Toyota Canada announced Friday that it has resumed deliveries to dealers of the eight models the automaker recalled on Jan. 21.

It also said that as of Friday, it will begin notifying owners of vehicles recalled because of sticky accelerator pedals and have them contact their dealers to have the repair done. The company said all new cars will be shipped with modified pedals.

Toyota Canada has resumed deliveries to dealers of the eight models it recalled on Jan. 21. (Associated Press)

The vehicles include some 2009-2010 RAV4 models, the 2009-2010 Corolla, the 2009-2010 Matrix, the 2005-2010 Avalon, the 2007-2010 Camry, the 2010 Highlander, the 2007-2010 Tundra and the 2008-2010 Sequoia.

The automaker did not announce how it plans to deal with the new complaints about brake failures on its hybrid vehicles.

There were concerns, too, that Toyota may not be the only company with the problem. Ford uses brakes made by the same supplier and has recalled two of its new hybrid models. And analysts said the problem may affect other carmakers as well.

Tony Faria, a professor at the Odette School of Business at the University of Windsor, said it's common for various carmakers to use many of the same components.

"While that certainly is efficient in terms of efficiency and economies of scale," he said, "one issue that does arise is if there's an issue with a supply source. It's a problem that may extend across a number of auto assemblers and a whole bunch of vehicles."

The announcement on the accelerator pedals came the same day as Toyota Motor Corporation's president apologized for the recall crisis that has engulfed the Japanese automaker and promised a new emphasis on quality control.

Toyota president Akio Toyoda reacts during a news conference at a Toyota office in Nagoya, Japan, on Friday. (Itsuo Inouye/Associated Press)

Akio Toyoda spoke at a hastily arranged late evening news conference in Nagoya, Japan.

Toyoda said he would personally head a special committee that would examine Toyota's internal quality control and consult with outside experts on what to do with the automaker's growing list of problems.

"We are facing a crisis," he acknowledged.

It was the first public appearance by Toyoda, grandson of the company's founder, since the automaker ordered a huge recall of 4.5 million vehicles last month — 270,000 in Canada — over a problem with sticking gas pedals.

"I offer my apologies for the worries," he said in Japanese. "Many customers are wondering whether their cars are OK."

Toyota said Thursday the U.S. recall could cost $2 billion US — $1.1 billion in direct costs and $770 million to $800 million in lost sales.

Toyota says it is still deciding whether to recall 2010 Prius vehicles over complaints of braking problems. (Charles Rex Arbogast/Associated Press)

No Prius recall yet

Toyoda said the company has not decided how to address concerns with brakes on the 2010 Toyota Prius, but said a decision would be announced soon.

Prius drivers in Japan and the U.S. have complained of a short delay before the brakes kick in — a flaw Toyota says can be fixed with a software programming change. The lag has been reported to occur as the car hits slick surfaces and road bumps.

The automaker said it fixed the programming glitch in Prius models that went on sale since last month, but has done nothing on 270,000 Prius cars sold last year in Japan and the U.S.

“Whatever action is warranted in response to the Prius brake concerns, we’ll take that action as well,” Stephen Beatty, managing director of Toyota Canada said.

There have been almost 200 complaints — including five in Canada — about braking problems on the new hybrid while travelling on uneven road surfaces.

With files from The Associated Press