The second half of 2010 starts today but for Toyota, it wishes yesterday was the end of the year. 2010 has been the year of recalls for auto makers and Toyota is by far the biggest contributor. As if the gas pedal recall wasn't enough to keep the company's legal department busy, Toyota is preparing itself to issue another recall for faulty engines that affect 270,000 cars world wide.

Since the beginning of this year, 200 complaints about engine problems have been received which pushed the auto maker to start an investigation and found a problem with the valve spring of 4.6 liter V8 engines and 3.5 liter V6 engines installed in the Lexus LS460, Lexus LS600h, Lexus LS600hL, Lexus GS350, Lexus GS450h, Lexus GS460 and Lexus IS350 and the Toyota Crown.

"We need to take some form of measure...We will carry it out as soon as we decide on the measure to minimize inconvenience for our customers." Toyota's spokesperson reassured the press.

Recalls are generally bad news for everyone involved but it is good to know Toyota has learned its lesson, and addressing problems sooner rather than later.

P.S. Note to Volkswagen Group - it's about time for a recall on the cam follower problem people are having with the FSI 2.0T motors. Let's not make 2011 the year for VW's recall woes.

On my drive to Northfield this afternoon, I saw a Prius trying to accelerate to merge onto the highway and I couldn't believe the car's acceleration was intended. Then it reminds me of the "breaking news" last week about a runaway Prius in California. The second I heard of it, I could smell BS (not because of the cattle farms along HW 3).

Jim Sikes, a man who has his name on multiple bankruptcies with the collective debt amounts to over $700,000 (of which Toyota Financials is one of his debtors), was the driver of said runaway Prius. Further background investigation found that Sikes was 5 months behind on his Prius' bill as well as many other interesting bits. The man appeared on media networks claiming he's not planning to sue Toyota, yet has hired a lawyer the moment his name was on the news.