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Toyota?s Gas Pedal Problem Gets Worse

By John Cooper

Toyota Motor Corp. recently recalled over two million vehicles, including some of their most popular models like the Toyota Camry and Corolla, due to a problem with the gas pedal sticking and forcing undue acceleration. This is the second recall in less than four months revolving around the gas pedal.

If the recall wasn't bad enough, the company announced to dealerships that they should stop selling the vehicle models potentially affected by the sudden acceleration issue altogether. A list of the Toyota cars with the possible gas pedal problem include…

... 2009-2010 Toyota Rav4

... 2009-2010 Corolla

... 2009-2010 Matrix

... 2005-2010 Avalon

... 2007-2010 Camry

... 2010 Highlander

... 2007-2010 Tundra

... 2008-2010 Sequoia

Just last week, a new class-action lawsuit was filed against Toyota due to the gas pedal problem. This brings the total to three class-action lawsuits and numerous individual lawsuits that have been filed on behalf of individuals who were killed in car crashes that may have been due to the faulty gas pedal, according to businessweek.com.

The most recent class-action lawsuit claims the root problem is with the Electronic Throttle Control System (ETCS) which is prominent is many Toyota vehicles.

'Vehicles equipped with ETCS-I have a dangerous propensity to suddenly accelerate without driver input and against the intentions of the driver,' said Toyota customers in a complaint filed in federal court in Charleston, West Virginia (WV).

Toyota is telling car owners if they are on the road and their vehicle suddenly accelerates to pump the brakes, put the car in neutral and call a nearest Toyota dealership so they can pick up the vehicle and try to fix the problem.

Personally, I feel this recommendation is not enough. Toyota representatives need to realize that if you're driving on the highway at 60mph and you're car suddenly accelerates to 110mph, the initial reaction is shock, followed by fear. It takes a moment for someone in that situation to fully compute what's happening and then apply the suggested technique. But what happens if the highway is filled with cars? By the time a driver tries to pump the brakes, they may have already slammed into another car and suffered a serious injury.

Here's a video illustrating the serious risks associated with this Toyota gas pedal problem...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sy8dYAJZWgE

Another solution would be for Toyota to tell its customers to bring in their potentially defective vehicle and provide a free rental vehicle until the problem is fixed. Drivers shouldn't take the gamble of driving their car until it suddenly accelerates to address the issue.

About the Editors: Shapiro, Cooper, Lewis & Appleton personal injury law firm (VA-NC law offices ) edits the injury law blogs Virginia Beach Injuryboard, Norfolk Injuryboard, and Northeast North Carolina Injuryboard as a pro bono service to consumers.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by John Cooper

Full post as published by Norfolk-Portsmouth Personal Injury Lawyer on January 29, 2010 (boomark / email).