French carmaker PSA is recalling around 100,000 of its cars because of a problem with the accelerator pedal. This follows hot on the heels of a recent similar recall by Japanese carmaker Toyota.

Toyota has now recalled almost four million cars throughout Europe and the United States because they suffer from the same problem as the PSA cars: their accelerator pedals often stick. The authorities in the US are blaming the fault for 19 fatalities over the past ten years.

PSA is recalling its Peugeot 107 and Citroën C1 models. Both are made in the same factory in the Czech Republic as some of the recalled Toyotas and use accelerator pedals provided by the same supplier.

Toyota's president has now officially apologised for the recall. "We're extremely sorry to have made customers feel uneasy," Ako Toyoda told Japanese media on Saturday. The Toyota models involved are the AYGO, iQ, Yaris, Auris, Corolla, Verso, Avensis and RAV4 series.

Photo of the Citroën C1 by Leonieke (flickr)

Photo of Toyota iQ's by ranpie (flickr)