Toyota Documents Show It Knew of Pedal Flaws in 2006 (3 1/2 years before it recalled cars and trucks

[Omaha Steve]

Source: Bloomberg

By Angela Greiling Keane (Bloomberg) -- Toyota Motor Corp. knew about flaws that could cause unintended acceleration more than 3 1/2 years before it recalled cars and trucks to fix the defects, according to company timelines.

Toyota, the world’s largest automaker, learned that floor mats could entrap accelerator pedals as early as Feb. 7, 2006, and that pedals could stick five months later, according to documents dated March 24 that were submitted the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and obtained today.

The timelines show what Toyota has said was a slow response that led to the recall of more than 8 million vehicles worldwide starting last year to repair the two types of acceleration- related defects.

The first report was from a model year 2005 Prius hybrid “regarding floor mat interference with an accelerator pedal,” according to the documents, which were sent by the carmaker to the safety agency.

Read more: http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-04-08/toyota-documents-show-it-knew-of-accelerator-defects-in-2006.html

[DURHAM D]

1. I am not following this close enough.

Wasn't the "floor mat" thingie just a smoke screen so the electronic problems would not be discovered. Or, is this two separate issues?

[IDemo]

4. There were floor mat problems,

generally caused by incorrect mats or installation. These cases were easily enough taken care of by the dealerships after they became news.

But many of the sudden acceleration events are apparently because of a bug(s) within the ECM (engine control module), either an electronics fault or software related.

[thesquanderer]

8. Are you sure?

re: "many of the sudden acceleration events are apparently because of a bug(s) within the ECM (engine control module), either an electronics fault or software related."

Are you sure about that? I've heard many people hypothesize that, but I've only seen it as conjecture. Certainly Toyota has not admitted any such thing, right?

[DRoseDARs]

2. Yeah, State Farm Ins. Co. was telling Toyota that they noticed an uptick in accidents.

I'm sure other insurance companies noticed too. They all had to foot the bill whenever these vehicles crashed and I'm sure they have warm, fuzzy feelings for Toyota right about now for giving them the finger like they've done to consumers.

[Jefferson23]

3. I was thinking the same. I took a look at their website yesterday,

they are still defending themselves.

[DRoseDARs]

5. I only knew about State Farm because there was a thread some months ago about them telling Toyota.

"“We are not going to elaborate on any documents provided to NHTSA,” Toyota said in an e-mailed statement."

Yeah because State Farm did that, publicly, months ago. Little late to close the barn door there Toyota.

[Brickbat]

6. Disgusting. And, unfortunately, not a surprise at all.

K&R.

[whoneedstickets]

7. Things never change, remember the scene in Fight Club

Two TECHNICIANS lead Jack to the BURNT-OUT SHELL of a
WRECKED AUTOMOBILE. Jack sets down his briefcase, opens it
and starts to make notes on a CLIPBOARDED FORM.

JACK (V.O.)
I'm a recall coordinator. My job is
to apply the formula. It's a story
problem.

TECHNICIAN #1
Here's where the infant went through
the windshield. Three points.

JACK (V.O.)
A new car built by my company leaves
somewhere traveling at 60 miles per
hour. The rear differential locks up.

TECHNICIAN #2
The teenager's braces around the
backseat ashtray would make a good
"anti-smoking" ad.

JACK (V.O.)
The car crashes and burns with
everyone trapped inside. Now: do we
initiate a recall?

TECHNICIAN #1
The father must've been huge. See
how the fat burnt into the driver's
seat with his polyester shirt? Very
"modern art."

JACK (V.O.)
Take the number of vehicles in the
field, (A), and multiply it by the
probable rate of failure, (B), then
multiply the result by the average
out-of-court settlement, (C). A
times B times C equals X...

inspired by the Ford Pinto memo:

http://www.autosafety.org/uploads/phpq3mJ7F_FordMemo.pdf