Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Toyota sudden acceleration class action may cover 22 million owners]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/16/toyota-sudden-acceleration-class-action-may-cover-22-million-own/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/16/toyota-sudden-acceleration-class-action-may-cover-22-million-own/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/16/toyota-sudden-acceleration-class-action-may-cover-22-million-own/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Distorted Toyota logo

A total of 22.6 million current and former Toyota owners have been sent notices that they may be eligible to receive compensation from the automaker for damages related to the unintended acceleration fiasco that has dominated headlines in 2009 and 2010. The total payout may be as high as $1.63 billion, according to The Detroit News.

Steve Berman, a lawyer for the owners, calls the potential deal "a landmark, if not a record, settlement in automobile defects class action litigation in the United States." Still, there's some debate about whether or not Toyota's proposed settlement is fair, as it includes $30 million for safety research and driver education programs - in other words, Toyota seems to be suggesting that drivers need more education on how to drive their correctly working and fully functional vehicles. For those keeping track, Toyota would also be paying lawyer fees of $200 million.

A US District Judge in California is scheduled to hold a so-called "fairness hearing" on June 14 that could decide the fate of this particular settlement. Further courtroom wrangling will be required to hash out any wrongful death suits levied against Toyota stemming from unintended acceleration claims, as those are not part of this class-action suit.

Toyota sudden acceleration class action may cover 22 million owners originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 16 May 2013 09:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>class actionsudden accelerationtoyotatoyota settlementunintended accelerationThu, 16 May 2013 09:29:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20568838/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/05/16/toyota-sudden-acceleration-class-action-may-cover-22-million-own/20568838/article-detail.xml 20568838 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/toyota-distortion_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/toyota-distortion.jpg <![CDATA[Toyota responds to video of Highlander ramming house [w/video]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/18/toyota-responds-to-video-of-highlander-ramming-house-w-video/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/18/toyota-responds-to-video-of-highlander-ramming-house-w-video/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/18/toyota-responds-to-video-of-highlander-ramming-house-w-video/#commentsFiled under: , ,



There are, as they say, two sides to every story, so after we posted a video on Monday showing what an owner claimed to be a case of unintended acceleration causing her Toyota Highlander to crash into a house twice, Toyota reached out to us revealing some additional information about the incident.

Following this crash, which took place back in November, Toyota had this Highlander inspected and pulled data from its Event Data Recorder (EDR), or Black Box as we've come to call it. Not only was this the first time we've seen a claim of unintended acceleration like this caught on video, but now, also a first, we have actual data showing what the vehicle itself recorded during this frightening ordeal.

Brian Lyons, Toyota Communications Manager for Safety and Quality, first gave us some information about the Highlander in question, including the fact that it was a 2012 model. The 2012 Highlander came from the factory with a brake override system, meaning it was not part of the company's initiative in 2010 to add the system to all 2011 models. Also, after looking at the data from the EDR, he said - as many of you pointed out in the comments for the previous post - that the "brake pedal was never touched." In the video, you can see that the crossover's brake lights never come on, and the EDR's data backs this up.

The data pulled from the EDR - posted in the gallery below as two images - shows the two "events," which were recorded each time the vehicle impacted the house. In the first event, the data provided by Toyota shows that 3.6 seconds before the impact, the vehicle began to slow down before speeding up to almost 15 miles per hour as it slammed into the house. In the second event, which resulted in a more violent collision with the house, the Highlander reached speeds of almost 30 mph with the engine racing at 4,400 rpm. In both images, it shows that the brake switch was in the "OFF" position the entire time, indicating that the driver was not attempting to press the brake. We asked Toyota if a faulty brake switch would cause the data to show the brake switch "off" and not allow the brake override to operate properly, and Lyons said no. Plus, there is a hard physical connection from the brake pedal to the brakes themselves, so an electrical fault couldn't have kept them from functioning.

Here's a portion of the letter that Toyota sent to the vehicle's owner after the inspection:

Your vehicle's throttle, accelerator and related components were inspected and found operating as designed, within factory specifications. No binding or obstructions were found in the throttle components. The brake system was also inspected and no problems were found.

The video is reposted below for you to watch. We reached out to the owner of the Highlander for a comment, but have yet to receive a response.

Continue reading Toyota responds to video of Highlander ramming house [w/video]

Toyota responds to video of Highlander ramming house [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 18 Apr 2013 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2012 toyota highlanderblack boxevent data recordertoyotatoyota highlandertoyota unintended acceleratonunintended accelerationvideoThu, 18 Apr 2013 14:29:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20544602/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/04/18/toyota-responds-to-video-of-highlander-ramming-house-w-video/20544602/article-detail.xml 20544602 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/toyota-highlander-crash-video_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/toyota-highlander-crash-video.jpg <![CDATA[Watch a Toyota Highlander ram a house, twice [UPDATE]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/15/watch-a-toyota-highlander-ram-a-house-twice/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/15/watch-a-toyota-highlander-ram-a-house-twice/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/15/watch-a-toyota-highlander-ram-a-house-twice/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Toyota has had plenty of problems in recent years due to claims of unintended acceleration, and now here's a video that actually catches such a claim on video. The driver of this 2010-2013 Toyota Highlander claims that the crossover's accelerator got stuck causing the vehicle to slam into the house twice, and resulting in damage to the Highlander, the house and two vehicles inside the garage. While we don't know when this accident took place, the video was uploaded to YouTube back in January.

