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Source: Reuters -
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A two-front US government investigation of unintended
acceleration in Toyota Motor Co vehicles has intensified, despite
the automaker's belief that it has solved the problem.
"We're not finished with Toyota," Transportation Secretary Ray
LaHood says in an e-mail statement about the response by the
Japanese automaker and the government to consumer complaints that
led to two recalls of 5.6 million cars and trucks in the United
States in 2009 and in January.
LaHood's comments referred to renewed efforts at the National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to recheck files from
past investigations that found no problems with Toyota's electronic
throttle control system. That technology was introduced more widely
in the automaker's products several years ago.
Toyota says it will cooperate fully with the NHTSA
investigation.
An Obama administration official, who commented on the condition of
anonymity because the investigation is ongoing, says safety
regulators are continuing to look at the "possibility that
electromagnetic interference" might somehow be causing problems
with Toyota's throttle control systems.
"NHTSA has not seen evidence to support that yet," the official
says.
Such a finding could mean more serious problems for Toyota than it
has experienced over the past several weeks.
"It becomes a whole other ball game if it turns out to be an
electronics issue," says Autoconomy analyst Erich Merkle. "Not only
does it get more expensive to fix, but there's a trust factor
between Toyota and its consumer."
The first Toyota recall last fall involved floor mats that could
loosen and jam under the accelerator pedal. The second, imposed on
January 21, involved accelerator pedals that would not spring back
as designed.
Toyota is modifying gas pedals, redesigning floor mats and taking
other steps to address the first recall. On Monday, it announced a
mechanical fix for the "sticky pedal," which had resulted in a
suspension of sales and production involving eight models,
including big selling Camry and Corollas.
Jim Lentz, president and chief operating officer of Toyota Motor
Sales USA, says that the company could have moved more quickly on
floor mats. But he stressed Toyota is convinced the accelerator
problems have nothing to do with electronics.
"That system has been tested. It has been tested by us. It has been
tested by outside agencies. There are a number of fail-safe systems
within that system that it is not an electronics issue. We are
convinced," Lentz says.
Congressional investigators separately questioned Lentz's
conclusions.
Rep Bart Stupak, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce
Committee's investigations subcommittee, sought a clarification
from Lentz, who says on NBC's "Today" show on Monday that Toyota
believes action to address the two recalls would "stop what's going
on" with accelerators.
Committee investigators said Lentz's comments differ from less
convincing statements Toyota officials made to committee
investigators about the matter last week. Stupak's committee has
requested documents on acceleration matters dating to 2000.
Stupak, whose home state of Michigan is headquarters for US
automakers, has scheduled a hearing for Febuary 25. The House
Government and Oversight Committee will also hold a hearing on
Toyota on Febuary 10.
A government official also says the Transportation Department is
considering imposing a civil penalty against Toyota over the
matter.
Fines can be imposed against transportation companies that
knowingly stray from federal rules or policies or fail to promptly
remedy a problem. The fine for automakers cannot exceed $16 million
per recall, according to federal law.
LaHood said regulators pressed Toyota at the end of 2009 and again
the beginning of 2010 on a recall of accelerator assemblies.
"While Toyota is taking responsible action now, it unfortunately
took an enormous effort to get to this point," LaHood says.
In an unusual move, LaHood says US officials traveled to Japan in
December to "remind Toyota management" about its "legal
obligations." They insisted in a second meeting in Washington in
January that the company address faulty accelerator pedals.
Because it identified a defect, Toyota was obligated to halt sales
of affected vehicles until a remedy for the "sticky pedal" recall
was in place.
On floor mats, Toyota did not identify a defect, but nevertheless
opted for a recall.
