Throttle may not be to blame for Toyota’s uncontrollable acceleration
Despite the fact that thousands of Toyota drivers have complained that they have experienced their vehicles accelerating outside of their control, an official investigation into the phenomena is thought to have found that there is nothing wrong with the Toyota electronic-throttle system.
The Department of Transportation has allegedly reported that early findings show that some Toyota drivers, who complained about a surge in acceleration, may actually have been pushing their foot down on the accelerator, mistaking it for the brake pedal.
The investigation by the government into the apparent sudden acceleration in Toyota and Lexus models follows almost 2,200 reported incidents. Toyota has been making data available to the authorities from inspections it has made at 2,000 sites. Toyota has however declined to make any comment on the preliminary findings, saying that it will wait until the investigation is complete.
The investigation is being conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. It has apparently recruited top scientists and experts from the space-agency to assist with investigations. The body said that even if the electronic throttle system was not to blame, there were still the issues of floor-mats jamming the accelerator to the floor, and ’sticky’ accelerator pedals.
The Toyota group has agreed to pay the US a £10.7 million fine because it did not announce the problems it was having with its accelerator pedals in a timely fashion. The car manufacturer also faces lawsuits from individuals over the uncontrollable acceleration issue, and Toyota’s chairman, Akio Toyoda, has found himself apologising to the United States Congress as well as the group’s shareholders.