It is impossible to determine what actually happened in this video, but what we do know is that a security camera captures the Highlander slowly pulling into the driveway before it lunges forward slamming into the garage. With the tires squealing and metal crunching, the driver then shifts between reverse and drive a couple times causing even more property damage before spinning out in the street and finally being able to shift into Park. Scroll down to see the video for yourself. Whether unintended acceleration or driver error, this was undoubtedly a harrowing ordeal.

UPDATE from Toyota: "Toyota's technical team reviewed this incident and found the Event Data Recorder and the video itself confirm that the brakes were never pressed - as you can see, there are no brake lights in the video."

Continue reading Watch a Toyota Highlander ram a house, twice [UPDATE]

Watch a Toyota Highlander ram a house, twice [UPDATE] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 15 Apr 2013 15:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>toyotatoyota highlandertoyota unintended acceleratonunintended accelerationvideoyoutubeMon, 15 Apr 2013 15:03:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20541480/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/04/15/watch-a-toyota-highlander-ram-a-house-twice/20541480/article-detail.xml 20541480 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/toyota-highlander-crash-video_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/toyota-highlander-crash-video.jpg <![CDATA[Toyota unintended acceleration lawsuit settled for $16M]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/08/toyota-unintended-acceleration-lawsuit-settled-for-16m/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/08/toyota-unintended-acceleration-lawsuit-settled-for-16m/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/08/toyota-unintended-acceleration-lawsuit-settled-for-16m/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Slowly, the many loose threads still dangling after the unintended acceleration issue Toyota faced a few years ago are being resolved. The Orange County District Attorney's office was believed to be the first DA's office to take Toyota to court, its suit alleging that Toyota knew its cars had defects and continued to sell them. The suit sought to "permanently enjoin Toyota from continued unlawful, unfair, deceptive, and fraudulent business practices as it pertains to both consumers and competitors" and asked for $2,500 "for every violation of the Unfair Business Practices Act," plus costs.

That suit has now been settled, Toyota - without admitting fault or wrongdoing - agreeing to pay $16 million to the county. Half of the money will go to the Orange County Gang Reduction Intervention Partnership, another four million dollars to the OC DA's office to investigate economic crime, the remaining four million being used to pay for the case.

Toyota unintended acceleration lawsuit settled for $16M originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 08 Apr 2013 16:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>californiacourtlawsuitlegalorange countytony rackauckastoyotatoyota unintended acceleratonunintended accelerationMon, 08 Apr 2013 16:31:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20533133/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/04/08/toyota-unintended-acceleration-lawsuit-settled-for-16m/20533133/article-detail.xml 20533133 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/03/gyi0059502379opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/03/gyi0059502379opt.jpg <![CDATA[NHTSA considering senior citizen crash test ratings for cars]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/05/nhtsa-considering-senior-citizen-crash-test-ratings-for-cars/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/05/nhtsa-considering-senior-citizen-crash-test-ratings-for-cars/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/05/nhtsa-considering-senior-citizen-crash-test-ratings-for-cars/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Elderly female driver

As part of its ongoing effort to make vehicles as safe as possible, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is reportedly looking into creating a new crash-test rating system for cars which includes introducing a "Silver" rating to indicate added safety for senior drivers. Automotive News reports that NHTSA Administrator David Strickland says the agency is trying to find a way to make cars safer for senior citizens and it's also seeking a way to incorporate crash-prevention technology into its coveted five-star safety rating.

To protect senior drivers, NHTSA's Silver rating may focus on cars that offer inflatable seat belts or even introduce new technologies that help prevent unintended acceleration as a result of the driver accidently hitting the wrong pedal. Strickland also says existing crash-prevention technologies (such as forward collision warning and lane departure prevention) could work their way into the rating system for new vehicles. This all comes just days after another NHTSA-related report where the agency is apparently trying to come up with ways to fast-track "noncontroversial" rules and regulations.

NHTSA considering senior citizen crash test ratings for cars originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 05 Apr 2013 11:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>crash testcrash-prevention technologyelderlynational highway traffic safety administrationnhtsapensionerssenior citizensenior citizenssenior driversseniorsunintended accelerationFri, 05 Apr 2013 11:28:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20530810/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/04/05/nhtsa-considering-senior-citizen-crash-test-ratings-for-cars/20530810/article-detail.xml 20530810 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/elderly-female-driver_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/elderly-female-driver.jpg <![CDATA[Ford faces class-action lawsuit for selling vehicles without brake override systems]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/29/ford-faces-class-action-lawsuit-for-selling-vehicles-without-bra/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/29/ford-faces-class-action-lawsuit-for-selling-vehicles-without-bra/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/29/ford-faces-class-action-lawsuit-for-selling-vehicles-without-bra/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Ford emblem with water droplets

A total of 20 Ford customers are suing the automaker in a class-action lawsuit for selling vehicles "vulnerable to unintended acceleration." According to Reuters, the suit names 30 models built between 2002 and 2010 with electronic throttle control systems but without a brake override system. Those include the 2004-2012 F-Series pickups and the 2005-2009 Lincoln Town Car. Adam Levitt, a partner with the law firm of Grant & Eisenhofer says the plaintiffs in the case want "to be compensated for their economic losses by having overpaid for cars that contained defects." Levitt contends that the plaintiffs would not have bought their vehicles or paid less for them had they known there was no brake override system in place.

