Feb. 5, 2010
Toyota Ravaged by Recall Responsibilities
2009 Class Action and Investigations Surprisingly Accurate
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Reporter
Charleston, WV (HNN) -- Brakes and accelerator woes appears to spread involving Toyota made vehicles. Although the brakes have not been confirmed as part of the recall mess, a class action suit filed in 2009 at Charleston, W.Va., alleged hundreds of accidents involving models not part of the official recall.
Toyota made a safety recall of limited makes and models, but the suit foretold a portion of the widening of the Japanese carmaker’s woes. While the company contemplates the crisis, safety risks exist in some other makes and models. The suit cited one West Coast accident that left thee people dead
The complaint includes representation of a NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation on the engineering of 2007 Lexus ES-350 vehicles. The engineering analysis begins:
“The safety consequences of an unsecured rubber floor mat trapping the accelerator pedal with the vehicle in gear can be severe. With the engine throttle plate open, the vacuum power assist of the braking system cannot be replenished and the effectiveness of the brakes is reduced significantly. During trapped throttle acceleration testing, several methods to defeat acceleration proved effective but not necessarily intuitive.”
Brake pedal force “in excess of 150 pounds was required to stop the vehicle , compared to 30 pounds required when the vehicle is operating normally. Stopping distances increased from less than 200 feet to more than 1,000 feet. This required brake pedal force is beyond the physical capabilities of most drivers.”
Though the complaint stuck with electronic software, it does argue that multiple years of the Lexus brand should be on the recall list due to brake issues that may be part of the accelerator problem.
Here’s a comparison: The complaint alleges drivers at risk are those with the following vehicles: 2002-2009 Camry (Toyota recalled “certain” 2007-2010); the complaint alleges as “at risk” 2000-2009 Tundras as “at risk” (Toyota recalled 2007-2010); the complaint names 2005-2009 Corollas as “at risk” (the recall is for 2009-2010 models); the complaint has 2005-2009 RAV-4’s “at risk” (Toyota recalled 2009-2010); the complaint alleges 2005-2009 Avalons as “at risk” (Toyota recalled 2005-2010 Avalon).
The complaint alleges that these additional models have the same risk: 2007-2008 FJ Cruisers; 2003-2008 Tacoma pickup trucks; 1998-2009 Lexus; 2001-2009 Land Cruisers.
Toyota has recalled the following which are NOT alleged as having the defect in the complaint: 2010 Highlander (except Hybrid models) ; 2009-2010 Matrix; and the 2008-2010 Sequoia.
(Plaintiff Michael Graves owns a 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser; plaintiff Jeff Mullins owns a 2007 Toyota Highlander; plaintiff Michael C. Graves owns a 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser.)
Click this link which takes you to our original story where you can download the original and amended class action allegations against the automaker:
http://www.huntingtonnews.net/state/100128-rutherford-statetoyotarecall.html
Share This Story:
Make HNN Your Homepage (IE Users Only)
Toyota Ravaged by Recall Responsibilities
2009 Class Action and Investigations Surprisingly Accurate
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Reporter
Charleston, WV (HNN) -- Brakes and accelerator woes appears to spread involving Toyota made vehicles. Although the brakes have not been confirmed as part of the recall mess, a class action suit filed in 2009 at Charleston, W.Va., alleged hundreds of accidents involving models not part of the official recall.
Toyota made a safety recall of limited makes and models, but the suit foretold a portion of the widening of the Japanese carmaker’s woes. While the company contemplates the crisis, safety risks exist in some other makes and models. The suit cited one West Coast accident that left thee people dead
The complaint includes representation of a NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation on the engineering of 2007 Lexus ES-350 vehicles. The engineering analysis begins:
“The safety consequences of an unsecured rubber floor mat trapping the accelerator pedal with the vehicle in gear can be severe. With the engine throttle plate open, the vacuum power assist of the braking system cannot be replenished and the effectiveness of the brakes is reduced significantly. During trapped throttle acceleration testing, several methods to defeat acceleration proved effective but not necessarily intuitive.”
Brake pedal force “in excess of 150 pounds was required to stop the vehicle , compared to 30 pounds required when the vehicle is operating normally. Stopping distances increased from less than 200 feet to more than 1,000 feet. This required brake pedal force is beyond the physical capabilities of most drivers.”
Though the complaint stuck with electronic software, it does argue that multiple years of the Lexus brand should be on the recall list due to brake issues that may be part of the accelerator problem.
Here’s a comparison: The complaint alleges drivers at risk are those with the following vehicles: 2002-2009 Camry (Toyota recalled “certain” 2007-2010); the complaint alleges as “at risk” 2000-2009 Tundras as “at risk” (Toyota recalled 2007-2010); the complaint names 2005-2009 Corollas as “at risk” (the recall is for 2009-2010 models); the complaint has 2005-2009 RAV-4’s “at risk” (Toyota recalled 2009-2010); the complaint alleges 2005-2009 Avalons as “at risk” (Toyota recalled 2005-2010 Avalon).
The complaint alleges that these additional models have the same risk: 2007-2008 FJ Cruisers; 2003-2008 Tacoma pickup trucks; 1998-2009 Lexus; 2001-2009 Land Cruisers.
Toyota has recalled the following which are NOT alleged as having the defect in the complaint: 2010 Highlander (except Hybrid models) ; 2009-2010 Matrix; and the 2008-2010 Sequoia.
(Plaintiff Michael Graves owns a 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser; plaintiff Jeff Mullins owns a 2007 Toyota Highlander; plaintiff Michael C. Graves owns a 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser.)
Click this link which takes you to our original story where you can download the original and amended class action allegations against the automaker:
http://www.huntingtonnews.net/state/100128-rutherford-statetoyotarecall.html
Share This Story:
Make HNN Your Homepage (IE Users Only)
