Some lawmakers have expressed skepticism that faulty floor mats and defective accelerator pedals are behind Toyota’s unintended acceleration problems, and have accused the automaker of making misleading statements regarding its latest recalls.

According to The Washington Post, members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee – one of three congressional committees investigating the Toyota debacle – faulted the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for conducting “cursory and ineffective” investigations of Toyota defects. (more…)

It seems the recent spate of Toyota recalls have prompted consumers to file more complaints involving sudden acceleration and faulty breaks with the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA).

When Toyota recalled millions of cars in January to fix accelerator pedals, unintended acceleration crashes had allegedly caused 21 deaths between 2000 and the end of 2009. Now according to the Associated Press, since the January recall, consumers have reported nine crashes involving 13 alleged deaths between 2005 and 2010 due to accelerator problem to the NHTSA database, bringing that total to 34. Since January 27, the NHTSA has processed 686 complaints from consumers about problems related to speed control involving Toyota-manufactured vehicles, the Associated Press said. (more…)

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is coming under increasing fire for its failures relating to the Toyota unintended acceleration debacle. Now, Reuters is reporting that at least two former NHTSA regulators now work at Toyota. What’s more, these individuals may have helped bring to an end four separate NHTSA investigations into Toyota vehicles and unintended acceleration.

According to Reuters, Christopher Tinto, vice president of regulatory affairs in Toyota’s Washington office, joined the automaker in 1994, right after leaving the NHTSA. Christopher Santucci – who now works for Tinto – did the same in 2003. (more…)

A U.S. Congressman has suggested issuing a subpoena for the head of Toyota when he visits the U.S. in March. Rep. Darrell Issa of California, the top Republican on the House Oversight and Government committee, recently wrote to the committee’s chair suggesting the subpoena as a way to compel Akio Toyoda to answer the panel’s questions about Toyota’s recent safety problems and recalls.

“Whether it is for a microprocessor engineer or the top executive, we have a duty to determine what Toyota knew, when they knew it and if they met their full obligation of disclosure to U.S. regulators and the American people,” the letter said. (more…)

A U.S. probe into reports of dangerous, unintended acceleration with some Toyota vehicles has expanded to look at the vehicles’ electronic throttle system. Meanwhile, Toyota has admitted to a design flaw in the brakes on its popular Prius hybrid, and another recall could be in the works.

Yesterday, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said the U.S. investigation into the acceleration issue would expand to look at the possibility of electromagnetic interference with electronic throttle systems. According to The Wall Street Journal, electronic throttles replace mechanical links between the gas pedal and the throttle with electronic relays. As part of the probe, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administraion (NHTSA) will meet with manufacturers and suppliers to gain more understanding of their electronic throttle systems and ways in which these companies address any possible interference effect, the Journal said. (more…)

Just weeks after it recalled millions of vehicles because of a sticking accelerator pedal, Toyota announced today that it has received reports of problems with brakes on its popular Prius hybrid.

According to Marketwatch, the reports involve Prius brakes that had temporarily stopping working on bumpy or slippery roads. One such report involved a crash. (more…)

General Motors is recalling Corvettes because of a removable roof that may inadvertently separate from the car’s frame. This recall involves just over 22,000 model year 2005-2007 Corvettes and model year 2006-2007 Corvette Z06 vehicles.

General Motors dealers will fix the problem by installing a new roof panel of different design starting in January. (more…)

The Center for Auto Safety claims that 1993-04 model year Jeep Grand Cherokees have a fatal crash fire occurrence rate that is about four times higher than SUVs made by other companies. The group is calling for a recall of  all 1993-2004 Jeep Grand Cherokees with a fuel tank located behind the rear axle.

According to the letter sent to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) petitioning for the recall, the group says the fuel tank of the Grand Cherokee is plastic and extends below the rear bumper so there is nothing to protect the tank from a direct hit in a rollover or by a vehicle with a low front profile or one lowered by pre-impact braking. An optional Jeep skid plate to cover the gas tank and protect it during off-road driving reduces the danger, the letter said. (more…)

Toyota will soon be issuing its largest-ever U.S. safety recall.  According to the Detroit Free Press, the recall will involve some 3.8 million Toyota and Lexus vehicles with potentially defective floor mats.

According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA), it has received reports of 102 incidents in Toyota vehicles from 2004-09 model years involving floor mats interfering with pedals.  A third of those incidents involved the Lexus ES 350, the Free Press said.  The vehicles affected by this issue are: (more…)

Toyota has been accused of concealing evidence about  rollover accidents in a lawsuit filed by a former lawyer for Toyota Motor Sales USA Inc.According to a USA Today report, some consumer groups are predicting serious consequences for Toyota if allegations in the federal complaint  are proven.

“If the allegations are correct that Toyota destroyed or withheld (electronic) data, it has the potential to reopen hundreds of Toyota rollover cases,” Clarence Ditlow, executive director of the Center for Auto Safety, told USA Today. (more…)