FRANKFURT, Feb 5, 2010 (AFP) - Japanese auto giant Toyota has known about accelerator problems in some of its cars since 2007, German newspapers reported on Friday.

Tests ordered by Toyota then clearly demonstrated that the accelerator pedal could get stuck, the Financial Times Deutschland (FTD) said, citing informed sources.

In documents seen by the daily, the Auris model got stuck in several cases during a month of testing, with the problem arising mostly in winter months when condensation collects inside vehicles.

Three different models made by what is now the world's biggest carmaker were checked and Toyota directors "were informed several times" of the results, the FTD said.

The German economic weekly Wirtschaftswoche reported similar information in its latest edition.

Toyota has had to recall more than eight million cars worldwide owing to problems with the accelerator and a floor mat that could get stuck and also cause cars to suddenly speed up.

Other glitches have since appeared in its flagship hybrid model Prius. In Germany, more than 215,000 cars covering eight models have been affected by the recalls.

The situation has seriously damaged Toyota's hard-won reputation for quality construction and run up costs estimated at around two billion dollars (1.45 billion euros) so far.