Ford began installing brake override systems in its vehicles beginning in 2010. In response to the lawsuit, Ford has pointed to research by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that indicated that unintended acceleration is mostly caused by driver error, saying in a statement that, "NHTSA's work is far more scientific and trustworthy than work done by personal injury lawyers and their paid experts."

Belville et al v. Ford Motor Co. will be heard in US District Court in the Southern District of West Virginia.

Ford faces class-action lawsuit for selling vehicles without brake override systems originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 29 Mar 2013 13:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brake overrideclass-actionfordford f-150ford f-seriesford lawsuitgrant and eisenhoferlawsuitlincolnlincoln town carsudden accelerationunintended accelerationFri, 29 Mar 2013 13:31:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20523185/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/03/29/ford-faces-class-action-lawsuit-for-selling-vehicles-without-bra/20523185/article-detail.xml 20523185 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/ford-emblem-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/ford-emblem-628.jpg <![CDATA[Hyundai Elantra's alleged unintended acceleration sends teen, police on a 113-mile ride]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/22/hyundai-elantras-alleged-unintended-acceleration-sends-teen-po/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/22/hyundai-elantras-alleged-unintended-acceleration-sends-teen-po/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/22/hyundai-elantras-alleged-unintended-acceleration-sends-teen-po/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Runaway Hyundai Elantra

Back in December, one North Texas teenager received a quick lesson in car control at the hands of his 2011 Hyundai Elantra. Elez Lushaj called police, after he says his car accelerated to nearly 120 mph on Highway 183 unintentionally. Dispatchers urged the 16-year-old driver to try everything from turning the car off to standing on the brakes and putting the car in neutral, but Lushaj told them nothing was working. Flummoxed, police simply did their best to warn traffic away from the speeding compact with the hope that the car would eventually run out of fuel.

Before that could happen, Lushaj lost control on Interstate 30 after some 90 minutes as he attempted to avoid a semi truck. The Elantra rolled four times, leaving the driver conscious but with several broken bones. Police commended Lushaj for keeping the car on the road and away from population centers for as long as he did.

Hyundai, meanwhile, said that it hasn't heard anything on the case. Spokesperson Jim Trainor reported to WFAA that it was "extremely unlikely for simultaneous and spontaneous total system failures for the brakes, accelerator and transmission to occur at the same time" and notes that Hyundai would like to investigate, but this is the first they've heard of Lushaj's wild ride. You can watch a local news report on the incident below for more information.

Continue reading Hyundai Elantra's alleged unintended acceleration sends teen, police on a 113-mile ride

Hyundai Elantra's alleged unintended acceleration sends teen, police on a 113-mile ride originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 22 Feb 2013 09:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>elantrahyundairunaway hyundairunaway hyundai elantrasudden accelerationunintended accelerationvideoFri, 22 Feb 2013 09:15:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20473346/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/02/22/hyundai-elantras-alleged-unintended-acceleration-sends-teen-po/20473346/article-detail.xml 20473346 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/runaway-hyundai-elantra-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/runaway-hyundai-elantra-628.jpg <![CDATA[Toyota settles complaints with states Attorneys General for $29 million]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/14/toyota-settles-complaints-with-states-attorneys-general-for-29/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/14/toyota-settles-complaints-with-states-attorneys-general-for-29/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/14/toyota-settles-complaints-with-states-attorneys-general-for-29/#commentsFiled under: ,



Toyota announced today that it has reached a settlement with the Attorneys General of 29 states and one US territory that will resolve their complaints relating to recalls performed by the automaker from 2005-2010, including those related to sticky accelerators and malfunctioning floor mats that may have contributed to cases of unintended acceleration.

The settlement includes a payout of $29 million to be divided among the states and US territory, as well as a commitment from Toyota "to take steps to make vehicle information more easily accessible to consumers to help them operate their vehicles safely and make more informed choices." The settlement also has Toyota continuing its rapid-response service teams and quality field offices that were put in place shortly after the largest of the recalls from 2010, as well as a "range of customer care amenities for owners of vehicles subject to certain recalls," though the press release below isn't specific about what those amenities might be.

This settlement marks the second major step in the last few months that Toyota has taken to settle legal disputes surrounding the unintended acceleration recalls, the first being a $1.4 billion settlement to address economic loss suffered by owners of current and past Toyota vehicles that may have lost value on account of these recalls.

Continue reading Toyota settles complaints with states Attorneys General for $29 million

Toyota settles complaints with states Attorneys General for $29 million originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 14 Feb 2013 17:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>attorney generalattorneys generalfloor matslawsuitsettlementsticky acceleratorssudden accelerationsudden unintended accelerationtoyotaunintended accelerationus territoryThu, 14 Feb 2013 17:43:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20462636/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/02/14/toyota-settles-complaints-with-states-attorneys-general-for-29/20462636/article-detail.xml 20462636 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/715695761-opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/715695761-opt.jpg <![CDATA[Toyota settles first wrongful death suit related to unintended acceleration]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/21/toyota-settles-first-wrongful-death-suit-related-to-unintended-a/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/21/toyota-settles-first-wrongful-death-suit-related-to-unintended-a/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/21/toyota-settles-first-wrongful-death-suit-related-to-unintended-a/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Toyota emblem

Toyota's sales seem to have rebounded from the unintended acceleration issues from 2009 and 2010, but the automaker is far from done dealing with this situation. Following a settlement worth up to $1.4 billion for economic loss to affected vehicle owners, Toyota has settled rather than going to trial in a wrongful death lawsuit stemming from an accident in Utah in 2010 that left two passengers dead. This isn't the first case in which Toyota has settled, but it was the first among a consolidated group of cases being held in Santa Ana, CA.

