Mario So Funny

LONDON — Toyota’s recall of defective gas pedals is taking on pandemic proportions. Early Thursday, the Japanese automaker said it is expanding the recall to Europe, but it said “the models and exact number of potentially affected vehicles is under investigation.”

The Times in London speculated that U.S.-built Toyota RAV4s imported into the United Kingdom could be among those in the recall.

Toyota also said “there is no need or intention to stop production in Europe.” It explained that a running change in production using different parts has already been implemented model by model in its European production.

Japan’s Yomiuri newspaper pegged the European recall at 2 million vehicles.

Toyota’s European statement was skimpy on details. “The details of corrective action and implementation will be communicated directly to customers with vehicles potentially affected,” it said. It told worried customers to contact Toyota GB Customer Relations (0800 1388744) for assistance “ahead of the recall instructions being issued.”

Toyota’s European arm explained the problem with the accelerator pedals in this way: “There is a possibility that certain accelerator pedal mechanisms may, in rare instances, mechanically stick in a partially depressed position or return slowly to the idle position.

“This is caused because the accelerator pedal mechanisms concerned may become worn. This progressive wear, combined with certain operating and environmental conditions, can cause friction in the mechanism to increase and intermittently result in the accelerator pedal being harder to depress, slow to return, or in the worst case, stick in a partially open position. In case of occurrence, the driver may notice that the accelerator pedal is progressively harder to depress or is slower to return. A rough or chattered feeling may also be experienced when depressing/releasing the accelerator pedal.”

Inside Line says: Toyota’s faulty-accelerator-pedal recall takes on global proportions, frightening consumers and positioning its global competitors to take full advantage of the sorry situation. — Anita Lienert, Correspondent