Prosecutors in the US state of California have filed a civil lawsuit against Toyota, accusing the Japanese automaker of intentionally hiding deadly defects from customers.

Toyota knowingly sold cars and trucks with defects that caused Toyotas to accelerate uncontrollably, according to Orange Country's District Attorney. Toyota has its US headquarters in California.

Toyota has recalled six million cars in the US alone. The cars have faulty accelerator and breaking pedals, which are thought to have caused dozens of accidents. Recently, police were able to stop a runaway Toyota Prius on a California motorway.

Toyota has already been hit by dozens of safety lawsuits. They could cost the world's largest carmaker billions of dollars in compensation claims.