According to reports, U. S. Treasury Secretary Ray LaHood pledged Monday in Japan to see that Toyota Motor Co. follows through on promises to improve its safety record.

The New York Times reported that LaHood told a press conference in Toyota City, Japan, with Toyota Chief Executive Officer Akio Toyoda, "It's fine to have measures in place, but we must make sure they are carried out."

U. S. regulators fined Toyota $16.4 million last month in four recalls involving more than 9 million cars.

It was also reported that the bulk of the recalls concerned problems with unintended acceleration, which allegedly led to numerous fatalities in car crashes. The fines, however, were imposed because Toyota allegedly delayed recalls for four months.

In accepting the fines, the company did not admit to any wrongdoing.

The Department of Transportation was reviewing 500,000 Toyota documents and could impose more penalties when the review was complete, LaHood said on Monday.

He further said, "We will work 24/7 to make sure all Toyotas are safe."

A new policy granting regional offices more autonomy would speed up recall announcements, Toyoda said.

He further added, "I hope you understand that we have never hidden anything, and we have never misled." (With Inputs from Agencies)