U.S. Threatens Toyota With Recall Suit

The Justice Department has told Torrance-based Toyota Motor Sales of America Inc. that it plans to file suit to force the recall of more than 3.6 million vehicles, Toyota officials said. If negotiations with the Environmental Protection Agency collapse and Toyota is forced into a recall, it would be one of the largest in history. The suit would intensify a yearlong dispute between the company and federal and state regulators over the accuracy of diagnostic computers on Toyota and Lexus models sold in the U.S. from 1996 until late last year. At issue is the frequency with which the vehicles’ diagnostic computers check the fuel system for vapor leaks. Regulators say the systems don’t check often enough; Toyota says they were designed to government specifications and approved by regulators.