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<generator>Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/</generator><item><title><![CDATA[Toyota shares rise on smaller-than-expected settlement news]]></title><link>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/27/toyota-shares-rise-on-smaller-than-expected-settlement-news/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/27/toyota-shares-rise-on-smaller-than-expected-settlement-news/</guid><comments>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/27/toyota-shares-rise-on-smaller-than-expected-settlement-news/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/recalls-tsbs/" rel="tag">Recalls</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/safety/" rel="tag">Safety</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/toyota/" rel="tag">Toyota</a></p><a href="http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20121227/OEM/121229940/1424"><img alt="Toyota emblem" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/12/toyota-badge.jpg" style="margin-top: 4px; margin-bottom: 4px; width: 628px; height: 417px;" /></a><br />
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Following news that <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/toyota/">Toyota</a> has proposed a <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/26/toyota-proposes-economic-loss-settlement-worth-up-to-1-4-billio/">massive settlement</a> to address the owners of vehicles effected by the <a href="http://autoblog.search.aol.com/search?q=toyota+unintended+acceleration&amp;s_it=header_form">unintended acceleration</a> recall, shares for the automaker are up 2.6 percent. Over the course of this year, Toyota's stock has jumped 51.7 percent.<br />
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"My initiate reaction would be 'that's it'... $1 billion charge that covers recalls and everything else and you are looking at a $250 million compensation fund, that's nothing," said a senior trader at a foreign brokerage to <em>Automotive News</em>. This settlement has been set aside to cover class-action lawsuits from 16 million owners of Toyota, Lexus and Scion vehicles and is separate from other impending lawsuits - including one consumer protection suit in California and another unfair-business-practices case brought on by 28 attorneys general.<br />
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In other positive news for investors, the Japanese yen has weakened compared to the US dollar. That likely means improved financial performance from the big Japanese automakers, the largest of which is Toyota.<p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/27/toyota-shares-rise-on-smaller-than-expected-settlement-news/">Toyota shares rise on smaller-than-expected settlement news</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblog</a> on Thu, 27 Dec 2012 18:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/27/toyota-shares-rise-on-smaller-than-expected-settlement-news/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/20411961/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/27/toyota-shares-rise-on-smaller-than-expected-settlement-news/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>National Highway Traffic Safety Administration</category><category>nhtsa</category><category>settlement</category><category>toyota</category><category>toyota lawsuit</category><category>toyota settlement</category><category>toyota unintended acceleration</category><category>unintended acceleration</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[George Kennedy]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 27 Dec 2012 18:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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</item><item><title><![CDATA[Judge cautions jurors over Toyota conduct in sudden acceleration case]]></title><link>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/01/judge-cautions-jurors-over-toyota-conduct-in-sudden-acceleration/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/01/judge-cautions-jurors-over-toyota-conduct-in-sudden-acceleration/</guid><comments>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/01/judge-cautions-jurors-over-toyota-conduct-in-sudden-acceleration/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/economy/" rel="tag">Budget</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/sedans/" rel="tag">Sedan</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/etc/" rel="tag">Etc.</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/government-legal/" rel="tag">Government/Legal</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/safety/" rel="tag">Safety</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/toyota/" rel="tag">Toyota</a></p><a href="http://www.insideline.com/toyota/toyota-faces-judicial-sanction-in-sudden-acceleration-case.html"><img alt="Toyota Emblem" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/06/toyota-emblem-628.jpg" style="margin: 4px 0px; width: 628px; height: 417px; border-width: 0px; border-style: solid;" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/judge+james+v+selna/">Judge James V. Selna</a> has warned jurors in a wrongful death suit about suspicions surrounding <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/toyota">Toyota</a>. According to Inside Line, the warning comes tied to the automaker's conduct during an investigation of a <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/toyota/camry">2008 Camry</a> involved in a fatal crash allegedly caused by <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/unintended acceleration">unintended acceleration</a>. The single-car accident in Utah claimed the lives of the driver, Pual van Alfen, as well as one other passenger. Two passengers were also injured in the event on November 5, 2010. According to the report, two weeks later, Toyota inspected the sedan without the owner's presence or consent, including the onboard <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/black box">black box</a>. Judge Selena cautioned jurors that they should treat the testimony of Toyota personnel who participated in the investigation with "greater caution than that of other witnesses."<br />
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Plaintiffs argued that without their own lawyers present during the inspection, data from the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/event data recorder">Event Data Recorder</a> could have been changed or deleted entirely. The Judge said that while there was no evidence that Toyota did so, the fact that the automaker failed to notify the owner of the inspection casts a "cloud of suspicion" over the examination.<p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/01/judge-cautions-jurors-over-toyota-conduct-in-sudden-acceleration/">Judge cautions jurors over Toyota conduct in sudden acceleration case</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblog</a> on Fri, 01 Jun 2012 17:59:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/01/judge-cautions-jurors-over-toyota-conduct-in-sudden-acceleration/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/20249347/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/01/judge-cautions-jurors-over-toyota-conduct-in-sudden-acceleration/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>2008 toyota camry</category><category>black box</category><category>camry</category><category>event data recorder</category><category>james selna</category><category>judge james selna</category><category>sudden acceleration</category><category>toyota camry</category><category>toyota safety</category><category>toyota unintended acceleration</category><category>unintended acceleration</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Zach Bowman]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 01 Jun 2012 17:59:00 EST</pubDate>
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</item><item><title><![CDATA[Jury rules Toyota didn't cause sudden acceleration accident]]></title><link>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/03/report-jury-rules-toyota-didnt-cause-sudden-acceleration-accid/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/03/report-jury-rules-toyota-didnt-cause-sudden-acceleration-accid/</guid><comments>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/03/report-jury-rules-toyota-didnt-cause-sudden-acceleration-accid/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/government-legal/" rel="tag">Government/Legal</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/safety/" rel="tag">Safety</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/toyota/" rel="tag">Toyota</a></p><a href="http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-04-01/toyota-didn-t-cause-man-s-accident-jury-rules.html"><img alt="toyota unintended acceleration" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/04/toyota-floor-mat.jpg" style="margin-top: 4px; margin-bottom: 4px; width: 630px; height: 345px; " /></a><br />
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Toyota faces hundreds of lawsuits for accidents involving <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/toyota_recall/guide">unintended acceleration</a>, but the automaker needs only to win them one at a time. <em>Bloomberg Businessweek</em> reports that Toyota has done exactly that, as a New York jury ruled that the automaker was not responsible for an accident involving Dr. Amir Sitafalwalla.<br />