According to The Detroit News, this case was scheduled to take place next month, and it was for a November 2010 incident in which Paul Van Alfen and Charlene James Lloyd were killed in a Camry when, based on findings by the Utah Highway Patrol, the accelerator got stuck causing the car to speed out of control and hit a wall; the terms of the settlement were not announced.

The article says that while Toyota will settle on some cases, it doesn't plan on settling on all of them as it still wants to be able to "defend [its] product at trial." This will probably be the case in suits claiming that software for the drive-by-wire accelerator was the cause of an accident in a Toyota or Lexus vehicle. The question of whether or not the electronic accelerator played any role in this problem has been a hot-button topic since the beginning. Toyota has issued recalls in the past to attempt to prevent unintended acceleration caused by trapped floor mats and faulty accelerator pedals, but it also says driver error was to blame in some instances.

Toyota settles first wrongful death suit related to unintended acceleration originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 21 Jan 2013 09:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>lexuspedal entrapmentstuck acceleratortoyotatoyota lawsuittoyota settlementunintended accelerationwrongful death lawsuitMon, 21 Jan 2013 09:57:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20433065/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/01/21/toyota-settles-first-wrongful-death-suit-related-to-unintended-a/20433065/article-detail.xml 20433065 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/12/toyota-logo_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/12/toyota-logo.jpg <![CDATA[Why everyone loses but the lawyers in Toyota's unintended acceleration settlement]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/31/why-everyone-loses-but-the-lawyers-in-toyotas-unintended-accele/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/31/why-everyone-loses-but-the-lawyers-in-toyotas-unintended-accele/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/31/why-everyone-loses-but-the-lawyers-in-toyotas-unintended-accele/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

2010 Toyota Camry undergoing recall repair

The Toyota settlement recently submitted to US District Judge James Selna for approval will cost the company anywhere from $1 billion to $1.4 billion. All to settle the class-action suit brought against it for economic losses stemming from claims of unintended acceleration. This suit only addresses the perceived loss-of-value that Toyota owners and lessees feel they have suffered, alleging their cars were the victims of unintended depreciation even if they did not directly suffer from the alleged cases of unintended/sudden acceleration. This is a separate case than the wrongful death suits brought about by the unintended acceleration brouhaha.

When the settlement was announced, this was the overview of its payouts:
  • Toyota will install brake override systems in all 3.25 million vehicles subjected to the floor mat entrapment recall.
  • Another fund of $250 million will compensate current owners whose vehicles are not eligible for the free brake override system.
  • A fund of $250 million will compensate former Toyota owners who sold their cars from September 1, 2009 through December 31, 2010 for lost value.
  • Education grants valued at $30 million will be made to independent academic institutions to further study auto safety and enhance driver education.
  • All 16 million current Toyota owners will be eligible for a customer care plan that warrants certain parts allegedly related to unintended acceleration for three to 10 years.
Car and Driver attempts to break down where all that largesse is going, and who's going to get large off of it. We'll start from the top. Having something like three million cars run through service departments to have brake override systems fitted with Toyota stumping up the cash, is probably a win for dealerships and suppliers and even Toyota, obliquely, according to the report. The $250-million fund to reimburse owners whose cars can't be fitted with brake override systems will see each owner get a check for anywhere from $37.50 to $125 depending on the specifics of the model in question. Nobody wins that one.

The $250 million earmarked to compensate owners and lessees for lost value might end up being disbursed to millions of people and institutions, with estimates for individual payouts being from "hundreds of dollars to over a thousand dollars." The paucity of the payout doesn't just reflect the number of payees, it also reflects the near impossibility of an owner being able to determine and prove having suffered a specific amount of financial pain beyond standard depreciation. If anyone gets a trophy from that one, Car and Driver figures it's large used car dealers who moved a lot of Toyota metal during the time span.

$200 million is going to the 85 attorneys at 25 law firms for fees, plus another potential $27 million for their expenses.

Of the $30 million allotted for studies, up to $15 million will go to university studies of safety technology, another $800,000 going specifically to a university that will study "critical gaps in awareness and practice regarding defensive driving skills" including "driver pedal misapplication." The results from that study will be broadcast to the nation via a public safety campaign that will use some portion of the leftover $14.2 million dollars. Obviously, universities and advertising media make out all right with this, and hey, maybe we can all benefit from more research into safety technology.

The reporting doesn't address the extended customer care plan, but since the causes of alleged unintended acceleration haven't gone beyond suppositions of floor mats and pedal misapplication, and since the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and NASA cleared the vehicles of any defects causative of unintended acceleration, good luck getting that warranty honored. Unless you need new floor mats in 2022.

That gets us up to a potential spend of $530 million so far, plus the cost of the brake override fitment. On top of that is another $200 million going to the 85 attorneys at 25 law firms for fees, plus another potential $27 million for their expenses. If the two hundred mil were split evenly among the 85 (it won't be - it will be disbursed to each according to their effort), that would make each advocate worth more than $2.35 million. And that's before expenses. It's pretty clear who wins that one, isn't it?

And assuming the settlement is approved by the judge, you'd have to figure Toyota wins. The company is about to be declared the largest automaker in the world again and it's predicting record sales for 2013. It could enter 2013 with this part of the ugly episode behind it and using money that has been saved just for the purpose. Not only that, the proposed settlement is less money than outsiders were expecting - word of the estimates actually sent Toyota's stock price up. So some things, like a few lawyers' bonuses, would change, otherwise much has remained just the same...

