Did Toyota Already Know About Faulty Accelerator Pedals?

Toyota has recalled scores of vehicles from around the world owing to the faulty gas pedal. The company formally acknowledged the fault on January 21, 2010. However, a new report suggests that the company had known about the deadly defect as early as 2007.

An American newspaper, The Detroit News, revealed that in 2007 the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration had investigated the gas pedal. Several Toyota Tundra owners had filed complaints of unintended acceleration which had waved several red flags. Toyota had attributed the problem to improper installation of the floor mats. Toyota commented on the issue and “considered it to be a drivability issue unrelated to safety.” However, Toyota Tundra drivers continued to complain that the gas pedal was ‘sticky’. It either did not return to idle or was extremely slow to come back to normal position. Toyota did not report this problem to NHTSA stating that the material used to manufacture these pedals could swell under humid conditions.

Later in 2008, Toyota started receiving similar complaints from its European operations as well. Toyota opened formal investigation into the problem in March 2009 but even then it did not report the problem to proper agencies about any potential danger.

According to the newspaper report, the US government still heavily relies on facts provided by the auto makers. Therefore, although it made all the efforts to address the issues raised, it could not do much about it. Toyota had reported only about faulty floor mat which enabled it to avoid any in-depth investigation by NHTSA into faulty gas pedal. Although serious links between 2007 probe by NHTSA and Toyota’s current recall are still amiss, nevertheless, the U.S. government has scheduled two hearings with the NHTSA and Toyota.

• Toyota Etios Racing Car to be showcased today at Chandigarh           January 28, 2012
• India to host Toyota’s Etios Motor Racing Trophy in 2013           January 21, 2012
• Toyota to showcase New Prius at the West Virginia Auto Show 2012           January 17, 2012
• Detroit Auto Show: Toyota unveils its NS4 plug-in hybrid concept           January 12, 2012
• Toyota Kirloskar plans to set-up diesel engine plant in India as demand surges for diesel cars           January 09, 2012
• Auto Expo 2012: New Toyota Prius enters Indian market with starting price tag of Rs.27.39 Lakhs           January 09, 2012
• Toyota Kirloskar sales surge 151 percent in December 2011           January 02, 2012
• Auto Expo 2012: New 2012 Toyota Camry coming at Auto Expo 2012           December 30, 2011
• Success of Etios makes Toyota 5th largest car maker in India           December 30, 2011
• 2013 is most likely to witness introduction of Lexus by Toyota in India           December 28, 2011
• Toyota unveils new 2012 face-lifted Innova           December 27, 2011
• Toyota Kirloskar launches Toyota Safety Education Programme (TSEP)           December 26, 2011
• Toyota all set for a comeback in 2012           December 24, 2011
• Toyota recalls 41,000 units of Etios cars in India to replace filler hose           December 23, 2011
• Toyota Kirloskar to commence exports of Etios series to South Africa from March 2012           December 22, 2011