TOKYO, KOMPAS.com — Toyota Motor Corp. said Thursday it will recall an additional 1.09 million vehicles in the United States over problems with gas pedals and floor mats — a fresh blow to the world’s top automaker as it struggles to salvage its safety reputation.  The fresh recall would affect five models — 2008-2010 Highlander, 2009-2010 Corolla, 2009-2010 Venza, 2009-2010 Matrix, and 2009-2010 Pontiac Vibe, Toyota said.
       
The announcement came just a day after Toyota said it would suspend U.S. sales of eight models — including the top-selling Camry — to fix faulty gas pedals that could get stuck. The move could endanger Toyota’s fledgling earnings recovery.
       
Last week, Toyota issued a recall for the same eight models, affecting 2.3 million vehicles. Investors continued to dump shares in the global auto giant Thursday. Toyota lost 1.8 percent to 3,640 yen in the morning session even though the benchmark Nikkei 225 stock average gained.  Toyota tumbled 4.3 percent Wednesday.
       
“It is still uncertain how this recall problem will affect Toyota’s profits. But investors are worried it could really pressure the company’s overall earnings,” said Masatoshi Sato, market analyst at Mizuho Investors Securities Co. Ltd.
       
Toyota spokesman Hideaki Homma said Toyota decided to recall more vehicles due to the risk of accelerator pedals becoming stuck in the mats. Toyota has already recalled a total of 4.26 million vehicles in the U.S. over such problems. Toyota said in a statement it will fix or replace the accelerator pedals for the recalled vehicles to avoid the risk of floor mat entrapment.