US car insurers are lining up to pursue manufacturing giant Toyota Motor Corporation over claims associated with defective models.

State Farm Insurance and Allstate are among a number of major US insurers to have begun examining past claim records involving recalled Toyota models.

Under their subrogation rights, insurers are able to demand reimbursement for a claim if a vehicle defect is a key contributor to a crash.

Sticky and slow-to-return pedals have forced the recall of about 2.3 million Toyotas in the US, while Toyota is also facing personal injury lawsuits in relation to accidents allegedly caused by accelerator defects.

The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has heard complaints of 43 fatal crashes since 2000 alleging unintended acceleration in Toyotas, involving 52 deaths and 38 injuries.

Australian-delivered and built models were not affected by the accelerator problem, but 2378 local Toyota Prius models were included in a separate recall due to a minor braking problem.

Toyota Motor Corporation has meanwhile agreed to pay a record $US16.4 million ($17.7 million) fine to the US safety regulator to settle allegations that Toyota was too slow to recall potentially unsafe cars.