U.S. senator asks NHTSA for more data on Toyota unintended acceleration | DENENA | POINTS
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U.S. senator asks NHTSA for more data on Toyota unintended acceleration

Toyota_Tundra_02Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) is asking the U.S. NHTSA, the agency tasked with oversight of auto safety issues, for a deeper probe into the unintended acceleration problem that’s been linked to some Toyota models. Our Clear Lake Toyota acceleration injury lawyers have written before about the ongoing struggle faced by the injured victims of accidents caused by the Toyota defect. You can read the details in the article linked in the title of this blog.

Senator Grassley is the ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and his request to the NHTSA cites criticisms by whistle-blowers regarding the “too narrow” focus of NHTSA investigations on the matter. Reportedly, these unidentified whistle-blowers provided Sen. Grassley with documentation on reports by both the NHTSA and NASA on investigations into the Toyota defect.

The reports apparently stated that although proof wasn’t found that the electronic throttle control systems caused the unintended acceleration problem, that doesn’t mean they couldn’t cause the problem. Specifically, Sen. Grassley’s letter to the NHTSA asks the agency to look into the possibility of “tin whiskers,” crystalline structures of tin, as a possible cause of the Toyota unintended acceleration problem.

Our Clear Lake Toyota acceleration injury lawyers point out that Toyota has taken exception to tin whiskers as a possible cause of the acceleration problem. A company spokesman said no one’s “ever found a single real-world example” of tin whiskers causing such a problem, and that there’s no scientific evidence that Toyotas are more prone to unintended acceleration than any other type of vehicle.

At issue is a document from 2006 in which it’s alleged that Toyota engineers found a problem with unintended acceleration (UA) in one of their vehicles. Toyota asserts that the translation of the document and the conclusions drawn from it are inaccurate. (But, significantly, our Clear Lake Toyota acceleration injury lawyers note that the company has failed to provide its own “correct” translation of the document.) The U.S. DOT has said that 3 causes have been found for UA in Toyotas: sticky pedals, improperly installed floor mats, and driver error. (Source: Toru Hanai, Reuters (CNN), 7/13/12)

The NASA data mentions that 2000 to 2010 saw 9,698 customer complaints regarding the UA problem, and that this number probably represents a fraction of the number of actual UA incidents since UA tends to be underreported. Senator Grassley is asking how many of the 9,698 vehicles that were subjects of the complaints were tested for tin whiskers.

In short, the controversy over the possible Toyota defect leading to the UA problem continues to go round and round. In the meantime, more victims suffer serious injuries and even fatal accidents because of the problem, whatever its cause.

If you or a loved one has been the victim of an unintended acceleration accident and you need to know what to do to obtain restitution for your harm, contact our Clear Lake Toyota acceleration injury lawyers for a free and confidential legal consultation. We could review the specific facts of your case with you, help you pinpoint causes of the accident, and help you understand your legal options for making a full financial recovery from the manufacturer whose defective product injured you. Call us toll free at 877-307-9500 or use our web contact features to reach us at your convenience.