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NHTSA Update on Lexus Sudden Acceleration Investigation


According to the Wall Street Journal, the U.S. Department of Transportation has analyzed a number of Toyota & Lexus black boxes taken from vehicles involved in “sudden acceleration” accidents, and have discovered that drivers were accidentally pushing the acceleration pedal instead of the brake:

The results suggest that some drivers who said their Toyota and Lexus vehicles surged out of control were mistakenly flooring the accelerator when they intended to jam on the brakes. But the findings don’t exonerate Toyota from two known issues blamed for sudden acceleration in its vehicles: sticky accelerator pedals and floor mats that can trap accelerator pedals to the floor.

The data recorders analyzed by NHTSA were selected by the agency, not Toyota, based on complaints the drivers had filed with the government.

[…]NHTSA has been able to verify only one of those fatal crashes was caused by a problem with the vehicle, according to information the agency provided to the National Academy of Sciences. That accident last Aug. 28, which killed a California highway patrolman and three passengers in a Lexus, was traced to a floor mat that trapped the gas pedal in the depressed position.

The NHTSA spokeswman said the agency was continuing to investigate the Toyota accidents and wouldn’t be prepared to comment fully on the probe until a broader study is completed in conjunction with NASA, which is expected to take months.

While it’s hardly conclusive, it’s definitely a step in the right direction — be sure to read the full article for all the details.

[Source: The Wall Street Journal]

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Comments
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    Lexusluver
  • July 13, 2010
Evidence supporting my belief that this has just been a blown out of proportion, nasty smear campaign attempting to take down the world's most successful automaker a few pegs. Hater's gonna hate.
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    emptystreets130
  • July 13, 2010
To be honest everything is blown out of proportion. Not just the auto industry. The media thrives on information that they don't have solid proof or don't know about. The hearing from congress and that idiot professor has no clue what they are talking about and have never did any research supporting their claims. They will just feed that to the media and do so until the PR at whatever company they are drilling into, cracks.
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    WorldofLuxury
  • July 14, 2010
I hope WSJ doesn't get carried away. The credibility gap for everything is bad enough.
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    Ochiko
  • July 14, 2010
I am still waiting for any proof that the pedal issue is 'an issue'. So far I still haven't recognized any proof from any organization. So it seems to me that Toyota/Lexus has been punished for no reason and/or just because the government has just decided to do so (might not be government directly but who else should put such a big things into order). Regarding the media, media almost never require any proof, just something to draw attention of the public. This applies here in Europe as well. Never ask media what cars are the good ones. Ask drivers instead!
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    Travis
  • July 14, 2010
The funny thing is.. There is no real proof and evidence of the sudden acceleration.
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    Travis
  • July 14, 2010
Toyota has suffered so much from this.. for nothing.
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    CP
  • July 16, 2010
If the floor mat traped the gas petal, they can always put the gear in neutral and apply the brake to stop the car. Those people should not hold a driver licence. This can happen to any car.
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    Lexus Dreams
  • July 16, 2010
CP wrote:If the floor mat traped the gas petal, they can always put the gear in neutral and apply the brake to stop the car. Those people should not hold a driver licence. This can happen to any car.
I totally agree.

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