LOS ANGELES - Toyota's continuing problems with sticking gas pedals, even after supposed repairs were made, prompted Los Angeles County to remove 13 Toyota vehicles from its fleet until the automaker can determine the cars are safe, according to the Pasadena Star-News.

The county vehicles include five 2010 Prius hybrids and eight 2010 Camrys, reported the newspaper.

Toyota hasn't issued a recall for either vehicle. However, a county official said the 13 vehicles were removed from the county's fleet until Toyota issues a recall notice or the Department of Transportation releases the outcome of its investigation, according to the Pasadena Star-News.

"We wouldn't let county employees drive vehicles that are unsafe for them or the public," said Linda Estrada, manager of strategic planning for the county's Internal Services Department told the newspaper. "We've never had a problem with the cars, but the fact that they are under investigation ..."

Estrada told the newspaper that Los Angeles County has been purchasing Toyotas since 1992, and there are currently 417 Toyotas in the county fleet, including 345 Prius vehicles.

There have been no reported failures with those vehicles, she said.

In November 2009, the county responded to a Toyota recall and removed floor mats from 200 Toyota vehicles that were affected, Estrada told the newspaper.

"The county had no driver complaints or vehicle failures regarding these vehicles prior to or after the floor mats were removed," she said. "These vehicles are in service."

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