Providers and Administrators in blue logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Toyota: Acceleration Probe Far from Finished

July 15, 2010
2 min to read


Toyota is "not anywhere near close" to drawing any firm conclusions from its probe of unintended acceleration reports and doesn't plan to disclose its findings until the government finishes its own investigation, a company spokesman said.


Toyota Motor Corp. engineers have investigated more than 2,000 reports of surging cars. Several government agencies, including NASA and the Transportation Department, are conducting their own probes into complaints of unintended acceleration as well, but their findings aren't due until as late as next year, reported The Associated Press.

Ad Loading...


"It's important to allow others ... to complete their investigations without our findings providing any sort of influence," Michels said.


Earlier this week, The Wall Street Journal, citing anonymous sources, reported that the government had analyzed dozens of data recorders in Toyota vehicles involved in crashes blamed on unintended acceleration and found the throttles were open and the brakes were not engaged. That suggests drivers were to blame, stepping on the gas pedal when they intended to step on the brakes.


Michels said Toyota has found a number of causes for unintended acceleration among the complaints it has investigated so far, including misplaced floormats or stacked floor mats and sticky pedals. Among complaints where the driver said the brake pedal was depressed, driver error was to blame in most cases, he said. The automaker hasn't found evidence that electronics are to blame, he said.


The government on Wednesday said it hasn't reached any conclusions about whether Toyota drivers may be to blame for their vehicles suddenly accelerating.


NHTSA engineers and NASA scientists have been looking into cases of sudden acceleration in Toyotas and studying electronics in cars and trucks. Their investigation is expected to be completed in the fall.

Ad Loading...


In addition, the National Academy of Sciences is conducting a broader review of unintended acceleration in cars and trucks across the entire auto industry. The panel is expected to report its findings in the fall of 2011.


Toyota has recalled more than 8.5 million vehicles worldwide to address the possibility of unintended acceleration. It is fixing faulty floormats and sticky gas pedals in the cars and trucks.


The government has said unintended acceleration in Toyota vehicles may be tied to 93 deaths over the last decade and has fined Toyota $16.4 million for failing to promptly notify the government about defective gas pedals among its vehicles. Congress is weighing an overhaul of auto safety laws in the aftermath of the Toyota recalls.

More Industry

text reading Auto Loan Defaults Reach 2% on desk background with car keys, calculator, notepad, and toy car
Industryby Lauren LawrenceMarch 10, 2026

Auto Loan Defaults Measured Amid Inflation

According to LendingTree data, the average monthly auto loan payment was $540 in the fourth quarter, and the average credit score for those with a recorded default was 529.

Read More →
Photo of rear of electric 2026 Mercedes VLE
Industryby Hannah MitchellMarch 10, 2026

No End in Sight for Vehicle Inflation

The February average transaction price was well above a three-year average annual bump, but Cox analysts consider today’s prices to be on the normal side.

Read More →
Showroomby Lauren LawrenceMarch 4, 2026

Used-Vehicle Program Aims to Draw More Buyers

GM says more than 750 dealers across the U.S. are enrolled in CarBravo and that in January CarBravo dealers sold over two times the certified volume of Chevrolet, Buick and GMC dealers using traditional CPO.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Industryby Hannah MitchellMarch 3, 2026

Auto Dealers Cautiously Hopeful

Though traffic and profits were down in the first quarter, normally optimistic franchisees and independents saw dim current conditions while holding out visions of healthy spring sales.

Read More →
Industryby StaffMarch 3, 2026

Black Book: Weekly Market Update

Conversions picked up last week at wholesale vehicle auctions, according to the market observer, as the spring shopping season appeared to begin.

Read More →
white Audi car in a service bay
Industryby Lauren LawrenceMarch 3, 2026

Recall Service Reaches Milestone

Eight state DMVs participate in the Vehicle Recall Search Service created by Carfax and the Alliance for Automotive Innovation to reduce the number of unaddressed vehicle recall repairs.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Industryby Hannah MitchellMarch 2, 2026

Meet the Editor: Hannah Mitchell

A longtime newspaper journalist, Bobit Dealer Group's editor was raised on news back in the South. Now she brings that news-hound ethic to our four auto retail magazines.

Read More →
Summit Updatesby StaffMarch 2, 2026

Enhance Your Dealer's F&I Workflow at Agent Summit

This session is designed to equip general agents with actionable strategies that can help their dealers enhance the efficiency of financial services managers.

Read More →
Industryby Hannah MitchellMarch 2, 2026

Auto Brands Hold the Line on Retention

A flat national rate despite inflation and other financial challenges shows industry loyalty stability, annual Reynolds and Reynolds research finds.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Industryby Lauren LawrenceFebruary 25, 2026

Report Finds Year-End F&I Strength

Deal volume ebbed and flowed throughout 2025, but product performance remained steady, according to automotive technology and data intelligence solutions provider StoneEagle.

Read More →