Toyota Problems - Latest News
Updated Feb 23 - 2010
On Monday, Toyota met with members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee in one of three meetings scheduled. In an eleven page letter to James E. Lentz, the president of Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A., the committee said that Toyota relied on a flawed study that dismissed computer issues as being at fault for sticking accelerator pedals, and then made misleading statements about the repairs. In a separate letter to transportation secretary Ray LaHood, they raised concerns about how the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) handled the investigation.
Since last September, Toyota has recalled more than eight million vehicles world wide in two recalls related to accelerator pedals sticking, making it hard to stop vehicles. On Monday, Toyota said that it faces two more investigations related to the unintended acceleration and braking and as a result will be expanding the number of vehicles that will receive a brake override system. This system will reduce engine power when the accelerator pedal and brake pedal are pressed simultaneously.
Below is a list of all the vehicles involved in the recalls:
- 2005-2010 Avalon
- 2007-2010 Camry
- 2009-2010 Corolla
- 2008-2010 Highlander
- 2009-2010 Matrix
- 2004-2009 Prius
- 2010 Prius
- 2009-2010 RAV4
- 2008-2010 Sequoia
- 2005-2010 Tacoma
- 2007-2010 Tundra
- 2009-2010 VENZA
Mr. Lentz, who is scheduled to appear before the energy committee on Tuesday maintains that the computers are not the problem, and the repairs dealers are making is the correct solution. He apologized for the way Toyota handles the situation saying; “In recent months, we have not lived up to the high standards our customers and the public have come to expect from Toyota. Simply put, it has taken us too long to come to grips with a rare but serious set of safety issues. The problem has been compounded by poor communications both within our company and with regulators and consumers.
The president of Toyota, grandson of Toyota’s founder, Kiichiro Toyoda, plans to testify Wednesday at a session held by the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. Originally Toyoda had planned to send executives from Toyota's American operations to the hearings, but after receiving a letter from Edolphus Towns Jr., a Democrat of New York, and chairman of the committee, he decided to attend.
