Blog

Defective Products & Product Liability

• Dutailier Cribs Recall by U.S. CPCS Affects Kansas and Missouri

View All

Toyota Fix for Accelerator Pedal Sticking May Not Remedy Sudden Unintended Acceleration Problem

Toyota announced on January 29, 2010 that a it will begin telling owners how it will repair their sticking gas pedals in early February and indicates that repairs will be finished in less than a month from when they begin. This announcement was seemingly confirmed by Toyota supplier CTS of Elkhart, Indiana. A company spokesman for CTS has indicated that redesigned accelerator pedals were in the process of being shipped to Toyota.

CTS additionally indicated that the accelerator pedal problem had been determined by Toyota to be the result of excessive wear of an interior part caused by condensation build up, making the gas pedal slow to return to idle. CTS also claims that Toyota has confirmed that none of the serious accidents and injuries reported from sudden unintended acceleration have been the result of the excessive wear problem.

Some auto safety experts are skeptical that the new accelerator pedal will solve Toyota’s sudden unintended acceleration problem. From a review of reported sudden acceleration claims, they suspect that these accidents may have been caused by a problem with the electronic computer that controls the throttle in Toyotas. It is believed that complaints of sudden unintended acceleration in Toyotas increased substantially after Toyota went to an electronic throttle control system in 2002.

Although Toyota has rejected the notion that the sudden unintended acceleration problem is due to a defective electronic throttle control system, it has announced that it will begin installing a brake override system in all Toyota and Lexus models beginning with cars manufactured in 2010. With regard to existing vehicles, modifications will be handled by way of recall notices.

The brake override system prevents the accelerator and brake from being applied at the same time. Should the brake and accelerator be applied at the same time, the system overrides the accelerator in favor of the brake. This may not remedy the cause of sudden unintended acceleration issues, but may well prevent them from becoming a safety issue.

Until the safety revisions are made, Toyota owners are frightened and confused about the situation and whether it is safe to drive their cars. Congress is also taking an interest in the matter. The U.S. House Oversight and Government Reform Committee will hold a hearing on February 4, 2010, entitled, “Toyota Gas Pedals: Is the Public at Risk?” Another House investigative panel will also hold a hearing later in February on the Toyota issue.

Just Ask

Free Consumer Guides

Testimonials

• I’m highly satisfied, I would call Victor again. I needed his help, and he has been a great attorney. I’m very comfortable recommending victor to other clients. Now that I’m happy with how much he’s helped me, I’m definitely recommending him to anyone that needed his help.
• Heather was very nice and polite and very informative. Heather was very responsive when I asked her questions and very informative. Yes, she was very aggressive with the insurance company. She was very aggressive trying to get a higher amount. Yes she was very nice. She is very informative and knows what she is doing.
• It was great to work with Heather, she kept me informed about everything, the dos and the don’ts and what everything was and kept me on track. she was very professional she told you what was going on, she kept you a breast of everything that was going on, she was an excellent lawyer. Ms Heather and the whole staff at the Accident Injury firm, I would recommend them to anybody across the world, that they are excellent, honest attorneys.

View All

Latest News

• Posted on 11/9/2011CPSC and Dutailier Group Recall Drop Side Cribs to Prevent Fatal Accidents
• Posted on 8/9/2011Build-a-Bear Workshop Recalls Loves.Hugs.Peace Pins in Kansas and Missouri

View All

FAQs

Defective Products & Product Liability

• Do I still have a Kansas City product liability claim if the product that injured me is old?

View All

Web Resources

• Defective Products & Product Liability

more