Toyota misstatement causes concern

WARWICK, R.I. (WPRI) - A misstatement by the nation's top transportation official causes more confusion and concern among Toyota owners and dealers in Rhode Island.

Late Wednesday morning, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood told a Congressional panel that owners of recalled Toyotas should get them off the road immediately.

"My advice is to anyone who has one of these vehicles, stop driving it, take it to the toyota dealer because they believe they have the fix for it."

But about an hour later, LaHood retracted that statement.

"What I said in there was obviously a misstatement," LaHood told reporters.  "What I meant to say and what I thought I said was if you own one of these cars or if you're in doubt, take it to the dealer and they're going to fix it."

Jeb Balise, who owns Balise Toyota in Warwick, says LaHood's initial statement threatened to hurt the reputation of his and other Toyota dealerships.

"When people hear this from a government official, their first thought is we're not telling them the truth."

LaHood also revealed that the government is investigating whether the electronics systems on the recalled Toyotas are to blame for the accelerator problem.

Toyota says it's confident that the defect does not involve electronics.

The automaker is now sending parts to its dealers to repair faulty gas pedals in 2.3 million Toyotas in the U.S.  Some dealers began repairs on Wednesday.

The recall involves:

• 2009-10 RAV4 Crossover
• 2009-10 Corolla
• 2009-10 Matrix Hatchback
• 2005-10 Avalon
• 2007-10 Camry
• 2010 Highlander Crossover
• 2007-10 Tundra Pickup
• 2008-10 Sequoia SUV