Toyota said this morning it would conduct a "voluntary safety recall" of another 2.17 million vehicles in the United States to modify accelerator pedals that could get trapped by floor mats or carpets. The company has already recalled more than 11 million vehicles to fix related safety problems...Read More»
So-called 'sudden acceleration' has a long and unfortunate history, almost destroying Audi sales in the mid-1980s after 60 Minutes accused the Audi 5000 of accelerating out of control at random. Now, as previewed a few weeks ago, an NHTSA report finds no electronic cause for the phenomenon--and...Read More»
It's been a tough and trying year for Toyota—and Toyota owners. There had already been a few isolated claims of accelerators sticking. But it was the news of an incident, last August—a family (and off-duty cop) in an ES 350, who sped out of control to a fiery death—that punted Toyota's...Read More»
Despite ominous news reports of cars careening out of control, there's no substitute for data. And now it looks like many reported cases of so-called "sudden acceleration" in Toyotas are actually due to driver error. That's the preliminary conclusion coming from investigators at the National...Read More»
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is investigating yet another potential case of sticking accelerator pedals, this time in 2007 Dodge Caliber compacts. According to trade journal Automotive News, the NHTSA has received five complaints of accelerator pedals that stuck in the open...Read More»
Toyota's troubles with so-called sudden acceleration are so well publicized, we're not going to run them down here. But we'd remind the world's largest carmaker that it might be far worse. As well as sticky accelerator pedals and ill-fitting floor mats, they could also be facing cars that...Read More»
Continuing our series on test-drive tips, here are some more ways to put your potential new vehicle to the test. Low-Speed Maneuverability Chances are, the dealership where you're shopping has a cramped back parking lot. Instead of waiting for the sales associate to bring the car our front, ask him...Read More»
So-called "sudden acceleration" is an ugly mix of media frenzy, sophisticated engineering, and complex human-machine interaction. But recent data on Toyota sudden-acceleration complaints seems to show--with some qualifiers--that the bulk of the incidents ending in fatalities have been reported by...Read More»
It's already looking like the Toyota recall hearings will bring us at least one new safety feature to all new vehicles: brake overrides. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood might recommend that every U.S. new vehicle be equipped with so-called smart throttle systems—meaning, most importantly...Read More»
When it rains, it pours. And Toyota may find itself swimming a lot faster if new allegations of safety problems prove to be true. In Japan this morning, the Ministry of Transportation ordered the company to investigate complaints into brake problems in its new 2010 Toyota Prius. More than 100 U.S...Read More»
