The head of a car industry monitoring group said Japanese automaker Toyota had repeatedly delayed announcements of automotive product defects. “There is a pattern of covering up defects at Toyota,” stated Clarence Ditlow, head of the Center for Auto Safety, USA Today reported Monday. Papers filed in a California lawsuit show Toyota paid a record [...]
In the wake of Toyota’s sudden acceleration scandal, automobile safety is once again a hot-button issue. After internal documents showed Toyota knew about potential defects, hid them from regulators, and even bragged about saving money from limiting its recalls. Toyota received the largest fine ever levied against an auto manufacturer. After 50 deaths and 8.5 million [...]
New AAJ report shows how new design defect litigation has led to safer vehicles. As the fallout from Toyota’s sudden acceleration fiasco continues, a new report released by the American Association for Justice (AAJ) illustrates how similar vehicle design defects, when brought to the light of the civil justice system, have spurred innovations in auto safety. [...]
The $16.4 million dollar fine was the largest penalty ever paid by an automaker. The fine does not free Toyota from civil or criminal prosecution, and transportation officials are considering the possibility of more fines. Toyota has issued a re-call on the Lexus 2010 GX 460 SUV because of roll-over susceptibility. Consumer Reports recently issued a “Don’t Buy” warning on the vehicle.
Auto Makers are legally obligated to notify the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) within in 5 business days if they determine a defect exists. Toyota’s records revealed that it knew of the petal defect since at least Sept. 29, 2009. The $1.6 million penalty is the maximum NHTSA can levy under law. Previously it’s largest fine was $1 million [...]
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is testing the Toyota-made Lexus ES350 that was the center of attention at the House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing in February to try to determine the cause of the sudden unintended acceleration event that was reported by the driver. “Safety is our top priority,” sad Secretary LaHood. “NHTSA will [...]
A technical investigation of the Prius involved in last Mondays runaway incident has raised a lot of questions. The vehicle performed normally while driven without any acceleration or braking incidents and individual parts were also tested. They were unable to recreate the problems the owner described. There were significant inconsistencies between the inspection and the [...]
In 2000 Congress approved reforms that could help the government spot safety defects more quickly and created the TREAD ACT that lead to a massive recall of Firestone tires. A Senate committee with oversight of the industry, has expressed interest in strong legislative action that would include requiring a brake override system on all vehicles. [...]
With his vehicle speeding out of control James Sikes called 911 and was directed to the California Highway Patrol. The driver tried desperately to follow instructions but was unable to slow down the speeding vehicle until a patrolman came up beside him. The patrolman used his loudspeaker to issue directions to Mr. Sikes who was then [...]
A Toyota Prius owner had a frightening experience yesterday when the driver realized that his car began to speed up. When the brakes failed to engage he called- 911. At a speed of 95 miles an hour a highway patrolman pulled up alongside and instructed him on how to stop the vehicle. THE PATROLMAN’S INSTRUCTIONS WERE TO [...]