UPDATE: Toyota suspends sale of 8 models

Autoblog reports that Toyota has temporarily halted the sale of 8 models due to ongoing unintended acceleration issues. Toyota has recalled more than 6 million vehicles since last year for floor mats causing pedals to stick and for accelerator pedal mechanisms sticking in the open position due to wear.

Toyota dealerships had been offering vehicles that were involved in the latest voluntary recall, but they have since halted the sale of the following vehicles:

• 2009-2010 RAV4
• 2009-2010 Corolla
• 2009-2010 Matrix
• 2005-2010 Avalon
• Certain 2007-2010 Camry
• 2010 Highlander
• 2007-2010 Tundra
• 2008-2010 Sequoia

Toyota emphasized that Lexus and Scion sales won't be affected by this, nor will the Toyota Camry Hybrid and Highlander Hybrid be affected. The reason for this, says Toyota, is that these vehicles are made in Japan.

Due to the sales suspension, production at a number of North American manufacturing plants will likely be halted as well. The production shut down could last through the first week of February. The question that needs to be asked is "what are they doing differently in North America that they aren't doing in Japan?"

[source: Autoblog]