What to do if you own a recalled Toyota

Toyota said Monday that it has a repair for one cause of unintended acceleration that has led to a recall of eight of its most popular models. The Japanese automaker briefly stopped selling and manufacturing the vehicles and has recalled more than 4 million worldwide. Here's what owners of the affected autos need to know.

Q: When can I expect to receive instructions on how I can get my gas pedal fixed?

A: Certified letters will start going out at the end of the week. Because the company has to contact millions of owners, Toyota says it will take some time to process and mail the instructions to all affected owners.

Customers who don't receive a letter right away should wait until they receive it to make an appointment. If, however, their vehicles exhibit symptoms of rough pedal action, a sluggish pedal return to idle or unanticipated acceleration, they should contact a Toyota dealer.

Q: How do I schedule an appointment?

A: Don't call Toyota's toll-free customer service number. You need to call a local dealership.

Toyota wants you to wait, though, for the certified letter, which will confirm that your car is included in the recall. Because there are so many cars involved, Toyota wants owners to have an appointment before arriving at a dealership.

Q: Will Toyota give me a loaner while my car is being fixed?

A: Toyota says that's the plan, although in some cases, dealers may be able to fix it right away.

Q: Do I need to go to a specific dealership to get the repair done?

A: Any Toyota dealer can perform the repair. Some plan to be operating their service bays 24 hours a day, seven days a week, until the company gets the bulk of the repairs behind it.

Q: What happens if I don't hear from Toyota?

A: It may take a number of weeks to receive your notification letter. If you do not receive a letter at all, your vehicle is unaffected.

Q: Which models are included in accelerator pedal recall?

A: Toyota stopped sales of the following models: 2009 and 2010 RAV4, 2009 and 2010 Corolla, 2009 and 2010 Matrix, 2005 to 2010 Avalon, 2010 Highlander, 2007 to 2010 Tundra and 2008 to 2010 Sequoia.

It also stopped sales of certain 2007 to 2010 Camry sedans.

Q: What is the gas pedal fix?

A: Toyota says the problem is with a “friction device” within the pedals. The automaker plans to install a steel reinforcement bar into the pedal assembly to reduce friction.