Toyota Motor Sales USA, Inc. has announced an intended solution to a gas pedal problem that recently caused the manufacturer to recall 2.3 million vehicles. Toyota’s plan involves adding a shim to the gas pedal mechanism in order to eliminate the sticking that has been causing the sudden unintended acceleration in at least eight popular Toyota models manufactured as early as 2005. Since 2002, 19 Toyota drivers have been killed in automobile accidents, and sudden unintended acceleration has been cited as the cause in each case.
In January, Toyota announced a safety recall that featured the 2009 and 2010 RAV4, 2009 and 2010 Corolla, 2009 and 2010 Matrix, 2005 through 2010 Avalon, 2007 through 2010 Camry, 2010 Highlander, 2007 through 2010 Tundra, and 2008 through 2010 Sequoia. Since that announcement, Toyota has halted production on each model vehicle, which subsequently caused work stoppages in at least five North American Toyota plants. Rental companies like Hertz, Avis, and Enterprise have also pulled all affected models from their inventories. Toyota also recalled more than two million vehicles in Europe, and the Chinese government also recalled more than 75,000 RAV4 vehicles as well.
In the past few weeks, a variety of lawsuits have been filed against Toyota, including one man who claims his car is now unsellable, another man whose wife was killed in a motor vehicle accident while driving a Toyota, and a couple claiming that Toyota has committed fraud. As the lawsuits mount, Toyota has begun shipping the new gas pedal attachment to dealers throughout the nation, as well as in major foreign markets.
On February 10, Toyota will face a congressional hearing in front of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform because of this recall and an unrelated recall that took place in October 2009. Toyota will also meet with the House Energy and Commerce Committee for the same reason on February 25. Representatives of both committees have stated that Toyota’s problems go back as far as 10 years.
The October recall was the largest in Toyota’s history, as more than 3.8 million vehicles were recalled due to floor mat issues that also led to sudden unintended acceleration issues. That recall also involved a number of Lexus models. The latest recall does not involve Toyota’s Lexus or Scion models.
If you or a loved one owns one of the affected Toyota models and have experienced problems with sudden unintended acceleration or stuck accelerators, contact Newsome Law Firm and fill out a case evaluation form today. Our team of attorneys has experience specific to complications associated with automobile recalls. Not only can they give you the legal guidance you need, they can help you get the compensation you deserve.