Tag Archives: unintended acceleration

Kia Inspects Accelerator Pedals On Optima

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Kia has issued a technical service bulletin (TSB) to dealers asking them to inspect accelerator pedals on any 2011 Optimas made between October 16 and November 24. The automaker reported a potential problem with the spring design which may lead to noisy, sticky or unresponsive acceleration.

The Kia Optima was designed to compete against mid size sedans such as the Camry and Accord, and though it has done poor in the past, the totally redesigned 2011 model the Optima is starting to live up to it’s name. With it’s new look, increased performance and safety, and outstanding fuel economy Kia continues to build it’s brand in the U.S.

Unintended Acceleration In Ford And Mercury

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The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is warning owners of 2010 Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan vehicles not to place any unsecured floor mats on top of standard carpeted floor mats as it could lead to unintended acceleration. The NHTSA is opening a formal investigation into the problem after three complaints that when an all weather mat was placed on top of the standard floor mats, the mat could slip forward and trap the accelerator pedal. There have been no crashes or injuries related to the problem, but the NHTSA felt an investigation was necessary. For more information, consumers can contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Hotline at 888-327-4236 or their Ford dealer.

NHTSA Investigates Honda Unintended Acceleration

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The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is reviewing a request for an investigation into unintended acceleration in Honda’s 2005 Accord hybrid. This request comes after a July 2005 crash that killed one and permanently injured another. The driver alleges that the vehicles brakes were ineffective and the vehicle accelerated uncontrollably.

Twenty two other similar complaints involving Honda Accord Hybrid and Honda Civic Hybrid vehicles were found in NHTSA’s database. In each incident, there were complaints of inadequate braking performance while driving over bumpy road surfaces.

The auto supplier, Indiana-based CTS Corp., is the supplier of Honda’s pedal assemblies and is the same company that supplies Toyota’s assemblies. Other customers include Ford and Nissan. CTS has pointed out that their units, while used by many different auto manufacturers, all have different designs and specifications.

Camry Accident In Utah Questions Toyota Recall Fix

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A recent car accident in western Utah is making government official and safety advocate groups question the repairs done to Toyota vehicles recalled because of unintended acceleration. Two people were killed and two injured when a 2008 Toyota Camry sped out of control and crashed into a rock wall. The vehicle was believed to have experienced unintended acceleration even though the owner of the Camry was said to have had the vehicle repaired by Toyota for unintended acceleration.

Based on statements from witnesses and those that survived the crash inside the car, investigators are led to believe that the pedal was stuck, according to Utah Highway Patrol Trooper Todd Johnson. Tire skid marks showed that the Camry’s driver tried to stop the vehicle as it exited Interstate 80. The car ended up going through a stop sign at the bottom of the ramp and through an intersection before hitting the wall.

The History OF Unintended Acceleration

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Toyota’s unintended acceleration problem has been flooding the media lately causing fear in anyone who drives on the roads. You hear stories of how someone’s car started speeding uncontrollably and the deaths and injuries that resulted. Drivers of these vehicles said they pressed the brakes, but the vehicle just didn’t respond.

You may be surprised to learn that this is a problem that has been around for quite a while, and is not limited to only Toyota vehicles. ConsumerAffairs.com has received sudden acceleration complaints over the years from a wide range of makes, including Kia, Jaguar, BMW and Ford. Ford coming in second after Toyota. In fact, during the 80’s, Audi went through the same legal and media problems that Toyota experiences now for unintended acceleration.

In 2005 there was an estimated 20,000 consumers who complained to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) of sudden unintended acceleration. Some complaints as far back as the late 1980’s when vehicle first started to be controlled with electronic controls. The problem is difficult to recreate without tampering with the vehicles electronics, so in most cases there is no indication that the vehicle has malfunctioned.

According to engineers familiar with electronic technology any electronic interference could cause the accelerator to surge out of control. In these type of systems there are fail-safes that will reset the computer and will store an error code which can be read by a technician when brought in for repairs. So far, any vehicle that has experienced unintended acceleration has not brought up an error code indicating anything went wrong.

Toyota #1 For Unintended Acceleration

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During Toyota’s Congressional hearing, Congress members have been attacking Toyota not only for putting over eight million dangerous cars on the road, but also for how the recall was handled. The Toyota investigation puts government officials in an awkward position of punishing one automaker while being part owner of another. The federal government is a 60 percent shareholder in General Motors, one of Toyota’s biggest competitors.

Toyota Motor Corporation has received the highest number of consumer complaints of unintended acceleration filed with NHTSA. The complaints cover model years 2005 to 2010. According to Edmunds.com, while Toyota has received the most complaints for unintended accelerations, the total filed complaints are fewer than most auto makers. Toyota ranked 17th of 20 automakers in the number of complaints filed with NHTSA over the past decade. Toyota had 9.1 percent of the complaints from 2001 through 2010; during this period, the company sold 13.5 percent of all new cars in the United States. The vehicle with the most complaints, was the Toyota Camry, but it was also the best selling model in 2009.

“This is a very small problem here,” Dow Jones columnist Al Lewis told Fox News on America’s Newsroom. “We have had 2,000 complaints in a decade against the back drop of millions and millions of cars sold.” Auto industry expert Lauren Fix tells Fox the problem shouldn’t be minimized. “When you have all the complaints and Toyota has three times more deaths with the unintended acceleration than any other manufacturer combined, we have a problem.”

Toyota Recalls Gas Pedals in Biggest Recall Ever

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Sept. 29, 2009, Toyota and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced Toyota’s largest recall ever. The recall covers Toyota and Lexus models, including Tacoma and Tundra pickup trucks, Camry, Prius, Avalon, Lexus ES and IS cars. The problem allegedly caused more than a dozen fatalities and resulted in more than 100 formal complaints to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The action addresses the unintended acceleration of some vehicles, which Toyota previously blamed on floor mats becoming trapped between the drivers’ feet and the gas pedal. Toyota continues to ask owners of the recalled vehicles to remove driver’s side floor mats until the company provides additional information.

Toyota Motor Corp. Dealers will begin repairs in January by shortening the gas pedals as a temporary measure. Replacement pedals and a new brake system should be available in April 2010 on some of 3.8 million vehicles recalled.

For 2005 through 2010 model year Toyota Avalons, 2007 through 2010 Camry and Lexus ES350, the automaker will reconfigure the floor surface beneath the pedal to create more space between the pedal and the floor. The brake over-ride system that will be offered on the Camry, Avalon and Lexus ES and IS models should ensure the car stops if both the accelerator and brake pedals are applied at the same time. Many of the reported incidents involved sudden increases in speed when the cruise control system is engaged. Drivers have reported that their brakes could not stop their vehicles when they experienced the phenomenon.

Toyota intends to make the brake over-ride feature standard throughout the Toyota and Lexus product lines beginning in January 2010.