US review backs Toyota claim on recalls
By John Crawley |
August 12, 2010, Thursday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
A KEY element of the United States government's investigation of Toyota Motor Corp electronic throttles and other systems found no defects beyond what is known to explain crashes blamed on unintended acceleration, the Transportation Department said on Tuesday.
Findings presented to Congress on the agency's review of selected Toyota electronic data recorders are preliminary and could end up bolstering the auto maker's contention that mechanical and equipment problems behind huge recalls and possible driver error are to blame, not vehicle electronics.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said it drew no conclusions from the examination of 58 recorders as part of its multi-layered investigation to see if electronic throttles may have glitches that in rare cases can cause unexpected surges or even wild acceleration.
In more than half of the "black boxes" examined, there was no indication that drivers even applied brakes and in other cases partial braking was noted. "Reviewing event data recorders is one small part" of the government's "effort to get to the bottom of unintended acceleration in Toyota vehicles," said Transportation Department spokeswoman Olivia Alair.
"At this early stage period in the investigation, engineers have not identified any new safety defects."
Toyota, which recalled more than 8 million cars worldwide this year and last over unintended acceleration related to sticking gas pedals and loose floor mats that can jam the accelerator, says its throttle systems are sound.
Congressional committees are conducting parallel investigations and Toyota faces lawsuits, including an amended federal case in California that alleges the Japanese auto maker ignored evidence of acceleration problems for most of the past decade and failed to remedy the problem.
Toyota was fined US$16 million this year for failing to disclose the so-called "sticky pedal" problem.
Additional findings from the government-led investigation of Toyota are not due until later this year. A comprehensive report involving an independent scientific panel is not expected until 2011.
Findings presented to Congress on the agency's review of selected Toyota electronic data recorders are preliminary and could end up bolstering the auto maker's contention that mechanical and equipment problems behind huge recalls and possible driver error are to blame, not vehicle electronics.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said it drew no conclusions from the examination of 58 recorders as part of its multi-layered investigation to see if electronic throttles may have glitches that in rare cases can cause unexpected surges or even wild acceleration.
In more than half of the "black boxes" examined, there was no indication that drivers even applied brakes and in other cases partial braking was noted. "Reviewing event data recorders is one small part" of the government's "effort to get to the bottom of unintended acceleration in Toyota vehicles," said Transportation Department spokeswoman Olivia Alair.
"At this early stage period in the investigation, engineers have not identified any new safety defects."
Toyota, which recalled more than 8 million cars worldwide this year and last over unintended acceleration related to sticking gas pedals and loose floor mats that can jam the accelerator, says its throttle systems are sound.
Congressional committees are conducting parallel investigations and Toyota faces lawsuits, including an amended federal case in California that alleges the Japanese auto maker ignored evidence of acceleration problems for most of the past decade and failed to remedy the problem.
Toyota was fined US$16 million this year for failing to disclose the so-called "sticky pedal" problem.
Additional findings from the government-led investigation of Toyota are not due until later this year. A comprehensive report involving an independent scientific panel is not expected until 2011.
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