US Transportation Secretary: Get Toyota cars fixed

US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood struck a cautious note at a Congressional panel hearing, urging Toyota drivers to get their cars fixed as soon as possible.

But his comments have fueled new confusion over how consumers should respond to a January recall of 2.4 million cars and trucks due to faulty accelerator pedals.

LaHood tried to clear that up, by appearing after the hearing to reword his statement. He stressed that it was an obvious misstatement to say owners should stop driving their vehicles, but still repeated his plea to Toyota owners to get down to their local dealerships as quickly as they could.

Adding further confusion for consumers, Joan Claybrook, the former head of the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, said the vehicles may also have electronic problems.

Former US nhtsa administrator Joan Claybrook said, "Clearly some of these vehicles, it looks like the Lexus and the Camry, and the more luxury vehicles that were recalled in November have an electronic problem because the floor mat could not possibly cause in my view for the accelerator to go slam dunk to the floor and stay there and that's really an out of control vehicle."