WASHINGTON — A U.S. House panel approved a far-reaching auto-safety bill Wednesday, requiring that all cars be equipped with advanced-brake systems, "black box" data recorders and other technology in the next few years, reported The Wall Street Journal.

The move sets up a full House vote that could come in weeks.

The Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 2010, approved by a 31-21 vote of the House Energy and Commerce Committee largely on the support of Democrats, would also strengthen federal regulators' ability to force recalls of defective vehicles and impose larger civil fines against car companies that fail to report safety defects.

The bill is among several congressional proposals designed to address concerns raised by Toyota Motor Corp.'s recall since last fall of some 8.5 million vehicles globally for sudden acceleration and other problems.

The committee vote sets up a possible vote of the full House in coming weeks. A Senate panel is set to consider a companion bill early next month.

The bill approved Wednesday was scaled back from previous versions after the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers voiced concerns about the industry's ability to meet timelines for the costly rollouts of technology. The alliance represents General Motors Co., Ford Motor Co., Chrysler Group LLC, Toyota and other major auto makers.

The bill's costs are unknown, given that details of the new technology requirements would later be set by the Department of Transportation.

As part of an agreement reached late Tuesday between Rep. Henry Waxman (D., Calif.), the committee chairman, and Rep. John Dingell (D., Mich), a chief ally of the auto industry, timelines for the technology were loosened and some requirements scrapped.

Now, all cars would be required to have "black boxes" that record crash data starting in the 2015 model year. Cars would also be required to have brake-override systems, which ensure a car will stop even when the throttle is jammed open, though the legislation doesn't specify a compliance date for that measure.

The bill calls for the DOT to consider whether to require changes in gas-pedal configurations and standards for engine electronics. A previous version mandated the changes.

The bill would also empower the head of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to force recalls of cars that present "a substantial likelihood of death or serious injury to the public," with auto makers given 10 days to present any concerns to the agency.

A previous version of the bill didn't include the opportunity for auto makers to respond to the order.

The bill would also eventually impose a $9 fee per car, with the NHTSA collecting the revenue to improve its operations.

The Auto Alliance has said it supports broad aspects of the legislation, including the new technology mandates, but that some of the deadlines for implementation might be too stringent.

Many Republicans opposed the legislation, arguing it would expand government bureaucracy and drive up the cost of cars.