Toyota had long been recognized as one of the largest and most successful automakers in the world. However, in 2009 it began experiencing issues with unintended acceleration in some of its vehicles. Over 12 million vehicles were eventually recalled worldwide due to problems with sticky gas pedals and floor mats that could trap accelerators. The recalls severely damaged Toyota's reputation for quality and reliability. Toyota was fined $48.8 million by regulators for its handling of the recalls as it worked to repair its brand image.