Why everyone loses but the lawyers in Toyota's unintended acceleration settlement originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 31 Dec 2012 17:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>camryhagens bermanjames selnalawsuitnhtsasettlementsudden accelerationtoyotatoyota lawsuittoyota safetytoyota settlementunintended accelerationMon, 31 Dec 2012 17:29:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20414043/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/12/31/why-everyone-loses-but-the-lawyers-in-toyotas-unintended-accele/20414043/article-detail.xml 20414043 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/12/2010-toyota-camry-recall-repair_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/12/2010-toyota-camry-recall-repair.jpg <![CDATA[Toyota shares rise on smaller-than-expected settlement news]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/27/toyota-shares-rise-on-smaller-than-expected-settlement-news/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/27/toyota-shares-rise-on-smaller-than-expected-settlement-news/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/27/toyota-shares-rise-on-smaller-than-expected-settlement-news/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Toyota emblem

Following news that Toyota has proposed a massive settlement to address the owners of vehicles effected by the unintended acceleration recall, shares for the automaker are up 2.6 percent. Over the course of this year, Toyota's stock has jumped 51.7 percent.

"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 Automotive News. 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.

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.

Toyota shares rise on smaller-than-expected settlement news originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 27 Dec 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>National Highway Traffic Safety Administrationnhtsasettlementtoyotatoyota lawsuittoyota settlementtoyota unintended accelerationunintended accelerationThu, 27 Dec 2012 18:00:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20411961/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/12/27/toyota-shares-rise-on-smaller-than-expected-settlement-news/20411961/article-detail.xml 20411961 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/12/toyota-badge_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/12/toyota-badge.jpg <![CDATA[Toyota proposes economic loss settlement worth up to $1.4 billion over unintended acceleration claims]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/26/toyota-proposes-economic-loss-settlement-worth-up-to-1-4-billio/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/26/toyota-proposes-economic-loss-settlement-worth-up-to-1-4-billio/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/26/toyota-proposes-economic-loss-settlement-worth-up-to-1-4-billio/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



Toyota announced a proposal today worth over a billion dollars to settle civil claims of economic loss related to alleged cases of sudden unintended acceleration in its vehicles from 2009-2010. Estimates place the cost of the settlement between $1.1 billion and $1.4 billion, which would, according to lawyers for the plaintiffs, make it the largest of its type in US history.

US District Judge James Selna, who is presiding over the case in California, will review Toyota's settlement proposal as early as Friday.

The details of the settlement, as given by Toyota in an official statement and obtained from a press release issued by lawyers for the plaintiffs, are as follows.
  • Toyota will install brake override systems in all 3.25 million vehicles subjected to the floor mat entrapment recall.
  • A fund of $250 million will compensate former Toyota owners who sold their cars from September 1, 2009 through December 31, 2010 for lost value.
  • Another fund of $250 million will compensate current owners whose vehicles are not eligible for the free brake override system.
  • All 16 million current Toyota owners will be eligible for a customer care plan that warrants certain parts allegedly related to unintended acceleration for three to 10 years.
  • Education grants valued at $30 million will be made to independent academic institutions to further study auto safety and enhance driver education.
As mentioned above, the settlement relates only to claims of economic loss, and thus does not cover wrongful death claims, the first trail for which is slated to begin in February 2013.

Also worth noting is that investigations by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and NASA engineers concluded that electronics were not at fault in reports of unintended acceleration in Toyota vehicles, leaving only either those faulty floor mats or driver error as likely causes. Feel free to read through the entire press release below.

Continue reading Toyota proposes economic loss settlement worth up to $1.4 billion over unintended acceleration claims

Toyota proposes economic loss settlement worth up to $1.4 billion over unintended acceleration claims originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 26 Dec 2012 23:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>californiahagens bermanjames selnalawsuitsettlementsudden unintended accelerationtoyotatoyota lawsuittoyota settlementunintended accelerationWed, 26 Dec 2012 23:15:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20411739/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/12/26/toyota-proposes-economic-loss-settlement-worth-up-to-1-4-billio/20411739/article-detail.xml 20411739 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/12/toyotalawsuit-opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/12/toyotalawsuit-opt.jpg <![CDATA[NHTSA upgrades Ford floor mat unintended acceleration probe]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/17/nhtsa-upgrades-ford-floor-mat-unintended-acceleration-probe/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/17/nhtsa-upgrades-ford-floor-mat-unintended-acceleration-probe/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/17/nhtsa-upgrades-ford-floor-mat-unintended-acceleration-probe/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Ford badge

According to a Bloomberg report, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has upgraded an investigation into complaints of unintended acceleration lodged against Ford vehicles. The investigation began in June of 2010 when just three complaints had been received and it only concerned the Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan, but this was at a time when the phrase "unintended acceleration" made grown men go pale. With 49 additional complaints received since then, the investigation has been reclassified as an engineering analysis - the last phase before a recall - and it has been expanded to include the Lincoln MKZ, making for a total of "around 480,000" units affected between the three sedans from the 2008 to 2010 model years.

The ostensible cause is that floor mats are trapping the accelerator pedal, but according to a Ford statement at the time, the entrapment is due to owners placing the optional all-weather floor mats, or aftermarket floor mats, on top of the car's standard floor mats. NHTSA has backed up that assessment, pinning the blame on "unsecured or double stacked floor mats."

