MADISON, Wis. -- This fall Toyota recalled almost 4 million vehicles with faulty floor mats that could catch the gas pedal, but an analysis of government data from the 2008 model year showed that sudden-acceleration incidents aren't limited to just one manufacturer.

A gas pedal became stuck in a Toyota vehicle and the unintended acceleration killed a California man and his family. The sudden-acceleration issue with Toyotas was documented in other reports nationwide.

Starting in January, Toyota will alter those gas pedals, making them smaller, and install them by April.

But a Consumer Reports analysis found sudden-acceleration complaints against other automakers, not just Toyota.

Nancy Bernstein said she feels lucky to be alive after the Toyota Prius she was driving kept accelerating as she desperately applied the brake.

"The car's going about 70 mph, and I'm beginning to get scared because it's not slowing down," Bernstein said.

Bernstein did finally get her car to stop and she wasn't hurt, but her brakes were shot.

Consumer Reports used its test track to simulate the situation. Even though engineer Jake Fisher tried to brake, he couldn't stop the car during the test.

"As hard as we put our foot on the brake, the car slowed down a lot, but wouldn't come to a complete stop," Fisher said.

Consumer Reports' analysis of government data from the 2008 model year shows sudden-acceleration incidents aren't limited to just one manufacturer. More than 40 percent involve Toyotas, but Ford wasn't far behind at 28 percent of incidents, and other companies also had complaints filed against them.

But it is possible to design a car where the brake can bring it to a stop during such incidents.

"Some manufacturers, particularly European companies, offer a technology called smart throttle. This allows the brake pedal to override the accelerator. And this is technology that Toyota will be looking to add to production in the near future, as well as retrofit to some existing models," said Jeff Bartlett, of Consumer Reports.

While the study suggests the risk of sudden acceleration is low, experts said people should know what to do if it does happen.

Experts said drivers should apply the brakes firmly and then put the car in neutral, without taking their foot off the brake.

The engine will rev, but the driver should be able to bring the car to a stop and turn it off.

Consumer Reports said that if a car suddenly accelerates, the driver can be too flustered to remember what to do, so it's a good idea to take the car to an empty parking lot to practice shifting into neutral.

Meanwhile, General Motors has announced a different recall. GM is recalling more than 22,000 Chevrolet Corvettes due to removable roofs that can separate from the vehicle. The recall involved Corvette models Z06s from 2005 to 2007.