Toyota denies unintended acceleration issues on Tacoma

Posted Tue Jun 10 2008 8:59 AM by Viknesh Vijayenthiran

A number of Toyota and Lexus models have had their owners complain about unintended or sudden acceleration problems including popular models such as the petrol-electric Prius, the top-selling Camry and the Lexus ES range. Some of the cases have caused safety and regulatory bodies such as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to investigate the matter. Now, Toyota’s Tacoma pickup is receiving complaints in the U.S. because of the same unintended acceleration defect.

A total of 432 customers have reported unintended or sudden acceleration in their vehicles, resulting in 51 crashes and 12 injuries. Toyota has responded by stating that its Tacoma is not defective and that many reports were "inspired by publicity," reports the Detroit Free Press.

Federal regulators are still considering whether to upgrade the NHTSA investigation launched in February, which currently covers more than 775,000 Tacomas sold between the 2004 and 2008 model years. A new investigation could force Toyota to issue an expensive recall for the Tacoma, and raise questions about sudden-acceleration claims that both safety regulators and carmakers have blamed on driver error for years.

Unlike most of its rivals, which haven’t experienced substantial sudden-acceleration complaints, the Tacoma relies on an electronic drive-by-wire system pedal system that uses computer controls instead of a direct physical connection between the accelerator pedal and the throttle. Toyota says its system is designed to report an error in case the accelerator pedal and throttle are mismatched and that initial testing conducted by both the carmaker and the NHTSA have revealed no problems.

Reader Comments

Tue Jun 10 2008 9:23 AM
Raptor says

It wasn't me, officer, it's that damn car :)
Tue Jun 10 2008 11:42 AM
MyWheelsOnWalls.com says

Somebody at Toyota needs to call Audi and ask them what happens when you tell the American consumer their wrong. Although there have been a couple of world wars that quite clearly prove the Germans dont listen.

For those of you who are young or not to close to the industry google Audi 5000. The majority of their instances were in the U.S. and Japan which led the Germans to believe the problem was cultural. It being that both countries have a generation of drivers who were taught to drive an automatic with the left foot for brake and the right foot for the gas/accelerator.

It has further been proven that when the brain is in panic mode and it fully believes that its pushing the brake it will push that brake even harder. Even though later after all was said and done the said foot was on the gas.

So the question becomes do you want to prove you the manufacturer is in the right or do you want to do right by what the consumers perception feels is wrong? In Audi's case they won the battle in court but they did lose the war on the sales floor and that was back before the internet and the incredible ease with which information, rumor, and fact can now spread.

I wish you luck Toyota and I would'nt mind betting your competition is hoping you stay true to form as the Germans did and take the "its them not us route."
Tue Jun 10 2008 11:46 AM
NCyder says

If Toyota wants to put these "rumors" to rest, then instrument a few of the complainers' vehicles and let them drive around for a year or so. Make sure to record engine rpm as well as most bus messages because my money is on EMC or the whole MAP/O2 sensor/injector software combo. Computers go haywire ... even environmentally hardened ones.
Tue Jun 10 2008 5:53 PM
Gus says

I don't like the drive by wire in my new Mustang. I prefer the old cable connection. Sometimes it's just not as responsive as the cable connection cars that I have driven.
But I'm sure it's inevitable technology on every vehicle eventually.
Wed Jun 11 2008 5:52 PM
InkMaster says

whoa, never thought I'd see a riced out Tacoma

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