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Sitafalwalla claimed that his 2005 <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/scion/tc">Scion tC</a> accelerated on its own either through a throttle problem or a faulty floor mat, causing him to run into a tree. The jury didn't see it that way. Penny Overbeck, one of the jurors on the case, says that Toyota's extensive testing played a role in her decision, adding, "They had it all on video. It pretty much explained it."<br />
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This is just one case in what will doubtless be a protracted legal process for Toyota, but it's an important victory nonetheless. It'll be tough for Toyota to win them all, though, since the automaker did recall millions of vehicles for stuck brake pedals and defective floor mats. Sitafalwalla and his legal team are currently considering an appeal of the decision.<br />
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[Source: <a href="http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-04-01/toyota-didn-t-cause-man-s-accident-jury-rules.html">Bloomberg BusinessWeek</a>]<p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/03/report-jury-rules-toyota-didnt-cause-sudden-acceleration-accid/">Jury rules Toyota didn't cause sudden acceleration accident</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblog</a> on Sun, 03 Apr 2011 11:02:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-04-01/toyota-didn-t-cause-man-s-accident-jury-rules.html>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/03/report-jury-rules-toyota-didnt-cause-sudden-acceleration-accid/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/19900870/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/03/report-jury-rules-toyota-didnt-cause-sudden-acceleration-accid/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>2005 scion tc</category><category>scion unintended acceleration</category><category>toyota unintended acceleration</category><category>toyota wins unintended acceleration court case</category><category>unintended acceleration</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Chris Shunk]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 03 Apr 2011 11:02:00 EST</pubDate>
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</item><item><title><![CDATA[Toyota responds to concerned owners with 'Why is my car doing this?']]></title><link>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/08/17/toyota-responds-to-concerned-owners-with-why-is-my-car-doing-th/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.autoblog.com/2010/08/17/toyota-responds-to-concerned-owners-with-why-is-my-car-doing-th/</guid><comments>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/08/17/toyota-responds-to-concerned-owners-with-why-is-my-car-doing-th/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/recalls-tsbs/" rel="tag">Recalls</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/safety/" rel="tag">Safety</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/toyota/" rel="tag">Toyota</a></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2010-toyota-camry-0/"><img hspace="0" vspace="4" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/08/2010toyotacamry630-reflection.jpg" /></a>
<div style="text-align: center;"><em><strong><small>2010 Toyota Camry - Click above for high-res image gallery</small></strong></em></div>
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If you didn't think that <a href="http://autoblog.com/make/toyota/">Toyota</a> has been getting a lot of <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/toyota_recall/guide/">'unintended acceleration</a>' questions from concerned customers, this might change your mind. The Japanese automaker has posted a short release on the company's media website called "Why is my car doing this?" that explains how technology in cars today can "cause engine rpm to increase slightly without warning." The informative little missive explains how cold start idle-up, transmission shift, catalytic converter protection, air conditioning idle-up and power steering idle up can raise the pulse of your engine. <br />
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We were hoping that the rest of the world already knew that, for example, jamming the A/C when it is hot will cause the engine to rev a bit higher, or that starting your vehicle when it's cold outside will cause the engine to race for a few minutes. Guess not. Our favorite example is for protection of the catalytic converter. Toyota tells us that, on manual transmission models, the engine control computer will "keep the engine rpm above idle as the driver shifts between fifth and sixth gear at high speeds" to prolong the life of the emissions component. <br />
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While the list of reasons your engine may idle may sound incredibly obvious, it suggests that some customers are a bit skittish every time they turn on their Toyota, and that can't be good. Hit the jump to read for yourself.<br />
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<div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2010-toyota-camry-0">2010 Toyota Camry</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2010-toyota-camry-0/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/03/2010toyotacamry000_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2010-toyota-camry-0/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/03/2010toyotacamry001_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2010-toyota-camry-0/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/03/2010toyotacamry002_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2010-toyota-camry-0/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/03/2010toyotacamry003_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2010-toyota-camry-0/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/03/2010toyotacamry004_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><br />
[Source: Toyota]<p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/08/17/toyota-responds-to-concerned-owners-with-why-is-my-car-doing-th/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Toyota responds to concerned owners with 'Why is my car doing this?'</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/08/17/toyota-responds-to-concerned-owners-with-why-is-my-car-doing-th/">Toyota responds to concerned owners with 'Why is my car doing this?'</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblog</a> on Tue, 17 Aug 2010 10:29:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/08/17/toyota-responds-to-concerned-owners-with-why-is-my-car-doing-th/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/19595992/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/08/17/toyota-responds-to-concerned-owners-with-why-is-my-car-doing-th/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>engine racing</category><category>EngineRacing</category><category>toyota</category><category>toyota customer relations</category><category>toyota owners</category><category>toyota unintended acceleration</category><category>ToyotaCustomerRelations</category><category>ToyotaOwners</category><category>ToyotaUnintendedAcceleration</category><category>unintended acce</category><category>UnintendedAcce</category><category>why is my car doing this</category><category>WhyIsMyCarDoingThis</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Chris Shunk]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 17 Aug 2010 10:29:00 EST</pubDate>
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</item><item><title><![CDATA[Report: Man convicted in fatal crash set free with Toyota sudden acceleration appeal]]></title><link>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/08/06/report-man-convicted-in-fatal-crash-set-free-with-toyota-sudden/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.autoblog.com/2010/08/06/report-man-convicted-in-fatal-crash-set-free-with-toyota-sudden/</guid><comments>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/08/06/report-man-convicted-in-fatal-crash-set-free-with-toyota-sudden/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/economy/" rel="tag">Budget</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/sedans/" rel="tag">Sedan</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/government-legal/" rel="tag">Government/Legal</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/toyota/" rel="tag">Toyota</a></p><a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38583622/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/"><img hspace="0" border="1" vspace="4" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/08/lee-630.jpg" /></a><br />
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Koua Fong Lee, the man who was <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/24/will-toyotas-inintended-acceleration-woes-help-free-imprisoned/">convicted in 2006</a> of killing three people when his <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/toyota/camry">Toyota Camry</a> struck a vehicle at a stoplight, has been acquitted of any crime. Lee served a total of two-and-a-half years in prison after his defense attorney failed to adequately show that he had been applying the brake on his vehicle the whole time. In the wake of a number of unintended acceleration claims on similar <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/make/toyota/">Toyota</a> vehicles and increasing outcry for his release (including a <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/24/will-toyotas-inintended-acceleration-woes-help-free-imprisoned/">big ABC News feature</a>), Lee's case was reopened. In four days of testimony, his new counsel had a series of drivers who had experience unintended acceleration in their Toyotas take the stand. Eventually, the <strike>presiding judge heard enough and released Lee</strike> prosecutor dropped the charges against Lee.<br />
