Toyota official: Our deal with U.S. regulators avoided massive recall, saved us $100 million

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sounds like the bu$h* administration 'played ball' with the toyota folks....how many died?

A top Toyota official claimed that a negotiated agreement with U.S. government auto-safety regulators prevented a widespread vehicle recall and saved the Japanese auto giant more than $100 million, according to a document obtained by The Washington Post after it was turned over to congressional investigators.

The document is a July 2009 presentation, listing Toyota North America president Yoshi Inaba on its cover, that was given to the automaker's Washington office.

Under the heading "Wins for Toyota & Industry," Inaba wrote: "Negotiated 'equipment' recall on Camry/ES re. SA, saved $100M+, w/ no defect found." "SA" stands for "sudden acceleration."

In 2007, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, responding to complaints filed by Toyota and Lexus owners about sudden acceleration, started an investigation to determine if Toyota floor mats were catching the vehicles' gas pedals and causing unintended sudden acceleration.

Toyota responded to the probe by telling NHTSA that there was no way the floor mat could cause the acceleration, if it was put in place correctly by the driver.

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/economy-watch/2010/02/toyota_official_we_made_a_deal.html?hpid=topnews