Toyota recalls total 8.1 million vehicles

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- The total number of vehicles Toyota Motor Corp. has had to recall for gas-pedal related issues now comes to 8.1 million, the carmaker confirmed Thursday.

That figure may grow after the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced Thursday that it is launching a formal investigation into braking problems in the popular Toyota Prius.

The 8.1 million figure includes a total of 5.8 million vehicles recalled, around the world, for an issue in which accelerator pedals could become stuck in floor mats. Of those, 5.3 million are being recalled in the United States.

A total of 4.5 million vehicles, worldwide, are being recalled for a problem in which gas pedals, as they wear, can become sticky and not come all the way back up when the driver takes his foot off the pedal. Of those, 2.3 million are under recall in the U.S.

A total of 2.1 million vehicles around the world are subject to both recalls.

In addition to the United States, the recalls are also occurring in Europe and Asia.

Toyota officials estimate the total cost of the global recall could be as much as $2 billion, including the loss of 100,000 vehicle sales in the United States and Europe.

The figures do not include the Toyota Prius, which is currently not subject to a recall but is under formal investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. This follows complaints of faulty braking by consumers and an admission by the company that cars produced early in the 2010 model year had a software problem that caused poor brake performance.

-- CNN's Kyung Lah contributed to this report.