Toyota Motors Corp. has launched a corporate-image campaign with full-page ads in the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal designed to mitigate the fact that Toyota vehicles are essentially driving themselves.

(Can the Ambien Defense be far behind?)

Yes, well, about that NASA thing – it turns out the U.S. government ordered the NASA investigation. Per Wednesday’s Journal:

An examination of Toyota’s problems will be conducted by experts from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, while the National Academy of Sciences, which advises the government, will undertake a separate, 15-month study into the use of computer technology in cars, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said.

But wait. There’s more.

According to the Journal, BOLOs have also been issued for Ford’s 2010 Fusion Hybrid, GM’s 2009 Cadillac CTS sedans, and Volkswagen’s 2008 Passats.

On the good news front, there’s this Journal piece:

Toyota Bolsters Quality Control Efforts

Toyota Motor Corp. on Tuesday unveiled new measures to beef up its quality control, including opening “customer-first” training centers by July 2010 in all major regions, as it seeks to regain customer trust dented by its global recalls.

The world’s biggest car maker by volume, which held its first special committee meeting for global quality Tuesday, said it would boost the number of technology offices in North America to seven from one to have more engineers checking vehicle problems.

Seven times more engineers.

Question: How many engineers does it take to fix a Toyota?

Answer: Do we have to fix it?