Toyota Extends Additional Services to all U.S. Toyota and Lexus Customers Affected by Recent Recalls

TORRANCE, Calif., Feb. 26, 2010 -- Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. today announced that, working in cooperation with Attorneys General across the country, Toyota will be extending on a nationwide basis the additional services being provided to Toyota and Lexus customers in New York affected by the company's recent recalls.

These services, which were announced for New York customers on February 24, 2010, are now available to all Toyota and Lexus owners in the U.S. affected by current recalls involving sticking accelerator pedals, floor mat pedal entrapment, anti-lock brake system software updates, and Tacoma front drive shaft inspection.

Additional services are being provided to customers concerned about driving their vehicle before the repair is completed and will be tailored to the owner's individual circumstances. They may include:

  --  Expediting scheduling of the repair.
  --  Pick up and return of the vehicle by a dealership representative.
  --  Driving the customer to the dealership or to his or her place of work.
  --  Where necessary, providing other alternate transportation for the
      customer, such as a rental car, loaner vehicle, or taxi reimbursement
      for the reasonable period that the customer is unable or unwilling to
      use his or her car.

"Our 172,000 team members and dealers across North America are continuing to go above and beyond to ensure the safety and satisfaction of all of our customers," said Jim Lentz, president and chief operating officer of Toyota Motors Sales, U.S.A., Inc.

Services will be provided by Toyota through the dealers at no cost to either the owners of affected vehicles or dealers. Reimbursement of these expenses is separate from the stipends of $7,500 to $75,000 that the company already has provided to dealers in connection with the recalls.

Detailed information and answers to questions about issues related to these recalls are available to customers at www.toyota.com/recall and at the Toyota Customer Experience Center at 1-800-331-4331.

California drivers also to get Toyota recall help

SAN FRANCISCO, Feb 26, 2010; Peter Henderson writing for Reuters reported that California drivers with Toyotas facing recalls will get free rental cars, pickup and delivery of cars and other help to ease their troubles, state Attorney General Jerry Brown said on Friday, following a similar deal by New York state.

Toyota Motor Co has in recent months recalled more than 8.5 million vehicles worldwide over such issues as unintended acceleration and braking problems, and the New York deal on Wednesday spurred U.S. states to ask all drivers get equal treatment.

California is the biggest car market in the United States, including for vehicles from Toyota, which is struggling to fix its image as well as its cars in the face of harsh questioning in Congress and by customers about its commitment to quality.

Editing for Reuters by Tim Dobbyn