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Lee served two-and-a-half years of an eight-year sentence for vehicular homicide after his first attorney actually suggested to the jury that Lee could have mistaken the accelerator for the brake pedal. Combined with the defendant's limited English and the fact that few people had heard of unintended acceleration at the time of the first trail, the judge sentenced Lee to the maximum penalty under the law. Now that he's been released, Lee says that he'll focus on getting to know the youngest of his four children. <em>Thanks for the tip, Brian!</em><br />
<br />
[Source: <a href="http://autos.aol.com/article/jailed-toyota-driver-released/">AOL Autos</a> | Image: Ben Garvin/Associated Press]<p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/08/06/report-man-convicted-in-fatal-crash-set-free-with-toyota-sudden/">Report: Man convicted in fatal crash set free with Toyota sudden acceleration appeal</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblog</a> on Fri, 06 Aug 2010 09:58:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/08/06/report-man-convicted-in-fatal-crash-set-free-with-toyota-sudden/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/19583629/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/08/06/report-man-convicted-in-fatal-crash-set-free-with-toyota-sudden/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>camry</category><category>Camry vehicular homicide</category><category>CamryVehicularHomicide</category><category>Koua Fong Lee</category><category>KouaFongLee</category><category>pedal misapplication</category><category>PedalMisapplication</category><category>Toyota Camry</category><category>toyota unintended acceleration</category><category>toyota unintended acceleraton</category><category>ToyotaCamry</category><category>ToyotaUnintendedAcceleration</category><category>ToyotaUnintendedAcceleraton</category><category>unintended acceleration</category><category>UnintendedAcceleration</category><category>Vehicular homicide</category><category>VehicularHomicide</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Zach Bowman]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 06 Aug 2010 09:58:00 EST</pubDate>
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</item><item><title><![CDATA[Deep-Dive: Behind the scenes at Toyota's R&amp;D center, Part Two]]></title><link>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/09/deep-dive-behind-the-scenes-at-toyotas-randd-center-part-two/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/09/deep-dive-behind-the-scenes-at-toyotas-randd-center-part-two/</guid><comments>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/09/deep-dive-behind-the-scenes-at-toyotas-randd-center-part-two/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/safety/" rel="tag">Safety</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/tech/" rel="tag">Technology</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/lexus/" rel="tag">Lexus</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/toyota/" rel="tag">Toyota</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/deep-dive/" rel="tag">Deep Dive</a></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/behind-the-scenes-at-toyotas-randd-center/#3156324"><img alt="" border="1" hspace="0" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/07/26-toyota-quality-10-july-630op-1278695186.jpg" vspace="4" /></a>
<div style="text-align: center;">
	<em><strong><small>Behind the Scenes at Toyota's R&amp;D Center - Click above for high-res image gallery</small></strong></em></div>
<br />
It's impossible to overlook the negative impact the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/ToyotaRecall/">recalls</a> have had on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/make/toyota/">Toyota's</a> reputation for safety and reliability. Seemingly overnight, the automaker that could do no wrong has been brought back down to earth.<br />
<br />
Sales of most of Toyota's lineup have been hit hard, with only fleet sales and big incentives keeping the retail side from looking worse. As we first told you yesterday in <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/08/deep-dive-behind-the-scenes-at-toyotas-randd-center-part-1/">Part One of our series</a>, in a move unprecedented in its history, Toyota has opened its doors and invited a small group of journalists into its product development facilities in Toyota City near Nagoya, Japan.<br />
<br />
The goal is to show the lengths Toyota goes to test and evaluate its products both before and after they go on sale to the public, as well as to detail how those testing regimes have been altered in wake of their recent troubles. Given the sudden intended acceleration scandal, Toyota has chosen to focus on the work it does to verify the performance and reliability of its electronic throttle control systems. <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/08/deep-dive-behind-the-scenes-at-toyotas-randd-facilities-part-tw/">Make the jump</a> for a primer on Toyota's engineering and manufacturing processes and how it's attempting to ensure that sudden acceleration will be snuffed out for good.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/behind-the-scenes-at-toyotas-randd-center">Behind the scenes at Toyota's R&amp;D center</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/behind-the-scenes-at-toyotas-randd-center/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/07/01-toyota-quality-10-july_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/behind-the-scenes-at-toyotas-randd-center/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/07/02-toyota-quality-10-july_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/behind-the-scenes-at-toyotas-randd-center/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/07/03-toyota-quality-10-july_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/behind-the-scenes-at-toyotas-randd-center/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/07/04-toyota-quality-10-july_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/behind-the-scenes-at-toyotas-randd-center/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/07/05-toyota-quality-10-july_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/09/deep-dive-behind-the-scenes-at-toyotas-randd-center-part-two/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Deep-Dive: Behind the scenes at Toyota's R&amp;D center, Part Two</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/09/deep-dive-behind-the-scenes-at-toyotas-randd-center-part-two/">Deep-Dive: Behind the scenes at Toyota's R&amp;D center, Part Two</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblog</a> on Fri, 09 Jul 2010 14:57:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/09/deep-dive-behind-the-scenes-at-toyotas-randd-center-part-two/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/19547360/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/09/deep-dive-behind-the-scenes-at-toyotas-randd-center-part-two/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>akio toyoda</category><category>AkioToyoda</category><category>deep dive</category><category>dynamometer</category><category>dynamometers</category><category>electromagnetic</category><category>electromagnetic compatability</category><category>electromagnetic interference</category><category>electromagnetic radiation</category><category>ElectromagneticCompatability</category><category>ElectromagneticInterference</category><category>ElectroMagneticRadiation</category><category>featured</category><category>simulation</category><category>testing</category><category>toyoda</category><category>toyota</category><category>toyota city</category><category>toyota city japan</category><category>toyota quality</category><category>toyota recalls</category><category>toyota reliability</category><category>toyota research and development</category><category>toyota technical cen...</category><category>toyota technical center</category><category>toyota unintended acceleration</category><category>ToyotaCity</category><category>ToyotaCityJapan</category><category>ToyotaQuality</category><category>ToyotaRecalls</category><category>ToyotaReliability</category><category>ToyotaResearchAndDevelopment</category><category>ToyotaTechnicalCen...</category><category>ToyotaTechnicalCenter</category><category>ToyotaUnintendedAcceleration</category><category>unintended acceleration</category><category>UnintendedAcceleration</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Sam Abuelsamid]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 09 Jul 2010 14:57:00 EST</pubDate>
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</item><item><title><![CDATA[Report: Toyota must share info on brake override system]]></title><link>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/06/30/report-toyota-must-share-info-on-brake-override-system/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.autoblog.com/2010/06/30/report-toyota-must-share-info-on-brake-override-system/</guid><comments>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/06/30/report-toyota-must-share-info-on-brake-override-system/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/government-legal/" rel="tag">Government/Legal</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/recalls-tsbs/" rel="tag">Recalls</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/safety/" rel="tag">Safety</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/toyota/" rel="tag">Toyota</a></p><p><a href="http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100629/OEM/100629829/1143"><img hspace="0" border="0" vspace="4" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/03/gyi0059502379opt.jpg" alt="" /></a><br />
