DOT Examining Complaints by Toyota Owners
On March 3, 2010, the U.S. Department of Transportation said it is investigating recent complaints of sudden acceleration by Toyota owners whose vehicles have been repaired under two of Toyota Motor Corp.’s recent recalls, according to a recent Wall Street Journal news report. Over the past five months, Toyota has recalled 8.5 million vehicles due to steering and brake problems and sudden acceleration of vehicles due to sticky gas pedals and floor mat interference.
“If Toyota owners are still experiencing sudden-acceleration incidents after taking their cars to the dealership, we want to know about it,” David Strickland, the administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, said in an emailed statement.
The federal safety regulator, which is part of the DOT, began conducting interviews with consumers about the issue Tuesday. NHTSA wants “to make sure Toyota is doing everything possible to make its vehicles safe,” Mr. Strickland said.
The agency has received several unverified reports about sudden-acceleration issues in Toyota vehicles that have had their gas pedals fixed and floor mats removed under two recent recalls of six million vehicles. A DOT spokeswoman said none of the incidents has been confirmed.
Last week, Toyota came under the microscope at three separate congressional hearings on the auto maker’s sudden acceleration problems that have called into question the company’s reputation as a safety leader.
Consumer-safety advocates have questioned whether Toyota’s electronic throttle-control system is to blame. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said the safety agency is conducting a full investigation into Toyota’s electronics. NHTSA has said that connected 52 deaths to crashes allegedly caused by Toyota’s acceleration problems.
The new alleged incidents of sudden acceleration are already concerning lawmakers. “I’m deeply concerned that NHTSA has received this many reports of possible sudden unintended acceleration after these vehicles have received Toyota’s recommended fix,” said Rep. Bruce Braley (D., Iowa). “It is critical that we get to the bottom of this problem as quickly as possible.”
In one recent complaint on NHTSA’s Web site, the 81-year-old owner of a 2010 Toyota Camry, which had undergone repairs on the gas pedal as part of the floor mat recall, said pulling into a parking spot at a CVS drugstore on February 16, the sedan “suddenly flew up forward over the cement curb and into the dirt and bushes,” which stopped the car.
Reports of the new cases of sudden acceleration in repaired Toyota vehicles were first reported by Safety Research & Strategies Inc. and the Los Angeles Times.
