WASHINGTON - A 10-month effort to pass a landmark auto safety overhaul in the wake of millions of vehicles recalled by Toyota Motor Corp. failed Wednesday as Congress adjourned, reported The Detroit News.

Despite a late-push in recent weeks by congressional aides and Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, supporters couldn't overcome opposition to the legislation.

Among other things, the bills would have allowed federal safety regulators to fine auto executives who submit false reports $5,000 per day or up to $5 million for a single recall; increased maximum fines against automakers from $16.4 million to $200 million per recall; and provided the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration with the authority to stop sales and order immediate recalls if it determined "an imminent hazard of death or serious injury."

The bills were sparked by Toyota's recall of more than 8.5 million vehicles worldwide for sudden acceleration issues. The measures also would have required rules on the placement of vehicles' pedals, to avoid obstructions, within 18 months.

Toyota's recalls dominated national attention for weeks last winter. Congress held eight hearings — and brought the company's top executive, President Akio Toyoda, for testimony that drew worldwide attention.

Toyota was fined $16.4 million in April by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for delaying a recall of 2.3 million vehicles by at least four months.

In the aftermath, sweeping overhauls of auto safety legislation were proposed.