Currently reading: Toyota faces $1.2 billion settlement over acceleration defects
Settlement over past acceleration faults in its cars to be formalised soon, as Toyota seeks deal with US justice department

Toyota is facing a potential record settlement of around $1.2 billion in the US over disclosure of its past safety issues.

The settlement, worth around £602 million, relates in particular to a problem over unintended acceleration in some of its cars. The company recalled millions of vehicles over the issue in the late 2000s. The settlement would be paid to the US justice department.

Expected to be included as part of the deal is a deferred prosecution agreement, which would allow Toyota to avoid criminal charges so long as it makes changes imposed by the court. According to the Wall Street Journal, the settlement has yet to be finalised.

Speaking to the paper, a Toyota spokesman said the company had been looking into the matter "for more than four years.

"During that time, we have made fundamental changes to become a more responsive and customer-focused organisation," said the spokesman. "And we are committed to continued improvements."

Toyota officials in the UK declined to comment on the situation.

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uk_supercar_fan 20 March 2014

protectionism....

...for the 'big three' by any other name. Just at the time when the recession hit big time and Toyota was becoming more successful than the domestic brands in the US.

Just Sayin'...

fadyady 19 March 2014

A lesson for those pursuing numbers

Toyota gained the global lead in numbers at some cost. The Japanese car giant has issued plenty of recalls in the recent past. Hope Toyota sorts out issues that have been plaguing it. And also injects some power and handling fun in its stock cars.