Oh your car wont stop, we'll handle it in a couple of years: Toyota Recall

Local News:
During the hearing of the House Committees Oversight and Government Reform, the president of Toyota, Akio Toyoda, took full responsibility for the recall of more than six million Toyota models from years 2005-2010. Recently, many Toyota customers have described that while driving their Toyota they experienced some sort of unintended acceleration. Obviously many crashes have resulted from this problem; however Toyota is now trying to figure out what caused the acceleration. Toyotas that have been recalled have been taken in for fixing by changing the floor mats, replacing the actual gas petal and installing a brake override system, which is now being installed in almost all Toyota models. The new braking system will allow the car to override a surging back petal. Toyodo expresses that he is doing whatever is possible to fix the problem. He has established a system so that if someone’s Toyota needs to be recalled they will be given money for a car rental until their own vehicle is returned.

Although Toyoda is doing whatever he can to fix the problem within the company many people are upset with the fact that he let thing go this far. On average Toyota received 30,000 complaints per year and according to the transportation secretary, they reviewed every one. If that was the case why is it that all the complaints made prior to 2009 weren’t taken that seriously? More importantly the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has failed to inform Toyota about the severity of the problem and did not press them to pursue recalls. One woman, Mrs. Smith describes an accident she experienced while driving her Lexus in October of 2006. She describe that her Lexus sedan sped out of control at 100 miles per hour. She frantically shifted gears, and slammed on the brakes to get the car to stop and finally six miles later it did. When she reported this incident the company told her that he was no able to “replicate” the episode and said it probably came from her pressing on the brakes and her tires kept spinning. Ray LaHood, the transportation secretary, told in his testimony that they were working 24/7 to make sure that Toyotas would be safe to drive. They have hired 66 employees to add to their safety agency.

As drivers on the road it is important that we understand our cars and know what they are capable of. How do you feel about the fact that the companies didn’t begin to acknowledge the problem after some of the first complaints? What does it take for a problem such as this to get noticed when it begins and not three to four years later? Do you feel that as a country we make problems in other countries like the war, Hati, etc. are more important safety wise than, our problems here on home soil? Also, do you feel that car companies should offer some sort of class, coarse or information session about their cars so you know what to expect?

Links for more information:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/25/business/global/25toyota.html?ref=business
http://video.nytimes.com/video/2010/02/23/business/1247467148601/jim-lentz-s-testimony-at-toyota-hearings.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/24/business/global/24toyota.html?ref=global-business
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sy8dYAJZWgE