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The $29 million settlement resolves a multistate investigation into Toyota’s actions, in the wake of the discovery that certain models were subject to sudden, spontaneous accelerations. The problem affected nearly 400,000 Texas vehicle owners.

Tom Kelley is a spokesman for Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott.

“What the states have alleged is that the company waited too long to notify vehicle owners about the possibility of sudden accelerations. Whether they actually experienced that or not is really not the issue – it’s [that] they should have notified consumers much more quickly. And we believe that those were deceptive practices in the way that you just don’t notify customers quickly enough to get your car in and do a recall.”

The agreement requires Toyota to set aside $5 million for a restitution fund, which will repay consumers who had out-of-pocket expenses as a result of the recalls.

Toyota has provided toll-free numbers for vehicle owners wanting information on eligible restitution. The lines will be staffed from 7 a.m. till 8 p.m. (CST) Monday through Friday, and from 9 a.m. till 6 p.m. on Saturdays. Toyota owners should call (800) 331-4331. Lexus owners should call (800) 255-3987.