WASHINGTON — The government ordered Toyota to turn over documents related to its massive recalls Tuesday, pressing to see how long the automaker knew of safety defects before taking action.
Toyota, concerned about unsold cars, said it would temporarily idle some production in three states.
The Transportation Department is demanding that Toyota reveal when and how it learned of problems with sticking accelerators and with floor mats trapping gas pedals, and the company must respond within 30 to 60 days or face fines. Those defects and problems with brakes on new Prius hybrids have led to the recall of 8.5 million vehicles.
The intensifying investigation and the production halts at Toyota’s assembly plants are fresh signs of the ripple effect the recalls are having on the world’s No. 1 automaker — even as car owners are streaming to dealers for fixes. Toyota faces probes by the Obama administration and Congress as it struggles to maintain its loyal customer base and its reputation for safety and quality.
Toyota said it was halting production temporarily in San Antonio and Georgetown, Ky., to address concerns that too many unsold vehicles may be building up at dealerships. The company’s plant in Huntsville, Ala., will idle some production.
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has said the government is considering civil penalties for Toyota over its handling of the recalls. The largest auto-industry fine came in 2004, when General Motors paid $1 million for responding too slowly on a recall over windshield-wiper failure.
Toyota said in a statement that it will cooperate to provide the information sought.
