Although 2010 has just begun, it’s already proven to be a year filled with uncertainty for Toyota owners and prospective buyers. With three recalls now in place, drivers are scrambling to discover whether or not their vehicles are affected. Thankfully, the automaker has dedicated much of its resources to clearing up buyers’ confusion and laying their concerns to rest.

Initially, due to the large number of recalled vehicles, many Toyota owners were left wondering just how many individual recalls were actually in effect. Recently, that number has jumped to three.

The first recall was initiated last year. It attributes unintended acceleration on gas pedals that can become stuck in the driver’s-side floor mat. Both Toyota and Lexus models were affected. The total number of recalled cars is more than one million. Unsure if yours is among them? Well, Toyota has removed all the guesswork and begun issuing notices to owners of these vehicles.

The notification recommends drivers remove their mats and not to replace them. Toyota plans to reconfigure the accelerator pedal so it won’t interfere with the floor mat. On certain models, the automaker will redesign the floor shape beneath the pedals.

The second recall went into effect Jan. 21 and affects around 2.3 million vehicles. This recall also concerns unintended acceleration; however, it links the cause to a faulty accelerator mechanism. Also unlike the previous one, no Lexus or Scion vehicles possess the defect. Toyota has sent letters to the owners involved in this recall as well.

In Champaign, Toyota dealer technicians are prepared to remedy the problem. They will install a stainless steel reinforcement bar into the pedal assembly. It’s designed to keep the pedal from sticking and assure that it returns into place.

Most recently, Toyota has issued a voluntary recall on the 2010 Prius. Champaign owners might have experienced an issue with the antilock break system (ABS) when it’s activated on rough or slick roads. These surfaces cause an inconsistent break feel, which can be remedied through a software update at a local Toyota dealer.

This recall applies to only the 2010 Prius model since prior editions use a different ABS system.  Therefore, for those who purchased a preowned Prius, Champaign Toyota dealers won’t likely have to administer the update.

Although a large portion of its vehicles were affected by the recalls, Toyota remains more committed than ever to providing its customers with the superior service to which they’ve grown accustomed.