国际英语新闻：U.S. probes into timeliness of Toyota recalls

WASHINGTON, Feb. 16 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said Tuesday it is using its statutory authority to obtain documents from Toyota to determine if the automaker' recalls have been made in a timely manner.

"Safety recalls are very serious matters and automakers are required to quickly report defects," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.

The Transportation Department said that the federal law requires all auto manufacturers to notify the NHTSA within five days of determining that a safety defect exists and promptly conduct a recall.

The auto safety agency is requiring Toyota to provide documents showing when and how it learned of the defects affecting approximately 6 million vehicles in the U.S. alone. The probe will examine how the manufacturer learned of these defects, such as through consumer complaints or factory testing.

Investigators are also looking into whether Toyota discovered the problems during pre-production or post-production of the affected vehicles.

Consumer groups have criticized the government for not forcefully regulating the auto industry and limiting its use of fines and failing to seek detailed information from car companies.

Toyota, one of the largest auto companies in the world, has been suffering reputation downgrading for its quality control related to massive recalls in recent months.

The three recalls in question involve various Toyota and Lexus vehicles. Two of the recalls are related to the entrapment of gas pedals by floor mats. The first recall was announced on September 26, 2007 and was followed by a subsequent on one October 6 2009. The October recall was expanded on Jan. 29, 2010 to include additional vehicles. The third recall, involving sticking gas pedal, was announced on Jan. 21, 2010.