Since news broke of the unintended acceleration issues in their vehicles, Toyota has recalled more than 10 million vehicles. While the flaws have certainly done damage to the company's reputation, the hundreds of lawsuits filed in the wake of the scandal may pose more trouble for the automaker.

The recall affected both new and used Toyotas. The various lawsuits were recently combined into one case, which is currently being heard in California.

The Associated Press reports that documents filed in the lawsuit allege that Toyota had prior knowledge of the issues, but made no effort to correct them. Instead, the company supposedly bought back vehicles from any drivers who complained about the issue. In exchange, the company compelled those owners to sign a confidentiality agreement that prevented them from ever discussing the issue in public.

If the allegations are true, they would like cause more damage to Toyota's reputation, which it is working to rebuild. The automaker has yet to comment on the documents.

Drivers considering buying a used Toyota should ensure that the models they are considering have had the proper maintenance in the wake of the recalls.