<br />
The U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee is still pouring over <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/make/toyota/">Toyota's</a> <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/toyota_recall/guide/">unintended acceleration issues</a>, and right now the group is looking into older braking systems.<em> Automotive News</em> reports that the committee was told by investigators that an investigation of a <a href="http://autoblog.com/toyota/camry">2005 Toyota Camry</a> showed that some older model Toyotas were equipped with brake override systems (although not all newer models have such equipment). Toyota, as you may recall, has promised to equip all 2011 model year vehicles with a brake override system.<br />
<br />
The Japanese automaker has also been asked by the committee to detail the work being performed by research firm Exponent Inc. relative to Toyota's unintended acceleration issues. Exponent has said that it hasn't found any electronics issues that would lead to unwanted acceleration issues. For his part, Committee Chairman Henry Waxman has told reporters in a letter that Exponent "has not been fully cooperative with the committee's requests." <br />
<br />
Toyota is reportedly being given until July 6 to contact the House committee, and documents must be provided by July 12. Toyota spokesman Mike Michels has informed AN that the company will cooperate with requests from the committee.<br />
<br />
[Source: <a href="http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100629/OEM/100629829/1143">Automotive News</a> - Sub. Req. | Image: Justin Sullivan/Getty]</p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/06/30/report-toyota-must-share-info-on-brake-override-system/">Report: Toyota must share info on brake override system</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblog</a> on Wed, 30 Jun 2010 16:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100629/OEM/100629829/1143>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/06/30/report-toyota-must-share-info-on-brake-override-system/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/19536645/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/06/30/report-toyota-must-share-info-on-brake-override-system/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>exponent toyota</category><category>ExponentToyota</category><category>toyota house committee</category><category>toyota recall</category><category>toyota unintended acceleration</category><category>ToyotaHouseCommittee</category><category>ToyotaRecall</category><category>ToyotaUnintendedAcceleration</category><category>U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee toyota</category><category>U.s.HouseEnergyAndCommerceCommitteeToyota</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Chris Shunk]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 30 Jun 2010 16:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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</item><item><title><![CDATA[Report: Toyota had 'attack plan' to discredit congressional testimony witnesses]]></title><link>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/16/report-toyota-had-attack-plan-to-discredit-congressional-test/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/16/report-toyota-had-attack-plan-to-discredit-congressional-test/</guid><comments>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/16/report-toyota-had-attack-plan-to-discredit-congressional-test/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/government-legal/" rel="tag">Government/Legal</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/recalls-tsbs/" rel="tag">Recalls</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/safety/" rel="tag">Safety</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/toyota/" rel="tag">Toyota</a></p><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/14/AR2010051405390.html"><img width="630" vspace="4" hspace="0" height="343" border="1" align="top" alt="Toyota" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/05/toyota-abc-cap-630op.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
Hypocrisy is again the order of the day as Congress continues to look into the actions of <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/make/toyota/">Toyota</a> following a report earlier this year claiming that a fault had been found that could trigger unintended acceleration. Using polling data to help craft a message to manipulate public opinion is standard political procedure, so it should come as no surprise to anyone in on Capitol Hill that Toyota would consider doing the same thing. <br />
<br />
When Southern Illinois University professor David Gilbert <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/22/video-smoking-gun-abc-news-expert-recreates-sudden-acceleratio/">purported to demonstrate</a> how unintended acceleration could happen in Toyotas, he and Sean Kane went before Congress to testify about their findings. Toyota investigated Gilbert's test procedure and then <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/08/toyota-hits-back-at-david-gilberts-no-fault-code-demonstratio/">later proceeded to debunk it</a>. However, it also hired pollster Joel Benenson to gather data that could potentially be used to discredit Kane and Gilbert, possibly via an ad campaign. <br />
<br />
No such campaign has been initiated to date, but it certainly seems disingenuous on the part of anyone in Congress to criticize Toyota for doing what it can to defend its reputation. If Gilbert and Kane had motives that went beyond simply finding the truth behind what was happening with these vehicles, then Toyota surely had a right to expose them. Likewise, if Toyota is hiding information, Gilbert, Congress, or anyone else has the same right to seek and reveal the truth. <br />
<br />
[Source: <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/14/AR2010051405390.html">The Washington Post</a>]<p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/16/report-toyota-had-attack-plan-to-discredit-congressional-test/">Report: Toyota had 'attack plan' to discredit congressional testimony witnesses</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblog</a> on Sun, 16 May 2010 20:05:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/16/report-toyota-had-attack-plan-to-discredit-congressional-test/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/19479192/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/16/report-toyota-had-attack-plan-to-discredit-congressional-test/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>congress</category><category>david gilbert</category><category>DavidGilbert</category><category>sean kane</category><category>SeanKane</category><category>toyota</category><category>toyota recall</category><category>toyota unintended acceleration</category><category>toyota unintended acceleraton</category><category>ToyotaRecall</category><category>ToyotaUnintendedAcceleration</category><category>ToyotaUnintendedAcceleraton</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Sam Abuelsamid]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 16 May 2010 20:05:00 EST</pubDate>
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</item><item><title><![CDATA[Analysis: Company offers aftermarket brake override for Toyotas]]></title><link>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/09/analysis-company-offers-aftermarket-brake-override-for-toyotas/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/09/analysis-company-offers-aftermarket-brake-override-for-toyotas/</guid><comments>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/09/analysis-company-offers-aftermarket-brake-override-for-toyotas/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/safety/" rel="tag">Safety</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/tech/" rel="tag">Technology</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/toyota/" rel="tag">Toyota</a></p><a href="http://www.thedecelerator.com"><img vspace="4" hspace="0" border="0" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/05/deceleratorbrakesystem.png" alt="" /></a><br />
<br />
With all the news reports about issues with unintended acceleration in <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/make/toyota/">Toyotas</a> in recent months, it was only a matter of time before an aftermarket company stepped up with a purported solution. Santa Barbara-based <a href="http://solutionsgroupcorp.com/">Solutions Group Inc</a>. is now marketing a device called the Decelerator, which they claim provides a brake override to prevent the car from taking off on the driver. <br />
<br />
We spoke with Sean O'Neil, the CEO of the Solutions Group, to learn more about the Decelerator. The device is another box of electronics that can intercept and modify signals to the engine throttle body from the electronic control unit (ECU). Installation is straightforward. The wiring harness from the ECU to the throttle body is unplugged and connected to device, which is then plugged into the ECU. A second connector goes to the brake pedal switch. The brake pedal input provides the 5 volts needed to power the Decelerator. <br />
<br />
