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Toyota on the mend?

16273 messages,  Last post on Apr 25, 2013 at 8:21 AM

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#16002 of 16273 DOT fines Toyota $17M by ateixeira

Dec 18, 2012 (11:01 am)


Toyota Motor Corp. has been ordered to pay a record fine of $17.35 million for failing to report a safety defect to the U.S. government in a timely manner
 
Read more: http://www.autonews.com/article/20121218/OEM11/121219885#ixzz2FQa9OZ4R
 
Wonder if they'll fine Ford, once that's all sorted out? Probably not.

#16003 of 16273 Re: DOT fines Toyota $17M [ateixeira] by imidazol97

Dec 18, 2012 (11:10 am)

Replying to: ateixeira (Dec 18, 2012 11:01 am)
>That recall did not include the RX350 or RX450h. At the time NHTSA had not received any complaints about sticky pedals in those two models, but reports filtered in afterwards.
 
From the link:
"One such report, filed on May 18, 2011, described an incident where a 2010 model RX350 suddenly accelerated to above 60 mph while its passengers were waiting for a security gate to open. The vehicle reportedly crashed through a pair of gates and went airborne over a street before coming to rest against the side of building.
"One woman died and two people were injured in the crash, according to the report, dated May 18, 2011. It is the only one of the 28 complaints in NHTSA's database that led to a death or an injury."
 
I realize that the SUA events were explained away as old age, floor mats, sticking accelerator pedals. But this one doesn't fit that mold because they were sitting still waiting. The driver wouldn't have suddenly hit the accelerator pedal thinking it were the brake pedal because their foot was already on the brake while waiting. IT doesn't fit the sticky pedal because they didn't move the pedal down away from idle for the pedal to stick. And the whiskers have been disproved, supposedly, by some study of 2 exemplars.
 
In among the other explained examples of SUA, there seem to have been some idiopathic events that still don't fit the explanations.
 
Any ideas on what happened here?

#16004 of 16273 Re: DOT fines Toyota $17M [imidazol97] by ateixeira

Dec 18, 2012 (11:28 am)

Replying to: imidazol97 (Dec 18, 2012 11:10 am)
It's an RX, ask fintail how well they know how to drive.

#16005 of 16273 Re: DOT fines Toyota $17M [ateixeira] by imidazol97

Dec 18, 2012 (11:33 am)

Replying to: ateixeira (Dec 18, 2012 11:28 am)
> RX, ask fintail how well they know how to drive.
 
I hear your point on that! The article doesn't mention trophy wife or lack of knowledge on driving in the USA as a factor... grin
 
It was a serious question on my part--note no dawgging on the various problems stipulated to already. I am curious if there is a real explanation for this and the few that don't fall into the other causes: old age, sticking pedal after depression, floor mats catching and holding pedals in open positions?

#16006 of 16273 Re: DOT fines Toyota $17M [ateixeira] by fintail

Dec 18, 2012 (11:34 am)

Replying to: ateixeira (Dec 18, 2012 11:28 am)
You beat me to it. Probably a safe bet to wager that it was misapplication followed by panic. Not a vehicle that attracts the most "with it" drivers.

#16007 of 16273 Re: DOT fines Toyota $17M [fintail] by ateixeira

Dec 18, 2012 (11:38 am)

Replying to: fintail (Dec 18, 2012 11:34 am)
RX drivers are the most skilled driving enthusiasts on the road. They drive right at the speed limit, never break laws, never hold up traffic, never text or get distracted, don't tailgate, and always stay in their lanes.
 
I'll stop now before I get struck by lightning. BWAHAHAHA!
 
But seriously, no more info than that?
 
Wonder if that RX has start/stop? The driver may have thought the car was off, and let of the brakes, then panicked when it re-started and moved.

#16008 of 16273 Re: DOT fines Toyota $17M [ateixeira] by fintail

Dec 18, 2012 (11:54 am)

Replying to: ateixeira (Dec 18, 2012 11:38 am)
Do those have start/stop? Would that only be on the hybrid? I suppose that could upset some drivers.
 
Funny, my A8 rental had that feature, and it wasn't explained to me when I got the car, nor was there anything in the car explaining its presence. First time it engaged, I knew what it was without thinking. Probably not the reaction to be had by the average local driver here, though.

#16009 of 16273 Re: DOT fines Toyota $17M [fintail] by ateixeira

Dec 18, 2012 (12:17 pm)

Replying to: fintail (Dec 18, 2012 11:54 am)
No idea, haven't driven one in a decade and doubt I will.
 
Searched on the NHTSA site and found the report, but there isn't any useful information they didn't already mention. Lady who died was a grandmother but she was a passenger, the report said.
 
61 complaints for the 2010 model, which isn't out of the ordinary given they sell so many. 63 for the same year Ford Flex, just for reference.

#16010 of 16273 Re: DOT fines Toyota $17M [ateixeira] by fintail

Dec 18, 2012 (12:29 pm)

Replying to: ateixeira (Dec 18, 2012 12:17 pm)
That last stat tells a lot, IMO,

#16011 of 16273 Re: DOT fines Toyota $17M [fintail] by ateixeira

Dec 18, 2012 (12:56 pm)

Replying to: fintail (Dec 18, 2012 12:29 pm)
You mean the 61 complaints? That's complaints in all categories, not just SUA.
 
Keep in mind there are 100,000 or so of those on the road.

Messages Page 1602 of 1629

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