On the face of it, it would appear that NHTSA has upgraded the status not because of Ford's error, but owner error, and Ford has stated publicly that it is "disappointed" in NHTSA's move. On top of NHTSA still being skittish after that other unintended acceleration debacle, it could be seen to be taking its time investigating all of the variables: it's reported that Ford changed its accelerator pedal design in 2010, a "heel blocker" in the floorpan has been considered a potential culprit in how the floor mats could be trapping the pedal, some drivers have said the floor mats weren't anywhere near the pedal, and according to a report in the LA Times, in "a letter sent by Ford to NHTSA in August 2010, the automaker said it found three injuries and one fatality that 'may have resulted from the alleged defect.'"

If that last part is true, that's strange enough by itself; in June 2010 there were apparently only three complaints in total, but two months later Ford was supposedly saying there might - let's emphasize might - be three injuries and a death involved. This sounds like the kind of thing that could take a while to sort out. Ford has said it is cooperating fully with the investigation.

NHTSA upgrades Ford floor mat unintended acceleration probe originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 17 Dec 2012 08:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>engineering analysisfordfusioninvestigationlincolnmercurymilanmkzNational Highway Traffic Safety Administrationnhtsaunintended accelerationMon, 17 Dec 2012 08:27:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20404352/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/12/17/nhtsa-upgrades-ford-floor-mat-unintended-acceleration-probe/20404352/article-detail.xml 20404352 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/12/ford-badge_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/12/ford-badge.jpg <![CDATA[Toyota introduces new technologies to curb unintended acceleration]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/19/toyota-introduces-new-technologies-to-curb-unintended-accelerati/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/19/toyota-introduces-new-technologies-to-curb-unintended-accelerati/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/19/toyota-introduces-new-technologies-to-curb-unintended-accelerati/#commentsFiled under: , ,



In recent years, Toyota vehicles have been involved in a number high-profile accidents blamed on "unintended acceleration." And whether the root cause of these incidents boils down to driver error or faulty mechanicals, Toyota is working to address the issue.

One of two new systems in development at Toyota goes by the name of Intelligent Clearance Sonar. The technology is meant to reduce parking lot collisions by detecting objects out of the driver's sight. If an imminent collision is detected, the ICS system will automatically hit the brakes, reduce engine power and sound an alarm.

Toyota's other new safety system is Drive-Start Control. According to the automaker, if the system senses that the wrong gear has been selected from Park while the driver is pressing on the accelerator, a warning is flashed on the dashboard and engine output is reduced "to limit a sudden start or acceleration." There are a number of scenarios where the system might kick in - for example, if a driver bumps into something while reversing, panics and shifts into a forward gear without letting up on the accelerator, DSC would take over.

While such research is commendable, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has called for making such systems mandatory in coming years. And more and more automakers are investigating and/or committing to developing electronic failsafes to deal with unintended acceleration. Last month, Nissan announced a camera-based system designed to curb pedal misapplication.

Toyota says the systems will be available on future vehicles soon, a development that could give it a leg up on the competition if/when new federal rules are approved. Check out the official press release below.

Continue reading Toyota introduces new technologies to curb unintended acceleration

Toyota introduces new technologies to curb unintended acceleration originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 19 Nov 2012 17:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>drive start controlintelligent clearance sonarpedal misapplicationsudden accelerationtoyotaunintended accelerationMon, 19 Nov 2012 17:59:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20383457/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/11/19/toyota-introduces-new-technologies-to-curb-unintended-accelerati/20383457/article-detail.xml 20383457 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/11/toyota-its-indicator-opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/11/toyota-its-indicator-opt.jpg <![CDATA[Toyota to settle $25.5M US investor lawsuit over unintended acceleration fallout]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/14/toyota-to-settle-25-5m-us-investor-lawsuit-over-unintended-acce/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/14/toyota-to-settle-25-5m-us-investor-lawsuit-over-unintended-acce/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/14/toyota-to-settle-25-5m-us-investor-lawsuit-over-unintended-acce/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Toyota Motor Corp. has decided to settle a shareholder class action lawsuit for $25.5 million. The suit began in early 2010 after reports of accidents attributed to unintended acceleration cropped up. The class action accused Toyota of improperly disclosing "safety and quality issues" related to those reports.

The company later recalled as many as 10 million Toyota and Lexus vehicles in a program estimated to cost $5 billion. The public relations fallout dragged down the company's stock value by $30 billion.

The Maryland State Retirement and Pension System, a member of the lawsuit class, had previously estimated a successful trial could have ended with as much as a $124 million payout.

If you hold Toyota stock, though, don't start spending your winnings just yet. First, common stockholders were disqualified from the suit in 2011. Only claims by investors in Toyota's American Depository Shares are covered. Second, the settlement is only a proposal for now and must still be approved by US District Judge Dale Fischer.

A Toyota spokesman said in a statement that the company is "pleased to be turning the page on this legacy legal issue." The plaintiffs' counsel declined comment.

