Unintended Acceleration

Lawsuit claims Toyota ignored safety issues since 2003

David Walker, LeaseTrader.com — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 15:28:33 GMT

Lawsuit claims Toyota ignored safety issues since 2003

The attorneys leading a class-action lawsuit against Toyota say they have uncovered internal Toyota documents showing that some at the company were aware as far back as 2003 of the problem of unintended acceleration in cars the company made.

In a revised complaint against the automaker filed Monday in U.S. District Court in California, the plaintiffs' attorneys say that in a 2003 field report a company technician wrote up a case of sudden, unintended acceleration.

"The author requested immediate action due to the 'extremely dangerous problem' and [said] 'we are also much afraid of frequency of this problem in near future,' " according to the lawsuit.

Earlier this year, the federal government hit Toyota with a $16.4 million fine for failing to recall vehicles afflicted by unintended acceleration quickly enough. At the time, it was believed that Toyota had known about the issue for about a month prior to alerting regulators – well beyond the single week that the law gives automakers to notify the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration of potential problems.

Source: [ Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post ]

Pedal Misapplication Determined As Cause for Toyota Problems

John Sternal, LeaseTrader.com — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 21:51:57 GMT

Pedal Misapplication Determined As Cause for Toyota Problems

Toyota Problems caused by Pedal Misapplication?

Can you get a better deal on a Toyota Lease Specials today because of the “unintended acceleration” issue the car maker has had recently? Sure, the manufacturer has rolled out plenty of deals since the end of 2009, when reports first surfaced of serious problems drivers were having with sticking gas pedals. But ultimately, many people find themselves asking the question, exactly how has this episode translated into better deals over the last six months?

Now comes a report that says Toyota may not have been at fault as millions had originally thought. The National Highway Transportation Authority (NHTSA) conducted a probe and found that “pedal misapplication” was the most likely cause in many of the cases.

Basically, it was driver error.

As a driver, possibly the driver of a Toyota Lease Specials, how does this report make you feel?

LeaseTrader.com’s car Lease Specials marketplace still shows plenty of demand on all kinds of car leases. In fact, over the past two months the car Lease Specials trading matchmaker has even seen an increase in demand – again – on the popular Toyota Camry and Toyota Corolla. Clearly, the effect of seeing the car maker’s executives on television each day struggling before Congress has worn off and people are less likely to feel any lingering effects of hostilities towards the company.

Consider the recent demand for these following popular Toyota leases on LeaseTrader.com:

Toyota Camry demand up 8.6%
Toyota Corolla demand up 5.2%
Toyota 4-Runner demand up 3.8%
Toyota Highlander demand up 4.1%

These figures are since May 15.

Toyota and NHTSA were able to make their determination in the report after analyzing data from electronic data recorders (EDR) that were inside Toyotas monitoring all kinds of information like when people depressed the brakes or stepped on the gas. By analyzing this data NHTSA was able to determine what the driver was doing at the time of incident.

Other than getting a great deal, how do you feel about Toyota’s and the NHTSA’s findings that pretty much point much of the blame on driver error. Does this make you feel less likely to drive a Toyota, or does it not bother you at all?

In a separate part of the research, pedal misapplication was also the determining factor in several Audi incidents more than two decades ago.

Bottom line – please, everyone, make sure you’re operating your vehicle correctly and without pedal misapplication.

Video Source [ Wall Street Journal ]

Toyota - Lexus GX labeled “Safety Risk”

David Walker, LeaseTrader.com — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 13:47:11 GMT

Toyota - Lexus GX labeled “Safety Risk”

LOS ANGELES: Toyota Motor Corp.'s new Lexus GX SUV was labeled a “safety risk” by a magazine, complicating efforts by the world's largest automaker to repair its image after record recalls.

The 2010 GX 460 received the designation because of handling in emergency driving tests, Consumer Reports said today in a statement. The magazine, published by Yonkers, New York-based Consumers Union, said it hadn't deemed any vehicle a potential safety risk since 2001.

The GX's rear end “slid out until the vehicle was almost sideways before the electronic stability control system was able to regain control” at a Connecticut test track, the magazine said. “In real-world driving, that situation could lead to a rollover accident, which could cause serious injury or death.”

Toyota's recalls of more than 8 million vehicles worldwide for defects linked to unintended acceleration and brakes have hurt its reputation and led to U.S. congressional hearings and a rebuke by Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. The U.S. assessed a $16.4 million penalty against Toyota for delaying its recall of sticky accelerator pedals and said there may be more fines.

“We're concerned with the results of Consumer Reports testing on the Lexus GX 460 and their suggested buyer recommendation,” Bill Kwong, a Lexus spokesman, said in an e-mail. While the model meets or exceeds U.S. safety rules, Toyota will try to duplicate the test results, Kwong said.

The company “appreciates Consumer Reports bringing it to our attention,” he said.

The GX has a starting price of about $52,000, according to Lexus's Web site. The Japan-based company has its U.S. sales headquarters in Torrance, California.

Consumer Reports checked the initial findings in the “lift-off oversteer” test of the GX by repeating it on a second vehicle, said Douglas Love, a spokesman for the magazine. The publication said it shared the results with the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The magazine said it is unaware of reports of accidents resulting from what it found in the GX tests.

Source [ Bloomberg ]

NASA to study Toyota sudden unintended acceleration

David Walker, LeaseTrader.com — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 16:39:43 GMT

NASA to study Toyota sudden unintended acceleration

Tax payers money at good work again!

Who do you call when automobiles are rocketing (intentional pun) out of control? As it turns out, the answer is the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, aka NASA.

The Los Angeles Times is reporting that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has enlisted the help of NASA to solve the unintended acceleration conundrum that's led to the recall of nearly 10 million Toyota vehicles. A statement by the DoT says it is calling on NASA's expertise in "electronics, hardware, software, hazard analysis and complex problem solving" to help solve a problem for which many credentialed experts have no acceptable answer. In short, NASA will be looking for any defects that could lead to an investigation, and its study should be completed by late summer.

The National Academy of Sciences will also conduct a second, more broad investigation that will tackle unwanted acceleration and electronic vehicle controls. The study will last up to 15 months, and the total bill for the two studies will cost American tax payers a relatively reasonable (if there are results) $3 million dollars.

The announcement of the two independent federal investigations comes one month after Congress demanded answers from Toyota and the DoT that would put Americans at ease. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood apparently senses the urgency to get this daunting problem resolved, adding "for the safety of the American driving public, we must do everything possible to understand what is happening." So to infinity and beyond we go.

Source: [ Los Angeles Times , Autoblog.com ]