U.S. Congress panel to hear Toyota issue

WASHINGTON, Jan. 29 (UPI) -- A U.S. congressional panel plans a hearing on complaints about some Toyota vehicles' sudden acceleration amid the Japanese automaker's mounting recalls.

Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce subcommittee said he would hold a hearing Feb. 25 on concerns over the "seriousness and the scope" of the Toyota recalls.

The House Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, led by Rep. Bart Stupak, D-Mich., has also sought data from Toyota and the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on complaints relating to sudden acceleration of vehicles caused by gas pedals getting caught in floor mats.

The committee, citing "persistent consumer complaints of sudden unintended acceleration," sent its data requests to Toyota Motors' North America president, Yoshimi Inaba, and NHTSA Administrator David Strickland, the Los Angeles Times reported.

CNN reported the automaker's two recalls now total at least 5.3 million vehicles. The first recall was made in November and the latest came Wednesday, the report said.

Following a production and sales halt for eight of its most popular vehicles, Toyota said Friday it had developed a "modified pedal" that was, essentially, a spacer that could fix the problem in 2.3 million vehicles, The Detroit News reported.

In the United States, company officials met with federal safety regulators to discuss a remedy for the problem, the newspaper said.

In an effort to fend off competitors seeking to attract its customers, Toyota has offered price incentives on vehicles not included in the recalls.