Toyota to settle $25.5M US investor lawsuit over unintended acceleration fallout originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 14 Nov 2012 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>class actionlawsuitmaryland state retirement and pensionsudden accelerationtoyotatoyota safetyunintended accelerationWed, 14 Nov 2012 14:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20379825/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/11/14/toyota-to-settle-25-5m-us-investor-lawsuit-over-unintended-acce/20379825/article-detail.xml 20379825 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/01/toyota-250-1295878347_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/01/toyota-250-1295878347.jpg <![CDATA[Nissan reveals camera-guided pedal misapplication prevention technology [w/video]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/15/nissan-reveals-camera-guided-pedal-misapplication-prevention-tec/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/15/nissan-reveals-camera-guided-pedal-misapplication-prevention-tec/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/15/nissan-reveals-camera-guided-pedal-misapplication-prevention-tec/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Nissan Emergency Assist for Pedal Misapplication diagram

Nissan has created a new system to help reduce the likelihood of pedal misapplication. Called the Emergency Assist for Pedal Misapplication with Carpark Detection Function (catchy, huh?), the technology uses a version of the company's ingenious Around View monitor to detect if the vehicle is in a parking space. If so and there are solid object such as other vehicles or walls near by, the vehicle's cameras will automatically control acceleration and apply the brakes to prevent a collision if inappropriate throttle use is detected. Nissan showed a similar - and presumably related - technology last year dubbed Acceleration Suppression For Pedal Misapplication, but the Elgrand figures to be the first production application of this unintended-acceleration-combating technology. Currently, the technology is slated to debut on an updated version of the Nissan Elgrand minivan in Japan.

We wouldn't be surprised to see the system show up in other markets and on other members of the family soon, including the company's gadget-happy Infiniti line. Nissan says Emergency Assist for Pedal Misapplication is part of the company's Vision Zero goal, which aims to reduce traffic deaths by countering threats at every stage of a potential accident. For more information, scroll down to watch a video showing Acceleration Suppression For Pedal Misapplication in action, and while you're there, check out the press release.

Continue reading Nissan reveals camera-guided pedal misapplication prevention technology [w/video]

Nissan reveals camera-guided pedal misapplication prevention technology [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 15 Oct 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>around view monitorcarpark detection functionelgrandemergency assist for pedal misapplicationnissannissan elgrandpedal misapplicationsudden accelerationunintended accelerationvideovision zeroMon, 15 Oct 2012 19:00:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20350167/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/10/15/nissan-reveals-camera-guided-pedal-misapplication-prevention-tec/20350167/article-detail.xml 20350167 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/10/emergency-assist-628-1350313417_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/10/emergency-assist-628-1350313417.jpg <![CDATA[Surveillance camera shows Mercedes driver parking fail]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/02/surveillance-camera-shows-mercedes-driver-parking-fail/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/02/surveillance-camera-shows-mercedes-driver-parking-fail/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/02/surveillance-camera-shows-mercedes-driver-parking-fail/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Mercedes-Benz E-Class owner has costly parking issue caught on security camera

It's happened to you or someone you know: You think your car is in Park and begin to exit your vehicle, and then it starts to roll. Now, most drivers catch themselves that moment, step on the brakes, throw the gearshift into Park and wait for their heart rate to come back down. This was not one of those times.

In this case, a Mercedes-Benz E-Class is the unfortunate vehicle involved caught on a security camera, and its operator thinks that the car is in Park or that the emergency brake is engaged. We won't even talk about the fact that the driver nearly drags the car along a cement wall while backing it out, but it it appears to come to a stop on the entrance to the street. When the driver gets out to pick something up in the driveway, the luxury sedan starts to crawl forward thanks to gravity, and unfortunately for the driver, it's aimed directly at her.

The driver initially manages to avoid being run over by her own Mercedes-Benz, but in the process of attempting to recover, things get... worse. We'll keep the conclusion a surprise until you check out the video below.

While you may not go to hell for muffling a chuckle in response to this video, we feel bad for the victim here. There is no description for this video, so we cannot confirm if she was badly hurt, but hopefully not. And we can't help but sympathize a little - we've always felt that Benz's newer column-mounted electronic gear selector (with its "P" button on the end of the stalk) can be a bit fiddly. Clearly, it takes some practice.

Continue reading Surveillance camera shows Mercedes driver parking fail

Surveillance camera shows Mercedes driver parking fail originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 02 Oct 2012 09:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2013 mercedes-benz e-classdriving faile-classfailmercedes-benzparking brakerunaway carsecurity camerasecurity videounintended accelerationvideoTue, 02 Oct 2012 09:31:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20334861/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/10/02/surveillance-camera-shows-mercedes-driver-parking-fail/20334861/article-detail.xml 20334861 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/09/mercfail_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/09/mercfail.jpg <![CDATA[Police cams capture woman's 119-mph stuck accelerator run [w/video]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/27/police-cams-capture-womans-119-mph-stuck-accelerator-run-w-vid/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/27/police-cams-capture-womans-119-mph-stuck-accelerator-run-w-vid/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/27/police-cams-capture-womans-119-mph-stuck-accelerator-run-w-vid/#commentsFiled under: , ,

2011 Kia Sorento runaway car dashcam still

Police car dashboard cameras have provided plenty of footage over the years of criminals attempting to evade police or horrific car accidents, but Lauri Ulvestad wasn't the former and some inspired - if not lucky - driving prevented the latter. Ulvestad, 47, of Ames, Iowa, experienced a stuck accelerator while driving her 2011 Kia Sorento along Interstate 35 in Missouri, and while she was able to call police to help clear traffic in front of her, it was her miraculous driving that ultimately ended the day with not so much as a scratch on her crossover.

