Toyota Bragged About Curbing Sudden Acceleration Recall
According to the Associated Press, documents turned over to lawmakers reveal that Toyota boasted about saving over $100 million by curbing the scope of a sudden acceleration recall.
In a July 2009 internal presentation, the so-called “Toyota-Safety Group” indicated that it negotiated a floor mat recall of 55,000 Toyota Camry and Lexus ES 350 vehicle in September 2007. That maneuver saved the Japanese automaker $100 million.
The documents were provided to the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee which is examining safety issues associated with Toyota’s gas pedal and the problem of sudden unintended acceleration.
On Feb. 24, Akio Toyoda, the president of the Japanese automaker, will testify at the committee hearing. The news comes after earlier reports the Toyoda would not attend but would instead send his North American chief.
In October 2009, Toyota announced that it was recalling approximately 3.8 million Toyota and Lexus autos because their floor mats could trap the gas pedal, causing sudden acceleration.
The vehicles affected by the floor-mat-entrapment recall are:
• 2007-2010 Toyota Camry
• 2005-2010 Toyota Avalon
• 2004-2009 Toyota Prius
• 2005-2010 Toyota Tacoma
• 2007-2010 Toyota Tundra
• 2007-2010 Lexus ES 350
• 2006-2010 Lexus IS 250
• 2006-2010 Lexus IS 350
• 2008-2010 Toyota Highlander
• 2009-2010 Toyota Corolla
• 2009-2010 Toyota Venza
• 2009-2010 Toyota Matrix
• 2009-2010 Pontiac Vibe
In January 2010, Toyota advised the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration that approximately 2.3 million vehicles in the United States have a defect that can cause the accelerator to stick. In addition to recalling the autos, Toyota announced that it would suspend manufacture and sales of the affected models until the stuck-accelerator problem could be fixed.
The autos affected by the gas pedal recall are:
• 2007-2008 Toyota Tundra
• 2008-2010 Toyota Sequoia
• 2005-2010 Toyota Avalon
• 2007-2010 Toyota Camry
• 2009-2010 Toyota Corolla
• 2009-2010 Toyota Matrix
• 2009-2010 Toyota RAV4
• 2010 Toyota Highlander
• 2009-2010 Pontiac Vibe
If you or someone you love has been involved in an accident involving sudden acceleration of a Toyota, Lexus or Pontiac auto, contact the sudden-acceleration recall attorneys at St. Louis-based Carey & Danis by filling out our online contact form or calling 800-721-2519 toll free.