Inside the Decelerator is a micro-controller and some firmware that sits idle until the brake pedal is pressed. While the brake is off, there's no power and the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pulse-width_modulation">pulse-width-modulated (PWM) signal</a> to the throttle body is simply passed through unmodified. Read on to find out what happens after the brake is applied. <br />
<br />
[Source: <a href="http://www.thedecelerator.com">Solutions Group Inc</a>]<p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/09/analysis-company-offers-aftermarket-brake-override-for-toyotas/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Analysis: Company offers aftermarket brake override for Toyotas</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/09/analysis-company-offers-aftermarket-brake-override-for-toyotas/">Analysis: Company offers aftermarket brake override for Toyotas</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblog</a> on Sun, 09 May 2010 10:05:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/09/analysis-company-offers-aftermarket-brake-override-for-toyotas/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/19467667/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/09/analysis-company-offers-aftermarket-brake-override-for-toyotas/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>brake override</category><category>brake override system</category><category>BrakeOverride</category><category>BrakeOverrideSystem</category><category>solutions group inc</category><category>SolutionsGroupInc</category><category>sudden intended acceleration</category><category>SuddenIntendedAcceleration</category><category>the decelerator</category><category>TheDecelerator</category><category>toyota</category><category>toyota unintended acceleration</category><category>toyota unintended acceleraton</category><category>ToyotaUnintendedAcceleration</category><category>ToyotaUnintendedAcceleraton</category><category>unintended acceleration</category><category>UnintendedAcceleration</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Sam Abuelsamid]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 09 May 2010 10:05:00 EST</pubDate>
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</item><item><title><![CDATA[Toyota hits back at David Gilbert's "no fault code" demonstration]]></title><link>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/08/toyota-hits-back-at-david-gilberts-no-fault-code-demonstratio/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/08/toyota-hits-back-at-david-gilberts-no-fault-code-demonstratio/</guid><comments>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/08/toyota-hits-back-at-david-gilberts-no-fault-code-demonstratio/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/safety/" rel="tag">Safety</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/toyota/" rel="tag">Toyota</a></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/toyota-exponent-pedal-rewiring/"><img vspace="4" hspace="0" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/03/42823-hi-slide3-copy.jpg" /></a>
<div style="text-align: center;"><em><strong><small>Mechanism used to "force unintended acceleration - Click above for high-res image gallery</small></strong></em></div>
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In a video webcast for the media that concluded a just a few moments ago, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/make/toyota/">Toyota</a> hit back at the "simulated unintended acceleration" demonstration that was <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/22/video-smoking-gun-abc-news-expert-recreates-sudden-acceleratio/">shown by ABC News</a> late last month. When we saw the original report, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/23/abc-news-report-shouldnt-panic-toyota-drivers/">we postulated that the condition Gilbert produced may not be representative of a scenario that can actually happen in the real world</a>, and judging by Toyota's findings, we were right.<br />
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As reported on Friday, Toyota went to an independent testing firm called Exponent to attempt to replicate the results from the Gilbert study. Dr. Shukri J. Souri of Exponent acknowledged that Gilbert did indeed create a scenario that produced what looked like a valid accelerator pedal signal to the electronic engine management system. But before demonstrating how the test was performed, Souri explained how the pedal sensor wiring works and showed how the connector is constructed. As we expected, Gilbert's testing methods and ABC News' report are very much in question. <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/08/toyota-hits-back-at-david-gilberts-no-fault-code-demonstratio/#continued">Make the jump</a> for our full breakdown.<br />
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<div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/toyota-exponent-pedal-rewiring">Toyota-Exponent pedal rewiring</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/toyota-exponent-pedal-rewiring/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/03/42823-hi-slide3_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/toyota-exponent-pedal-rewiring/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/03/42823-hi-slide2_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/toyota-exponent-pedal-rewiring/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/03/42823-hi-slide1_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/toyota-exponent-pedal-rewiring/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/03/42823-hi-vpa_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><br />
[Source: Toyota]<br />
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<em><strong><small>Tired of Toyota recall news? Try out the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/exclude/toyota+recall">recall-free version</a> of Autoblog.</small></strong></em><p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/08/toyota-hits-back-at-david-gilberts-no-fault-code-demonstratio/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Toyota hits back at David Gilbert's "no fault code" demonstration</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/08/toyota-hits-back-at-david-gilberts-no-fault-code-demonstratio/">Toyota hits back at David Gilbert's "no fault code" demonstration</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblog</a> on Mon, 08 Mar 2010 15:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/08/toyota-hits-back-at-david-gilberts-no-fault-code-demonstratio/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/19388129/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/08/toyota-hits-back-at-david-gilberts-no-fault-code-demonstratio/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>ABC News</category><category>AbcNews</category><category>david gilbert</category><category>DavidGilbert</category><category>exponent</category><category>toyota</category><category>toyota recall</category><category>toyota unintended acceleration</category><category>toyota unintended acceleraton</category><category>ToyotaRecall</category><category>ToyotaUnintendedAcceleration</category><category>ToyotaUnintendedAcceleraton</category><category>unintended acceleration</category><category>unintended-acceleration</category><category>UnintendedAcceleration</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Sam Abuelsamid]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 08 Mar 2010 15:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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</item><item><title><![CDATA[Edmunds pledges $1 million prize for unintended acceleration research]]></title><link>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/03/edmunds-pledges-1-million-prize-for-unintended-acceleration-res/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/03/edmunds-pledges-1-million-prize-for-unintended-acceleration-res/</guid><comments>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/03/edmunds-pledges-1-million-prize-for-unintended-acceleration-res/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/government-legal/" rel="tag">Government/Legal</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/recalls-tsbs/" rel="tag">Recalls</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/toyota/" rel="tag">Toyota</a></p><img align="right" vspace="4" hspace="0" border="0" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/03/edmundslogo.jpg"  class="right border" alt="" />If you're like us and wondering what lengths are required to get your hands on a <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/02/lamborghini-gallardo-lp570-4-superleggera-geneva-2010-live/">2011 Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera</a>, we may have the answer. All you need to do is solve the mystery of <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/make/toyota/">Toyota's</a> <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/toyota_recall/guide">unintended acceleration issues</a> and our friends over at Edmunds will give you a cool million dollars.<br />
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Edmunds CEO Jeremy Anwyl claims his company has heard "compelling testimony" from customers, and much of what's been documented (including a <a href="http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/direct/view/.f105086/0">2006 forum</a> on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/toyota/sienna">Toyota Sienna</a> unintended acceleration) hasn't been addressed by National Highway Traffic Safety Administration investigations. The online vehicle information resource site says it's coming up with rules for a competition that will earn a lucky person (or more likely a group) $1 million for determining the true cause of Toyota's unintended acceleration woes. Anwyl compares the challenge to the 'open source' software challenge, adding "let's see if this kind of 'crowd sourcing' can work in the pressing area of automotive safety."<br />
