A Lexus sedan accelerated out of control at speeds of over 100 miles per hour and crashed killing a California Highway Patrol officer and three other people. Following similar reports of stuck accelerators, Toyota Motor Corp. recalled 3.8 million sedans.
Now the National Highway Safety Administration is slamming Toyota for its “inaccurate and misleading” statements asserting that no defect exists in the recalled cars. The NHTSA issued a statement that the recalled vehicles do have an underlying defect I the design of the accelerator pedal and the driver’s foot well. It is believed the accelerator becomes stuck after the gas pedal becomes entrapped in improperly installed floor mats.
Toyota’s formal recall notice asks customers only to remove the driver’s-side mats but Toyota said that no defect exists in vehicles in which the driver’s floor mat is compatible with the vehicle and properly secured. NHTSA immediately issued a clarification emphasizing that safety is the No.1 goal and until the defect is effectively addressed by Toyota by providing a suitable vehicle-based solution, the matter would not be closed. This public lamblasting of the automaker by the regulatory agency is unusual and may affect Toyota’s credibility about the safety of their vehicle. Kudos to the NHTSA, it is high time the federal regulators stop cozying up to those they regulate and keep consumer safety as its No. 1 priority.
The recall affects the 2006-2010 model year Lexus IS 250 and IS 350, the 2007-2010 Lexus ES 350, Toyota Camry, Toyota Tundra, the 2004-2009 Toyota Prius, and the 2005-2010 Toyota Avalon and Tacoma.
