TOKYO -- Toyota today rebutted assertions that the problems with gas pedals that led to the recall of millions of its cars are electronic in nature.

In a statement posted to its website today, the world's largest automaker said the issue was mechanical, and "absolutely not" related to the ECU. "Toyota has never found an incident of unintended acceleration caused by the vehicle’s computer/electronic control unit," the company said.  

Also, James E. Lentz III, president of Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A., told the New York Times, “It is not an electronics issue.”