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We're thinking there are quite a few technical schools out there that may want to offer extra credit for the win. Who wouldn't want to attend the institution that solved the unintended acceleration mystery? The cool million in prize money could buy a lot of band uniforms, too. We'll bring you more details on the contest as they become available. <br />
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<em><strong><small>Tired of Toyota recall news? Try out the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/exclude/toyota+recall">recall-free version</a> of Autoblog.</small></strong></em><br />
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[Source: <a href="http://www.edmunds.com/help/about/press/161986/article.html">Edmunds</a>]<p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/03/edmunds-pledges-1-million-prize-for-unintended-acceleration-res/">Edmunds pledges $1 million prize for unintended acceleration research</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblog</a> on Wed, 03 Mar 2010 10:06:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.edmunds.com/help/about/press/161986/article.html>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/03/edmunds-pledges-1-million-prize-for-unintended-acceleration-res/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/19380555/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/03/edmunds-pledges-1-million-prize-for-unintended-acceleration-res/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>edmunds</category><category>inside line</category><category>InsideLine</category><category>million dollar prize</category><category>MillionDollarPrize</category><category>toyota unintended acceleration</category><category>ToyotaUnintendedAcceleration</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Chris Shunk]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 03 Mar 2010 10:06:00 EST</pubDate>
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</item><item><title><![CDATA[Video: Smoking Gun? ABC News expert recreates sudden acceleration without CPU error code *UPDATED w/Toyota response]]></title><link>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/22/video-smoking-gun-abc-news-expert-recreates-sudden-acceleratio/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/22/video-smoking-gun-abc-news-expert-recreates-sudden-acceleratio/</guid><comments>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/22/video-smoking-gun-abc-news-expert-recreates-sudden-acceleratio/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/recalls-tsbs/" rel="tag">Recalls</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/safety/" rel="tag">Safety</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/videos/" rel="tag">Videos</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/toyota/" rel="tag">Toyota</a></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/22/video-smoking-gun-abc-news-expert-recreates-sudden-acceleratio/#continued"><img vspace="4" hspace="0" border="1" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/02/toyota-abc-cap-630op.jpg" alt="" /></a>
<div style="text-align: center;"><em><strong><small>Click above to view the video <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/22/video-smoking-gun-abc-news-expert-recreates-sudden-acceleratio/">after the jump</a></small></strong></em></div>
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Earlier today, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/22/abc-news-expert-says-electronic-design-flaw-to-blame-in-runaway/"><em>ABC News</em> released a report</a> asserting that the cause of Toyota's unintended accelerations issues might not be a faulty accelerator mechanism, but an electronic flaw in the automaker's engine control unit - something that's been suspected, although never confirmed, for some time.<br />
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David Gilbert, an automotive technology professor at Southern Illinois University and <em>ABC</em>'s primary source for the report, claims to be able to duplicate the effect by short-circuiting one of the controls, which could be caused by moisture, wear or a combination of factors in Toyota vehicles.<br />
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Although the report goes into specifics, seeing is believing, and <em>ABC News</em> has done just that, putting Brian Ross behind the wheel as Gilbert trips the switch. The results are rather shocking - particularly since the ECU doesn't record a fault. You can see it for yourself <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/22/video-smoking-gun-abc-news-expert-recreates-sudden-acceleratio/">after the jump</a>.<br />
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<strong><em>UPDATE: </em></strong><em>In response to the allegation that an electronic fault is the cause of the unintended acceleration issue, Toyota has released a statement saying that Gilbert talked with the automaker on the Feb. 16 after wiring a Toyota Tundra in a similar manner and causing the acceleration. <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/22/video-smoking-gun-abc-news-expert-recreates-sudden-acceleratio/">Make the jump</a> for the release and draw your own conclusions.</em><br />
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<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/toyota_recall/guide"><img vspace="4" hspace="0" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/02/ab-recall-banner-sm-1265124357-1266872213-1266887266.png" /></a><br />
<em><strong><small>Tired of Toyota recall news? Try out the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/exclude/toyota+recall">recall-free version</a> of Autoblog.</small></strong></em><p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/22/video-smoking-gun-abc-news-expert-recreates-sudden-acceleratio/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Video: Smoking Gun? ABC News expert recreates sudden acceleration without CPU error code *UPDATED w/Toyota response</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/22/video-smoking-gun-abc-news-expert-recreates-sudden-acceleratio/">Video: Smoking Gun? ABC News expert recreates sudden acceleration without CPU error code *UPDATED w/Toyota response</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblog</a> on Mon, 22 Feb 2010 20:56:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/22/video-smoking-gun-abc-news-expert-recreates-sudden-acceleratio/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/19368978/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/22/video-smoking-gun-abc-news-expert-recreates-sudden-acceleratio/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>abc news</category><category>AbcNews</category><category>accleration</category><category>recall</category><category>toyota</category><category>toyota recall</category><category>toyota unintended acceleration</category><category>toyota unintended acceleraton</category><category>ToyotaRecall</category><category>ToyotaUnintendedAcceleration</category><category>ToyotaUnintendedAcceleraton</category><category>UnintendedAcceleration</category><category>video</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Damon Lavrinc]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 22 Feb 2010 20:56:00 EST</pubDate>
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</item><item><title><![CDATA[ABC News: Expert says electronic design flaw to blame in runaway Toyota models]]></title><link>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/22/abc-news-expert-says-electronic-design-flaw-to-blame-in-runaway/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/22/abc-news-expert-says-electronic-design-flaw-to-blame-in-runaway/</guid><comments>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/22/abc-news-expert-says-electronic-design-flaw-to-blame-in-runaway/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/government-legal/" rel="tag">Government/Legal</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/recalls-tsbs/" rel="tag">Recalls</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/safety/" rel="tag">Safety</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/toyota/" rel="tag">Toyota</a></p><a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/expert-electronic-design-flaw-linked-runaway-toyot%20as/story?id=9909319"><img width="630" vspace="4" hspace="0" height="473" border="1" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/02/abcgilbertkane100222main.jpg" alt="" /></a>
<div style="text-align: center;"><em><strong><small>Southern Illinois University automotive technology professor David Gilbert and ABC News Brian Ross</small></strong></em></div>
