz, president Toyota Motor Sales USA.

The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform has also scheduled a hearing regarding Toyota’s recalls for February 10.

Both hearings will address the question of how long Toyota has been aware of problems. Toyota has to explain how it was able to come up with a fix for the problem so quickly- it took just 7 days. Also, Toyota had recalled some European models in August for the same problem- though those were different models and Toyota says that complaints in North America didn’t surface until October.

The NHTSA and Congress may try to make an example of Toyota by slapping the auto maker with large fines. However, Toyota will defend itself by pointing out that it was not slow to react to a defect, but slow to recognize it as a safety issue. Since the sticking pedal has been involved in no known accidents (it’s a rare defect that requires specific wear and humidity conditions to become evident- and even then, it is most associated with the pedal reacting slowly and being harder to press as opposed to suddenly becoming stuck wide open) , it was considered initially to be a defect of convenience, not safety. The law is vague as to what point the defect crosses that line.

Meanwhile, some have suggested that at least some of Toyota’s uncontrolled acceleration problems may be unrelated to either the floor mat or the sticking pedal, but rather are the result of an electronic malfunction. Some lawyers claim that the malfunction may actually be responsible for hundreds of accidents and as many as 19 deaths. Toyota categorically denies that the problem is electronic or that the problem is linked to so many accidents.

There are even threats of lawsuits against Toyota by customers who are simply afraid to drive their cars.

Tom Krishner of the Associated Press wrote that Toyota’s fix for binding gas pedals has been approved. Dealers have reportedly been briefed, and parts are due to start arriving by the end of the week, with an announcement set for Monday morning. The recall now covers 4.2 million vehicles around the world.