NHTSA Sides With Toyota On Unintended Acceleration Issues Claiming 400 Owners Had No Case

Federal safety regulators have closed an investigation into unintended acceleration in Toyota Tacoma pickup trucks, saying their probe couldn't find a cause behind more than 400 complaints.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration last Wednesday denied a petition by a Tacoma owner who said his truck suffered two instances of sudden acceleration in January and noted 32 similar complaints to NHTSA. Toyota Motor Corp. told the agency earlier this year that 431 customers had complained of such events, including 51 crashes and 12 injuries.

But Toyota also had argued that many of the complaints were "inspired by publicity," and no flaws had been found in the truck. NHTSA's investigation covered 775,000 Tacomas built between the 2004 and 2008 model year.

Read Article

charlik05 - 9/3/2008 5:43:46 PM

+4 Boost

i remember this problem on the camrys and lexus es. they use to call it lurching.

E36er - 9/3/2008 5:47:26 PM

+4 Boost

Dejavu, it sounds like Audi early 90's all over again.

WorldofLuxury - 9/3/2008 9:14:58 PM

0 Boost

Yep. These things happen from little flaws, and Audi took the wrong turn to blame the problems on the customers.

WorldofLuxury - 9/3/2008 9:23:52 PM

-4 Boost

What I mean above is that the common people don't like taking blame...even if it were their fault...or maybe it was the design flaw...

Lexus didn't want to make the same mistake when their new 1st generation LS faced minor flaws, so they decided to go to every customer's car (even if it wasn't at their home)...fix the cars, clean them, and fill them up. Then, many of the other automakers followed suit.

The point I'm trying to make is that if there's a problem with your car, report it! LOL
That's why we have the suing system in the US. That's why customer service is like the way it is nowadays.

Sorry guys...I realized that my comment above didn't really come out the way I wanted it to be, so I tried to fix it with this one...but it doesn't work either. x]

Porschinator - 9/3/2008 7:06:40 PM

+1 Boost

Surprised Toyota didnt say it is due to lazy Americans and their fast food. A hamburger falling near the accelerator causing it to stick and lurch....

hk4site - 9/3/2008 8:52:58 PM

+1 Boost

How about Audi about 15 years ago customers said that car accelerated without reason. I had a Audi at that time and the brakes would overide the accelator. Must of been a bunch of old farts driving them.

aarononymous - 9/3/2008 8:58:55 PM

+1 Boost

My understanding is the pedals were very close together. Anyways a tech I work with said when this was going on there was an owner of an Audi dealer who smoked a transmission just to prove that what you said is correct, the brakes would stop an accelerating car.

StickShiftCamry - 9/3/2008 10:39:00 PM

-2 Boost

Dumb ppl, they put a Japanese car in Drive right after turning it on while cold.

kpaxx - 9/4/2008 11:49:27 AM

+1 Boost

Looks like they have their way with IIHS as well

http://www.iihs.org/ratings/rating.aspx?id=169

juano - 9/28/2008 9:07:09 PM

+1 Boost

Sudden Unintended Acceleration! OH What A Feeling! I Didn't Ask For It But I Got It! Just sold my 2007 Tacoma 4cyl automatic at auction for a $3000. loss after hearing NHTSA closed its investigation - so this truck won't kill me next time it happens unless the next owner impacts me in an uncontrolled acceleration. These full-throttle unintended accelerations happened to me five times since I bought the truck 17 months ago. None of the occurrences were related to floor mats or accidentally stepping on the gas instead of the brake. My experience was that it always happened while the air conditioner was running AND as I released the gas pedal just after accelerating, and not as the brake pedal was pressed as many others have reported. My conclusion was that the air condioner compressor solenoid was causing an electrical surge in the gas pedal electronic throttle control circuit as the air conditioner cycled back on after being switched off for the acceleration. I understand that the Tacoma air conditioner drops out during accelerations, as most auto air conditioners do, to permit more engine power to be applied to the wheels. Not surprised then that no engine codes were ever generated. Toyota ignored my complaint of this serious fatal manufacturer defect. Toyota treated me as if I had reported seeing a UFO and as a result has lost my loyalty forever! Toyota Motors CEO should do the honorable thing regarding this ongoing threat to life and property and immediately impale himself on a sword. What shame this forever places on Toyota. Juan