Toyota Motor Corp. on Friday announced its decision to expand its recall of vehicles for unintended acceleration by added two luxury SUV models - the 2010 Lexus RX350, and the 2010 Lexus RX450h.
Toyota's Torrance-based US sales & marketing head office said the massive recall would now also include 131,800 units of the 2010 Lexus RX350, and 22,000 units of the 2010 Lexus RX450h.
The new recalls are in addition to around 14 million recalled vehicles worldwide. The massive recall was started in late 2009 to fix troubling floor mats that can trap gas pedals and cause the vehicles to speed up without warning.
The massive recalls have become a source of a major embarrassment for Japanese auto giant as these recalls have tarnished its reputation as a producer of high quality and efficient auto manufacturer.
Toyota is also being criticized for taking too long to respond to issues in its vehicles and inform consumers.
Commenting on the recalls, automotive information website Edmunds' senior analyst Jessica Caldwell said, "I think that's what got them in trouble, the issue that they didn't act quickly enough. Now they're reacting quickly."
Owners of the two vehicle models included in the recall on Friday will be notified by mail in early August. Lexus dealers will fix the issue at no cost to customers.