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Posts Tagged ‘NHTSA’

Toyota Prius Brake Problems Latest Outrage

February 5th, 2010 by Matthew C. Keegan | 3 Comments | Filed in Autos Express

Brake problems are emerging with the 3rd generation Toyota Prius.

Toyota owners, and for that matter Lexus and Scion owners, should be outraged at the way that the Toyota Motor Corporation has responded in the wake of known engineering and technology glitches which have caused numerous accidents that have injured or killed many. Evidence is emerging that Toyota knew about its gas pedal problems as far back as early 2007, but now a new problem is emerging: the latest generation hybrid Prius may have brake problems.

Slipping Brakes

The problem with the Toyota Prius surfaced when customers began to complain of brakes slipping under certain conditions. Beginning in late January, Toyota tweaked the software controlling the brakes of cars which had yet to be sold, but they still have not offered a fix for customers who already own the car. The third generation Prius has been available since early 2009.

Complaints from American drivers have been sent to the National Highway Safety Transportation Administration (NHTSA) who has been behind a pair of investigations related to the runaway Toyota issue. Japan’s Ministry of Transportation is also investigating Prius complaints logged by Japanese drivers.

SayEducate first mentioned the runaway Toyota issue last November on the heels of an ABC News investigative report detailing several fatal accidents and incidents involving runaway Toyotas and the fatal runaway Lexus case last summer. Since then, numerous media outlets have helped put pressure on the NHTSA to follow through, with the federal government ordering Toyota to stop selling eight affected models.

ABS Braking

According to Automotive News, Toyota Managing Officer Hiroyuki Yokoyama said yesterday that the slipping feeling is caused by a lag time in the shift between the car’s regenerative braking system and the antilock braking system.

That situation has become most apparent on slippery or bumpy roads particularly in December as icy road conditions resulted in more frequent use of ABS braking. Yokohama added, “When ABS comes into play, you may feel a little bit of slip, but if you continue to apply the brake it will work. It may cause customers a little unease.”

Millions Recalled

Toyota’s problems continue to mount and has extended recalls to cover more cars than it sold last year. Thus far, at least eight million vehicles in North America, Europe, Japan, and elsewhere are subject to a recall, with fixes ranging from replacing the driver’s floor mat to swapping out the accelerator pedal.

Those repairs are expected to begin by early next week with all cars serviced within the next few months.

Meanwhile, not selling its eight affected models has hurt Toyota financially. According to the Detroit Free Press, the automaker is losing $100 million daily with no date set when the company can fully resume sales.

Photo Source: Wikipedia file photo


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Toyota Proposes Gas Pedal Fix For Runaway Toyota Problem

November 17th, 2009 by Matthew C. Keegan | 4 Comments | Filed in Autos Express

Earlier this month, we amplified a report from ABC News regarding their investigation into what is being dubbed as a “Runaway Toyota” problem involving select Toyota and Lexus vehicles. These vehicles have reportedly surged to speeds exceeding 100 mph, despite driver efforts to get their cars to stop.

According to ABC News and other sources, Toyota has been insisting that the problem involves all-weather floor mats while various outside investigators suggest that the problem could be computer in nature.

19 Dead

Regardless of the causes of these accidents which have killed as many as 19 people, Toyota now appears ready to redesign the accelerator pedal for its impacted models, a fix that just may get the blessing of the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA), the federal organization tasked with overseeing automotive safety.

Nearly four million Toyota and Lexus vehicles are under the recall, by far the largest recall ever for Toyota in the United States. The vehicles included are: 2007-2010 Camry, 2005-2010 Avalon, 2004-2009 Prius, 2005-2010 Tacoma, 2007-2010 Tundra, 2007-2010 Lexus ES350, and 2006-2010 Lexus IS250. The vehicles will be serviced at U.S. Dealerships at no charge to owners.

False Claims

Toyota apparently made the problem worse by initially falsely claiming government inspectors had found “no defects exist” in the suspect cars other than loose floor mats. The Japanese auto giant went so far as to post a video on their website saying as much which resulted in an immediate rebuke from federal officials. Moreover, effected owners soon rallied together pushing the Runaway Toyota issue to the top of the news via blogs, web sites, and through newspapers such as the Los Angeles Times as well as with ABC News which continues to track the story.

Owners of vehicles featured will receive official notification within the coming weeks on how and where to take their cars in for service. Toyota hasn’t indicated if they have new pedals in stock or whether they’ll have to await the manufacture of same. In any case look for the recall to take months to complete with many owners wondering if the runaway problem is being solved or if a larger issue lurks underneath the hood of their cars.

Adv. — Are you considering purchasing a new car over the next few months? Get a car quote/find a dealer or find auto loan financing to help save money on your next set of wheels.


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Automotive Recalls Surge This Fall

October 15th, 2009 by Krayton M Davis | 1 Comment | Filed in News, Product Recalls

Perhaps it is the season or maybe it is just a coincidence, but both Toyota and Ford have issued their largest recalls ever over the past few weeks.

Ford, Toyota Recalls

NHTSAOn September 29th, the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) notified select Toyota and Lexus owners that 3.8 million cars were being recalled due to the driver’s floor mat which could get wedged underneath the accelerator, causing their cars to speed up. That recall follows a fiery crash in California late this past summer when four occupants of a rental Lexus were killed when their car surged out of control and flew off of an embankment.

On October 13th, the NHTSA notified Ford and Mercury owners that 4.5 million cars, trucks and motorhomes were being recalled faulty cruise control deactivation switch manufactured by Texas Instruments. According to the NHTSA, “The switch can leak hydraulic fluid, overheat and then burn, potentially causing vehicle fires even with the ignition turned off and the vehicles parked and unattended.” Notably, this is the eight recall made by Ford for this problem affecting some 16 million vehicles.

Toyota and Lexus vehicles affected by this consumer alert are:

  • 2007-2010 Camry
  • 2005-2010 Avalon
  • 2004-2009 Prius
  • 2005-2010 Tacoma
  • 2007-2010 Tundra
  • 2007-2010 ES 350
  • 2006-2010 IS 250 and IS350

In September 2007, Toyota recalled an accessory all-weather floor mat sold for use in some 2007 and 2008 model year Lexus ES 350 and Toyota Camry vehicles because of similar problems.

The Ford recall involves the following vehicles:

  • 1995-2003 model year Ford Windstars
  • 2000-2003 model year Ford Excursion diesels
  • 1993-1997 and 1999-2003 Ford F-Super Duty diesels
  • 1992-2003 Ford Econolines
  • 1995-2002 Ford Explorers and Mercury Mountaineers
  • 1995-1997 and 2001-2003 Ford Rangers
  • And 1994 Ford F53 motorhomes

The NHTSA has warned drivers to be aware of certain signs of possible impendent fires, including cruise control systems that stop working or cannot be activated, brake lights that cease working, brake lights and ABS warning lights illuminating on the dash board, or not being able to shift the vehicle out of park.

What You Should Do

These two huge recalls are unrelated and are simply noteworthy for their size and the number of vehicles covered. Visit the NHTSA site to see if your car has a recall pending and, if so, call your dealer to learn what action you should take to remedy the problem. Costs for repairs under NHTSA recalls are covered by the manufacturer.

Don’t wait – some problems must be addressed immediately in order to ensure your safety.


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