<br /> While the real cause of the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/make/toyota/">Toyota</a> unintended acceleration issues are still under investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), one news outlet is reporting that they know what's behind it. <em>ABC News</em> tracked down one David Gilbert, an automotive technology professor at Southern Illinois University, who says he knows exactly what it is. According to Gilbert, it's an electronic design flaw in Toyota's 'Fail Safe' system.<br /> <br /> Gilbert says the flaw "prevents the car's onboard computer from detecting and stopping certain short circuits that can trigger sudden speed surges." <em>ABC News</em> adds, "he can recreate a short circuit in the electronic throttles of Toyotas that can create a surge of acceleration but can't be detected by Toyota's electronic sensors."<br /> <br /> Because the computers won't record an error code in this situation, Gilbert told <em>ABC</em>, "they can't activate the 'fail safe' system designed to shut down the power and put the car in the 'limp home' mode."<br /> <br /> John Hanson, a Toyota executive, answered reporters today by saying an electronic cause of the sudden acceleration issues was "extremely unlikely" and that "no actual evidence has been produced" to the contrary.<br /> <br /> This report has led safety advocate Sean Kane, of Safety Research &amp; Strategies, to bolster his claims that the electronics are the real culprit. Kane is set to testify before the House Commerce Committee on the Toyota issue on Tuesday. "The system is fallible, in fact, it's got some really troubling design strategies that are employed by Toyota that appear to be outside the norm. And their system clearly has design strategy that has a very slim margin of safety." <br /> <br /> And it looks like the House might agree with them. The <em>New York Times</em> is now reporting that leading Democrats on the House Energy and Commerce Committee said Monday that they were disturbed by the fact that, "Toyota had dismissed the notion that computer issues could be at fault for sticking accelerator pedals, relied on a flawed study to draw that conclusion and then made misleading statements on the repairs it said would fix the problem." We'll get you the results of the hearings as they come in tomorrow. <em>Thanks to everyone for the tips!</em><br /> <br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/toyota_recall/guide"><img vspace="4" hspace="0" border="1" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/02/ab-recall-banner-sm-1265124357-1266872213.png" alt="" /></a><br /> [Sources: <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/expert-electronic-design-flaw-linked-runaway-toyot%20as/story?id=9909319">ABC News</a>, <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/23/business/global/23toyota.html?hp&amp;emc=na">New York Times</a> | Image: ABC News]<p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/22/abc-news-expert-says-electronic-design-flaw-to-blame-in-runaway/">ABC News: Expert says electronic design flaw to blame in runaway Toyota models</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblog</a> on Mon, 22 Feb 2010 17:27:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/22/abc-news-expert-says-electronic-design-flaw-to-blame-in-runaway/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/19368542/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/22/abc-news-expert-says-electronic-design-flaw-to-blame-in-runaway/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>Congressional hearing</category><category>congressional hearing on toyota safety</category><category>congressional hearings</category><category>CongressionalHearing</category><category>CongressionalHearingOnToyotaSafety</category><category>CongressionalHearings</category><category>David Gilbert</category><category>DavidGilbert</category><category>House Commerce Committee</category><category>House Energy and Commerce Committee</category><category>HouseCommerceCommittee</category><category>HouseEnergyAndCommerceCommittee</category><category>toyota</category><category>toyota electronics</category><category>toyota recall</category><category>toyota unintended acceleration</category><category>ToyotaElectronics</category><category>ToyotaRecall</category><category>ToyotaUnintendedAcceleration</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Frank Filipponio]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 22 Feb 2010 17:27:00 EST</pubDate>
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</item><item><title><![CDATA[Toyota issues fresh 2010 Camry recall, reexamining Tacoma unintended acceleration as alleged death toll mounts]]></title><link>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/15/toyota-recalling-2010-camry-over-new-issue-reexamining-tacoma-u/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/15/toyota-recalling-2010-camry-over-new-issue-reexamining-tacoma-u/</guid><comments>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/15/toyota-recalling-2010-camry-over-new-issue-reexamining-tacoma-u/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/sedans/" rel="tag">Sedan</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/trucks/" rel="tag">Truck</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/recalls-tsbs/" rel="tag">Recalls</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/safety/" rel="tag">Safety</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/toyota/" rel="tag">Toyota</a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/detroit-2009-2010-toyota-camry/"><small><img vspace="4" hspace="0" border="1" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/02/2010-toyota-camry-green-detroit-630.jpg" alt="" /></small></a><em><strong><small><br />
2010 Toyota Camry - Click above for high-res image gallery</small></strong></em></div>
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With its upcoming Capitol Hill hearings only about a week away, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/make/toyota/">Toyota</a> appears to be attempting to tie up any loose ends with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The government agency has just announced a new recall for the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/toyota/camry">2010 Camry</a>, and the embattled automaker is apparently taking a second look at unintended acceleration cases with its <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/tacoma">Tacoma pickup</a> while deflecting more unintended acceleration death allegations as well.<br />
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Today, NHTSA has announced that it is recalling 7,314 four-cylinder Camry sedans because the power steering pressure hose might be "insufficient." According to the government agency's official verbiage (available after the jump), "the cap between the crimp on the pressure hose and the brake tube for the left rear brake may be insufficient," a condition that could lead to the brake tube interfering with the crimp, resulting in perforation. If said tube cracks, a brake fluid leak can occur - and we all know what can happen from there. Affected units will have their brake tubes adjusted and/or replaced as necessary.<br />
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In other Toyota/NHTSA developments, <em>Automotive News</em> reports that the Japanese automaker is re-investigating complaints of unintended acceleration in its Tacoma pickup. The renewed probe reportedly arrives on the heels of "a congressional query about the unusual number of unintended acceleration reports since 2005." The previous investigation covered some 514 reported incidents in which 2004-2008 Tacomas allegedly experienced unintended acceleration episodes that resulted in 71 accidents and 17 injuries. <br />
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Automotive News</em> notes that Toyota's previous 2008 investigation concluded with the finding that a majority of cases "are related to minor drivability issues and are not indicative of a safety-related defect." NHTSA apparently conducted its own seven-month probe into 2006-2007 Tacomas in 2008, but never took any action, noting that "the information suggesting a possible defect related to motor vehicle safety is quite limited." Just last week, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/12/toyota-recalling-8-000-2010-tacoma-4wd-pickups/">Toyota recalled 8,000 Tacomas</a> to fix an unrelated driveshaft malady.<br />
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Finally, in related Toyota safety news, the<em> Associated Press</em> reports that new complaints lodged with the federal government bring the automaker's <a href="http://www.elpasotimes.com/news/ci_14404525?source=rss">alleged sudden acceleration toll up to 34</a> since 2000. That's an increase of 13 in three weeks, with the alleged deaths stemming from nine accidents occurring between 2005 and 2010. The AP notes that between 2000 and 2009, the government had received complaints alleging 21 deaths tied to unintended acceleration in Toyota vehicles. The AP suggests that the spike in new complaint filings likely stems from "<span id="RDS-site">the heightened awareness of the massive recall among the public and underscore a flurry of lawsuits on behalf of drivers alleging deaths and injuries in Toyota crashes."</span> <em>Thanks for the tip, David!</em><br />
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<div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/detroit-2009-2010-toyota-camry">Detroit 2009: 2010 Toyota Camry</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/detroit-2009-2010-toyota-camry/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/01/00_camrydetroitab_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/detroit-2009-2010-toyota-camry/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/01/01_camrydetroitab_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/detroit-2009-2010-toyota-camry/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/01/02_camrydetroitab_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/detroit-2009-2010-toyota-camry/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/01/03_camrydetroitab_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/detroit-2009-2010-toyota-camry/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/01/04_camrydetroitab_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><br />
