The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration today announced that it is using its statutory authority to obtain documents from Toyota to determine if the automaker conducted three of its recent recalls in a timely manner. Federal law requires all auto manufacturers to notify NHTSA within five days of determining that a safety defect exists and promptly conduct a recall.

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

Lawmaker: Toyota knew of electronic defects
Neil Roland
Automotive News — February 15, 2010 – 12:01 am ET
 
Lawmakers preparing for hearings on Toyota Motor Corp.’s speed-control problems are reacting with skepticism to the company’s long-standing denials of any electronic defects in its vehicles, based in part on internal 2002 and 2003 documents that have come to investigators’ attention, a key congressman said.

Safety is our number one priority at the Department of Transportation. We’re going to continue to hold Toyota accountable and continue to investigate every possible cause of these safety defects, to make sure there are no other problems. We’ll make sure Toyota is doing all it has promised to make its vehicles safe.