Toyota Tacoma

Summary:
A DEFECT PETITION LETTER WAS RECEIVED BY THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) REQUESTING A FORMAL INVESTIGATION OF MODEL YEAR (MY) 2006 AND 2007 TOYOTA TACOMA PICKUP TRUCKS FOR A POSSIBLE SAFETY DEFECT CAUSING SUDDEN AND UNCONTROLLED ACCELERATION. THE PETITIONER OWNS A MY 2006 TACOMA PICKUP TRUCK WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW IN MAY 2006 AND THE PETITIONER HAS BEEN THE PRIMARY DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE SINCE THAT TIME. NO ACCELERATION PROBLEMS WERE EXPERIENCED WITH THE VEHICLE FOR THE FIRST 24,500 MILES OF USE. ACCORDING TO THE PETITIONER, ON 1/5/2008 THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED TWO SPONTANEOUS AND UNCONTROLLED ACCELERATIONS WITHIN TWO HOURS OF EACH OTHER. THESE INCIDENTS ARE DESCRIBED IN THE PETITIONER'S COMPLAINT FILED UNDER ODI 10214130. SUBSEQUENT TO THE INCIDENTS, THE PETITIONER CONDUCTED A REVIEW OF ODI'S COMPLAINT DATABASE FOR MY 2006 AND 2007 TOYOTA TACOMA AND OTHER U. S. LIGHT TRUCK MODELS FOR UNEXPLAINED ACCELERATION COMPLAINTS. THE PETITION WAS FILED BASED ON THIS REVIEW AND THE INCIDENTS THAT OCCURRED. IN AN INITIAL INTERVIEW ODI CONDUCTED ON 1/24/2008, THE PETITIONER FURTHER DESCRIBED THE CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING THE INCIDENTS AND THE REVIEW OF ODI'S COMPLAINT DATABASE. THE PETITIONER'S ASSESSMENT IS THAT THE BRAKE SYSTEM FUNCTIONED PROPERLY DURING BOTH INCIDENTS AND THAT A MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE OF THE THROTTLE CONTROL SYSTEM WAS THE LIKELY CAUSE (I. E., THAT THE THROTTLE OPENED WITHOUT ACCELERATOR APPLICATION). THE VEHICLE WAS IN NORMAL USE AT THIS TIME AND NO FURTHER UNWANTED ACCELERATIONS WERE REPORTED. ODI WILL EVALUATE THE PETITION FOR A GRANT OR DENY DECISION.