Car Recalls

Yesterday’s New York Times reports that Toyota may have known about its gas pedal problem before a recall was issued earlier this year.  The Times article reports that a senior level Toyota official sent an email to his colleagues on January 16, 2010 urging them to “come clean” about the accelerator pedals’ “tendency for mechanical failure” because “the time to hide on this one is over.”  Toyota met with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on January 19^th – three days after that email was sent – to discuss recalls.   

On Monday the U.S. Transportation Secretary announced that he would seek the maximum legal fine against Toyota for the sticky pedal recall.  To date, eight million vehicles have been recalled and many serious accidents have been caused by the accelerator problem.

Toyota Cars and Trucks Recall Accidents

“I am deeply sorry for any accidents that Toyota drivers have experienced,” said Toyota President Akio Toyoda during his televised testimony before Congress.

Sorry means nothing to the San Diego family of four who were on their way to soccer practice when they couldn’t stop a loaner Lexus that had previously been turned in at the same Lexus dealer for the same problem of unintended acceleration to high speeds and the inability to stop using the brakes.

America’s most popular car brand has lost its luster. Sorry means nothing to the millions of Toyota drivers who are concerned with consumer safety.

Last year in 2009, Toyota recalled 3.8 million cars, due to faulty floor mats. Toyota ordered dealers to inspect all cars for mismatched floor mats.

The affected Toyota models recalled were:

• 2007-2010 Toyota Camry (sedan)
• 2005-2010 Toyota Avalon (sedan)
• 2004-2009 Toyota Prius (hatchback)
• 2005-2010 Toyota Tacoma (pickup truck)
• 2007-2010 Toyota Tundra (pickup truck)
• 2007-2010 Lexus ES350 (sedan)
• 2006-2010 Lexus IS250 and IS350 (sedan)

A few months later Toyota recalled more than a million cars because of a sticking accelerator pedal problem as well as halting sales on several models. Consumer confidence has hit rock bottom. Toyota is working quickly to remedy the problem but there are always incidents that fall through the cracks while waiting to be recalled.

The cars and trucks affected by the recall and suspension of sales include:

• 2009-2010 RAV4
• 2009-2010 Corolla
• 2009-2010 Matrix
• 2005-2010 Avalon
• Certain 2007-2010 Camry
• 2010 Highlander except hybrid models
• 2007-2010 Tundra
• 2008-2010 Sequoia

In February 2010, Toyota announced a voluntary safety recall to inspect the front drive shaft on a small production run of certain 2010 model year Tacoma 4WD trucks.  The front shaft in approximately 8,000 vehicles may include a component that contains cracks developed during the manufacturing process.  As those vehicles are used, the cracks may eventually lead to the separation of the drive shaft at the joint portion.

Toyota Recall Lawsuit

If you or a loved one has been injured in a defective Toyota car or truck, please contact the auto accident lawyers at Anapol Schwartz law firm in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and West Virginia. Let them put the brakes on bad business practices and product negligence.

“I want to say to each of you, simply and directly, I am deeply sorry for my irresponsible and selfish behavior I engaged in,” said Tiger Woods in a staged televised apology.

Tiger Woods’ apology sounds as insincere as Toyota President Akio Toyoda but at least in Woods’ case – nobody dies.