The dash cam footage of a Missouri State Highway Patrol officer shows Ulvestad at speeds of well over 100 miles per hour swerving around cars and even using the median to avoid a collision. Ulvestad's Sorento was equipped with a keyless, pushbutton starter that she was unable to turn off, and according to the phone recording with a 911 operator, she was also unable to get the car to decelerate or shift the vehicle into neutral. After the 59-mile ordeal that lasted for about 35 minutes, police finally told her to try pulling back on the accelerator while hitting the brakes. This worked, and her Sorento came to a stop on the shoulder, leading some to suggest that accelerator entrapment (i.e. a floor mat wedged under the gas pedal) was to blame rather than a computer-related unintended acceleration. It has been reported that Kia is investigating what caused the problem, but it is just amazing that nobody was injured during the course of this event.

For vehicles with pushbutton starters, most can still be shut off by pressing and holding the starter button for a few seconds. This combined with shifting to neutral and applying the parking/emergency brake can usually help bring an out-of-control vehicle safely to a stop.

Scroll down to see the dash cam footage of Ulvestad's frightening incident.

Continue reading Police cams capture woman's 119-mph stuck accelerator run [w/video]

Police cams capture woman's 119-mph stuck accelerator run [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 27 Aug 2012 16:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2011 kia sorentoaccelerator entrapmentdash camdashcamkialauri ulvestadmissouri state kighway patrolsorentostuck acceleratorunintended accelerationMon, 27 Aug 2012 16:57:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20309982/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/08/27/police-cams-capture-womans-119-mph-stuck-accelerator-run-w-vid/20309982/article-detail.xml 20309982 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/08/runaway-kia-sorento_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/08/runaway-kia-sorento.jpg <![CDATA[Mercedes-Benz M-Class being recalled due to possible accelerator entrapment]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/13/mercedes-benz-m-class-being-recalled-due-to-possible-accelerator/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/13/mercedes-benz-m-class-being-recalled-due-to-possible-accelerator/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/13/mercedes-benz-m-class-being-recalled-due-to-possible-accelerator/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Floor mats impeding gas pedals are continuing to cause problems for automakers. This time its Mercedes-Benz.

According to The Detroit News, the German automaker is recalling all-season accessory floor mats on 2012 and 2013 M-Class models for fear that the mat could entrap the go-pedal.

Mercedes-Benz filed this recall with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, possibly effecting 8,675 in the United States. According to a Mercedes-Benz spokesperson, the floor mats "may not conform to the contours of the floor." This could result in the gas pedal being pressed, and not coming back up, resulting in the car continuing to accelerate. Mercedes has recommended that all M-Class owners remove the floor mats for the time being.

The luxury automaker will notify owners of effected vehicles and have dealers replace the mats free of charge. Mercedes-Benz vehicles currently incorporated brake-override systems that nix the gas pedal inputs when both the accelerator and brake are applied simultaneously.

Mercedes-Benz M-Class being recalled due to possible accelerator entrapment originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 13 Aug 2012 17:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2013 mercedes-benz mlfloor matsmercedes recallmercedes-benzmltoyota recallunintended accelerationMon, 13 Aug 2012 17:29:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20299313/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/08/13/mercedes-benz-m-class-being-recalled-due-to-possible-accelerator/20299313/article-detail.xml 20299313 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/08/01-2012-mercedes-benz-ml350-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/08/01-2012-mercedes-benz-ml350-628.jpg <![CDATA[NHTSA head Strickland defends Toyota unintended acceleration probe]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/07/28/nhtsa-head-strickland-defends-toyota-unintended-acceleration-pro/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/07/28/nhtsa-head-strickland-defends-toyota-unintended-acceleration-pro/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/07/28/nhtsa-head-strickland-defends-toyota-unintended-acceleration-pro/#commentsFiled under: , ,

NHTSA Administrator David StricklandNational Highway Traffic Safety Administration Administrator David Strickland has released a letter defending the agency's handling of investigations into claims of unintended acceleration by Toyota owners. Republican Senator Charles Grassley has said questions remain about what caused unintended acceleration instances in the Japanese manufacturer's vehicles, specifically whether or not the trouble was caused by electronic glitches. Grassley specifically questioned whether NHTSA had the experience necessary to diagnose the defect. The senator also wondered why NHTSA investigators called in NASA scientists for assistance during the investigation.

Strickland, meanwhile, has responded by saying NHTSA did, in fact, have the requisite experience and that NASA was called upon for a second opinion. The administrator underscored the fact that neither NHTSA nor NASA could find an electronic reason for the claims of unintended acceleration. As you may recall, the government agency concluded in early 2011 that faulty gas pedals and floor mats were to blame for the runaway syndrome.

According to The Washington Post, Grassley's letter stemmed from tips from whistleblowers who claim the runaway vehicles were actually caused by errant strands of solder within the pedal assembly itself. Those strands could reportedly cause shorts within the system.

Strickland responded by saying NHTSA investigated the solder issue, otherwise known as "tin whiskers," and found the issue to cause no more than a jumpy throttle, a stance Toyota agrees with.

NHTSA head Strickland defends Toyota unintended acceleration probe originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 28 Jul 2012 18:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>david stricklandnational highway traffic safety administrationnhtsasudden accelerationtoyotatoyota unintended acceleratonunintended accelerationSat, 28 Jul 2012 18:56:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20288273/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/07/28/nhtsa-head-strickland-defends-toyota-unintended-acceleration-pro/20288273/article-detail.xml 20288273 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/07/david-strickland-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/07/david-strickland-628.jpg -1 2