Toyota to pay $1.2 billion penalty over safety issues

Company admitted it misled U.S. consumers about two safety issues

Toyota will pay $1.2 billion to resolve a criminal probe into its handling of consumer complaints over safety issues, the U.S. Justice Department said on Wednesday.

Toyota admitted it misled U.S. consumers by concealing and making deceptive statements about two safety issues, each of which caused a type of unintended acceleration, the Justice Department said.