Upping the number of vehicles recalled since 2009 to over 14 million globally, Toyota Motor Corp. says it is recalling another 2.1 million motor vehicles in the US because of concerns that the accelerator pedal might get stuck in the driver’s side floor mat or carpeting. As you know, our Boston injury law firm has been reporting on this safety issue for some time. Now, following this latest recall, the US Transportation Department’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says it is satisfied with the automaker’s handling of the pedal entrapment problem and it is closing its investigation into this matter.
It was earlier this month when US regulators announced that they had determined that electronic issues were not the cause of the sudden, unintended acceleration problems that have led to hundreds of complaints, including auto products liability lawsuits and wrongful death claims. Rather, driver error (“pedal misapplication,” meaning the motorist accidentally stepped on the gas pedal instead of the brakes) and mechanical defects are the primary culprits.
Included in this latest pedal entrapment recall are:
• 600,000 400Runner SUVs (2003 – 2009 models)
• 17,000 Lexus LX 570s (2008 – 2011 models)
• 761,000 RAV4 compact SUVs (2006 – 2010 models)
• 372,000 RX330, RX 350, and RX 400H autos (2004 – 2007 models)
• 397,000 Toyota Highlander SUVs and hybrids (2004 – 2006 models)
• 20,000 GS300 and GS350 all-wheel drive autos (2006-2007 models)
Toyota says no injuries, deaths, or accidents related to this latest recall have been reported. Also, NHTSA says that of the 93 allegations of death in the approximately 3,000 reports of sudden acceleration incidents it has received, 5 of them have been confirmed. However, there are still dozens of auto products liability lawsuits waiting to be resolved.
Toyota recalls 2.17 million vehicles in US, Boston.com/AP, February 24, 2011
Toyota Recalls Another 2 Million Cars. Apology Needed, Bloomberg Business Week, February 24, 2011
Related Web Resources:
Toyota Motor Corp.
More Blog Posts:
U.S. Department of Transportation Releases Findings on Study of Toyota Unintended Acceleration, Boston Car Accident Lawyer Blog, February 9, 2011 Toyota Recalls More than Two Million Autos Over Gas Pedal Defect, Boston Injury Lawyer Blog, January 21, 2010
Family Suing Toyota For Massachusetts Auto Products Liability Claims Sudden Acceleration Caused Medford Woman’s Wrongful Death, Boston Injury Lawyer Blog, February 28, 2010
Our Boston auto products liability law firm represents clients in cases all types of auto defects, including sticky gas pedal problems, sudden unintended acceleration, seat belt defects, airbag issues, rollover issues, tire defects, and other safety problems.