Toyota Motor Corporation’s recent safety recalls have apparently taken their toll on their customer base. A recent survey by Consumer Reports found that 60 percent of current Toyota owners said they would most likely remain loyal to the brand when the time comes to purchase a new car, down 10 percentage points from a December 2009 study.

Due to the slippage, Toyota has fallen behind Honda and now sits at second on the customer loyalty rating list.

“The intense publicity surrounding Toyota’s recent recalls seems to be having a pronounced effect on the company’s image among its current customers,” said officials with Consumer Reports, quoted by Auto Week.

However, even with the decline, Toyota remains significant percentage points ahead of Chevrolet and Ford in terms of customer loyalty.

Approximately 50 percent of current Ford and Chevy owners said they would most likely stay with their respective brands.

The most recent survey was conducted before the U.S. Congressional committee hearing last week. Approximately 6.5 million Toyota vehicles have been recalled in the U.S alone over the last six months due to safety concerns.