Toyota's Cover Up of the Gas Pedal Defect
As every one knows, Toyota has recalled millions of cars and trucks because of a defective gas-pedal. According to Toyota's press releases, the company acted as soon as it learned a problem exists, but the truth is just the opposite. On February 8, 2010, the Wall Street Journal published an article tracing the history of Toyota's actions and inactions titled "Secretive Culture Led Toyota Astray. (subscription required).
Toyota owners reported they experienced sudden accleration for years. For years, Toyota conveniently blamed the problem on misplaced after-market floor mats. The gas-pedal design was put into use in the 2002 Camry sedan; it uses electronic sensors to send signals to the computer controlling the engine. Toyota adopted the system in the Lexus ES sedan later on. By early 2004, owners had complained to Toyota about sudden acceleration. In 2004, NHTSA, our safety agency, investigated 37 such complaints that involved 30 accidents. Toyota told the agency the floor mats pinned the gas pedal. NHTSA closed the investigation in July 2004.
Complaints continued in succeeding years. Toyota said there was no defect.
In March 2007, NHTSA opened a new investigation on sudden acceleraton in the Lexus ES350; Toyota argued that after-market floor mats were the problem. Owners were told to buy new floor mats, but the reports continued.
Then in December 2008 Toyota's European unit investigated cars in Ireland and England that failed to slow or surged. After months of testing, Toyota found the culprit: a plastic part in the pedal mechanism also widely used in the U.S. Toyota redesigned the pedals for new cars coming off the assembly line, but failed to initiate a recall in Europe or the U.S.
In August 2009, an off-duty CHP officer and his family died when his Lexus ES350 accelerated to more than 100 mph. An occupant made a 911 call when the car was acclerating. The accident was well publicized.
In September 2009, NHTSA told Toyota they needed to resolve the floor mat issue and that replacing the floor mats was not enough. NHTSA told Toyota to later the gas pedals to make sure they don't get caught on the mats. On October 5, 2010, Toyota recalled 3.8 million vehicles to fix the floor mats.
Incredibly, on November 3, 2010, Toyota put out a press release stating "no defect exists" in the recalled vehicles. NHTSA put out its own statement in response saying Toyota's statement was "inaccurate and misleading."
On December 15, 2010, NHTSA officials flew to Japan and told about 100 Toyota executives and engineers that Toyota was obligated to comply with U.S. defect-recall rules.
Less than a month later on Jan 19, 2010, Toyota officials told NHTSA's new chief that there was a flaw in the gas pedals. A few days later Toyota announced a 2.3 million vehicle recall, but it did not have sufficient parts available. NHTSA told Toyota it would have to stop selling cars until the parts were available. On January 26, 2010, shocked everyone by stopping sales of unrepaired vehicles on dealers' lots.
