LaHood: Stop Driving Recalled Toyotas

The Japanese automaker has recalled nearly 4.5 million vehicles worldwide because of faulty gas pedals. On Monday, the company said it began shipping replacement parts to dealerships to begin repairs.

Meanwhile, LaHood said the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will conduct an investigation into the potential problems with the electronic throttle control systems in Toyota cars.

LaHood, testifying Wednesday before a House panel on his department's 2011 budget request, said the government "has the resources" to conduct the investigation.

NHTSA has conducted several investigations into possible causes of sudden acceleration incidents in various Toyota vehicles.

While NHTSA has not identified additional causes for sudden acceleration beyond pedal entrapment and sticky floor mats, the agency is continuing to investigate the issue and has urged Toyota to take every necessary measure to ensure consumer safety.

NHTSA's continuing investigation includes looking at the possibility that electromagnetic interference might somehow be causing Toyota's electronic throttle controls systems to malfunction, though NHTSA has not seen evidence to support that yet.

During an appearance at Discovery Forum 2010, Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak speculated that Toyota may have problems with its software, not just the faulty accelerators. Wozniak, who owns a Prius hybrid, said he's had some "very scary" experience with unlimited acceleration while his car is on cruise control.

Federal safety officials also have widened their investigation of Toyota's sticky gas pedals to see if the same problem could exist for other automakers.

The NHTSA has sent a letter to CTS Corp., the Indiana company that made the pedals behind Toyota's recall of millions of vehicles.

The safety agency wants to know more about pedals that CTS made for other auto companies.

CTS said it makes pedals for companies like Honda, Nissan and a small number of Ford vehicles in China.

CTS been adamant that the issues are limited to Toyota alone. Other automakers have also said their pedals are based on different designs and aren't at risk for the same problems.

LaHood also said Wednesday he will call Toyota President Akio Toyoda in the coming days to make sure the Japanese automaker is aware of the government's concerns about safety issues with Toyota vehicles.