[Sources: <a href="http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/recalls/results.cfm?rcl_id=10V040&amp;searchtype=quicksearch&amp;summary=true&amp;refurl=email">NHTSA</a>, Associated Press (via <a href="http://www.elpasotimes.com/news/ci_14404525?source=rss">El Paso Times</a>), <a href="http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100212/OEM/100219946/1147">Automotive News</a> - subs. req.]<span id="RDS-site"><br />
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<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/toyota_recall/guide"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/02/ab-recall-banner-sm-1265124357.png" alt="" /></a><br />
<em><strong><small>Tired of Toyota recall news? Try out the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/exclude/toyota+recall">recall-free version</a> of Autoblog.</small></strong></em><br />
</span><p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/15/toyota-recalling-2010-camry-over-new-issue-reexamining-tacoma-u/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Toyota issues fresh 2010 Camry recall, reexamining Tacoma unintended acceleration as alleged death toll mounts</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/15/toyota-recalling-2010-camry-over-new-issue-reexamining-tacoma-u/">Toyota issues fresh 2010 Camry recall, reexamining Tacoma unintended acceleration as alleged death toll mounts</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblog</a> on Mon, 15 Feb 2010 13:28:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/15/toyota-recalling-2010-camry-over-new-issue-reexamining-tacoma-u/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/19358755/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/15/toyota-recalling-2010-camry-over-new-issue-reexamining-tacoma-u/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>2010 Camry</category><category>2010 Toyota Camry</category><category>2010Camry</category><category>2010ToyotaCamry</category><category>AP</category><category>Associated Press</category><category>AssociatedPress</category><category>Camry</category><category>death toll</category><category>DeathToll</category><category>NHTSA</category><category>Tacoma</category><category>toyota</category><category>Toyota Camry</category><category>toyota recall</category><category>Toyota Tacoma</category><category>toyota unintended acceleration</category><category>ToyotaCamry</category><category>ToyotaRecall</category><category>ToyotaTacoma</category><category>ToyotaUnintendedAcceleration</category><category>unintended acceleration</category><category>UnintendedAcceleration</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Chris Paukert]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 15 Feb 2010 13:28:00 EST</pubDate>
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</item><item><title><![CDATA[Report: Toyota was legally required to stop selling recalled models]]></title><link>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/01/27/report-toyota-was-legally-required-to-stop-selling-recalled-mod/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.autoblog.com/2010/01/27/report-toyota-was-legally-required-to-stop-selling-recalled-mod/</guid><comments>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/01/27/report-toyota-was-legally-required-to-stop-selling-recalled-mod/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/recalls-tsbs/" rel="tag">Recalls</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/safety/" rel="tag">Safety</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/pontiac/" rel="tag">Pontiac</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/toyota/" rel="tag">Toyota</a></p><a href="http://www.detnews.com/article/20100127/AUTO01/1270400/1148/rss25"><img vspace="4" hspace="0" border="1" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/01/gyi0059416385opt.jpg" alt="" /></a><br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/make/toyota/">Toyota</a> has quite the PR nightmare on its hands. The boiling cauldron of complaints surrounding unintended acceleration issues bubbled over this month with two separate but giant <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/25/breaking-toyota-to-recall-3-8m-vehicles-to-reshape-and-replace/">recalls</a>. The latest involves eight Toyota models that contain <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/01/21/toyota-issues-new-voluntary-recall-for-sticking-accelerator-peda/">defective accelerator pedal mechanisms</a> that could stick over time due to wear. <br /> <br /> There is no fix available for the pedal mechanisms yet and dealers have continued to sell new models affected by the recall, so Toyota announced yesterday that it's <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/01/26/breaking-toyota-temporarily-halts-sales-of-selected-models/">suspending the sale and production of these eight models</a> for the week of February 1. It was a bold move that made headlines, as Toyota stands to lose a lot of money. On the other hand, the Japanese automaker got some pats on the back for doing the right thing.<br /> <br /> Turns out, the decision to stop producing these vehicles wasn't made by Toyota alone. <em>The Detroit News</em> reports that Toyota is required by law to stop selling the vehicles since there is no fix available yet. David Strickland, the new administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, said that Toyota consulted with his agency, which informed the automaker of its obligations and it complied. That still doesn't answer why these recalled vehicles were being sold five days after the recall was announced.<br /> <br /> Nevertheless, Toyota spokesman Mike Michels is reported saying that the company's decision to stop selling the recalled vehicles was voluntary, but that they also had a legal requirement to do so. How do you voluntary do something that you're obligated to do?<br /><br />In related news, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/general+motors/">General Motors</a> has confirmed to Autoblog's sister site, AOL Autos, that it is putting a hold on all remaining <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/pontiac/vibe">Pontiac Vibe</a> sales, as the model is <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/01/25/dont-forget-me-pontiac-vibe-also-included-in-toyota-recall/">under recall for the same throttle issue</a> that afflicts its mechanical twin, the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/matrix">Toyota Matrix</a>. Fortunately for GM, there are apparently only six Vibe units left in stock nationwide as the brand's shutdown continues.<br /> <br /> <br /> <div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/toyota-sticky-pedal-recall-2-26-10">Toyota Sticky Pedal Recall - 2/26/10</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/toyota-sticky-pedal-recall-2-26-10/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/01/2-26-10-toyota-pedal-recall-_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/toyota-sticky-pedal-recall-2-26-10/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/01/2-26-10-toyota-pedal-recall--(1)_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/toyota-sticky-pedal-recall-2-26-10/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/01/2-26-10-toyota-pedal-recall--(2)_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/toyota-sticky-pedal-recall-2-26-10/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/01/2-26-10-toyota-pedal-recall--(4)_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/toyota-sticky-pedal-recall-2-26-10/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/01/2-26-10-toyota-pedal-recall--(3)_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><br /> [Sources: <a href="http://www.detnews.com/article/20100127/AUTO01/1270400/1148/rss25">The Detroit News</a>, <a href="http://autos.aol.com/article/pontiac-vibe-suspended">AOL Autos</a> | Image: David McNew/Getty]<p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/01/27/report-toyota-was-legally-required-to-stop-selling-recalled-mod/">Report: Toyota was legally required to stop selling recalled models</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblog</a> on Wed, 27 Jan 2010 12:28:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/01/27/report-toyota-was-legally-required-to-stop-selling-recalled-mod/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/19333878/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/01/27/report-toyota-was-legally-required-to-stop-selling-recalled-mod/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>2009 Pontiac Vibe</category><category>2009PontiacVibe</category><category>2010 pontiac vibe</category><category>2010 Toyota Matrix</category><category>2010PontiacVibe</category><category>2010ToyotaMatrix</category><category>matrix</category><category>Pontiac</category><category>Pontiac Vibe</category><category>PontiacVibe</category><category>recall</category><category>toyota</category><category>Toyota Matrix</category><category>toyota recall</category><category>toyota unintended acceleration</category><category>ToyotaMatrix</category><category>ToyotaRecall</category><category>ToyotaUnintendedAcceleration</category><category>unintended acceleration</category><category>UnintendedAcceleration</category><category>vibe</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[John Neff]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 27 Jan 2010 12:28:00 EST</pubDate>
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