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TOYOTA IS NUMBER ONE IN CRASH COMPLAINTS
Posted by: Darrell Castle
March 02, 2010
Topic: Personal Injury
The New York Times recently reviewed 12,700 complaint records in the United States over the last decade and found that Toyota had more complaints involving crashes than any other carmaker. Many of the complaints against Toyota were about vehicles not involved in the recalls. For example, the 2002 Camry had about 175 speed control complaints with about half of those involving crashes.
According to The Times article, federal safety regulators said they had received complaints alleging that unintended acceleration in Toyotas caused 34 deaths.
"Of the 12,700 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration consumer complaints analyzed by The Times, the Ford Motor Company had the most, about 3,500." Toyota was second but those complaints were linked to far more crashes, about 1000 compared to Ford's 450.
"A separate examination by The Times of transport ministry records in Japan revealed a similar finding. In reports since 2001, Toyota vehicles have been cited with a greater frequency in complaints of sudden acceleration than those of other major carmakers."
Toyota's chief executive, Akio Toyoda, testified before Congress last week and said that he was "absolutely confident" there was no problem with Toyota's electronics. Transportation officials in the U.S. are reviewing whether to expand their investigation to Toyotas already cleared. If NATSA can find evidence of a defect trend with Toyota they will open a defect investigation.
The single largest source of complaints about speed control involved the 2007 Camry. That model, along with newer Camrys, has been recalled twice in connection with unintended acceleration. A high incidence of crashes linked to speed control occurred in earlier models.
"For the government to order a recall, it must have proof of a potentially dangerous defect, which is difficult to find without cooperation from the automaker."
If you have suffered a serious injury from a crash involving an auto defect, consider getting advice from an experienced professional such as the lawyers at Darrell Castle and Associates.
