The auto giant Toyota is reeling from a global recall of some 4.5 million vehicles since last month, more than half in the United States. Toyota has acknowledged mechanical problems with its gas pedals, which have been in found in some cases to remain stuck to the floor when pressed down. On Wednesday, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood startled Toyota owners in urging them to stop driving the recalled vehicles.

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood: “If anybody owns one of these vehicles, stop driving it. Take it to a Toyota dealer, because they believe they have the fix for it.”

Lahood later retracted his comments, saying Toyota owners should seek repairs if they have concerns about their vehicle. Toyota’s woes continued early today with the admission it’s found design problems with the brake pedal in its hybrid Prius model. Toyota says its fixed the flaw in Prius models sold since late last month, but hasn’t addressed a solution for those sold before. The Washington Post meanwhile reports a 2007 federal probe unearthed acceleration problems in Toyota models, but applied its conclusions to only a small percentage of Toyota’s vehicles.