Toyota Motor Corp. is recalling nearly 1.6 million vehicles in the U.S. to replace potentially faulty front passenger air bag inflators made by Takata Corp. of Japan.
Toyota's misleading statements presented a "reprehensible picture of corporate misconduct" as it failed to properly protect consumers from unexpected acceleration in its vehicles, a judge said as he nevertheless accepted a deal that lets the Japanese automaker escape prosecution with a $1.2 billion penalty.