– The A-pillar trim pieces on 2010 Acura MDXs can fly off when the side airbag deploys in a crash, “increasing the risk of injury to the driver and/or front seat passenger.”

– The 2010 Chrysler Sebring, Dodge Avenger and Nitro, Jeep Liberty and Commander, as well as 2009 and 2010 Dodge Ram trucks, may have improperly formed or missing brake-booster input-rod retaining clips. “This could result in brake failure without warning which could cause a crash.”

– On Chrysler Pacifica models, the power train control module software may allow the engine to stall under certain operating conditions. “This could cause a crash to occur without prior warning.”

– Some 2006-09 Jetta driveshaft screws could loosen to the point where the driveshaft detaches from the gearbox and creates “a risk of a vehicle crash for both the driver and other motorists.”

– Fatal fires in Honda Fits have resulted in a recall of over half a million Fits worldwide.

– GM will start shipping repair parts to dealers this week to fix sticking accelerator problems with its 2008-2010 Pontiac Vibe.

And so on.

There are 600 NHTSA recalls a year, almost two a day. The above list is just a recent, random sampling (tip of the hat to Autoweek). Since 1966, NHTSA (and its predecessor agencies) have recalled more than 390 million vehicles for safety fixes.

So why the Toyota hysteria?

For the same reason we were transfixed by Tiger Wood’s marital transgressions. Because we thought Toyota was perfect. It’s the gold standard of autos. The perennial leader of every quality survey. That’s why GM teamed with Toyota to build the Pontiac Vibe (see above) which is caught up in the Toyota accelerator recall.

But defects — and government recalls — happen. Cars are complex machines. And ironically, they may get worse for a while as manufacturers bring to market more vehicles with battery power and that include more electronics to satisfy the same government’s fuel-efficiency mandates (the electronic accelerators in Toyotas since 2002 are a direct consequence of efforts to maximize fuel efficiency).

In fact, both the Toyota Prius and Ford Fusion Hybrid are now embroiled in recalls involving regenerative braking (which is new — and different for drivers).

This too shall pass. Later this year, Consumer Reports and J.D. Power will release their quality results. And Toyota will again be at the top . . . along with Ford, which survived its own tire-defect hysteria earlier this decade. Remember?