February 8, 2011

Transportation Secretary LaHood: “no electronic-based cause for unintended high-speed acceleration in Toyotas. Period.”

After a 10-month “exhaustive, thorough” study of Toyota’s electronic throttle controls, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and NASA reported today they found no evidence that electronics were to blame for alleged unintended acceleration in Toyota vehicles. “So let me be clear: the jury is back. The verdict is in. There is no electronic-based cause for unintended high-speed acceleration in Toyotas. Period,” Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood told a packed news conference in Washington, D.C. LaHood said NHTSA and NASA rigorously examined nine vehicles, poured over 280,000 lines of software codes and bombarded the vehicles with electro-magnetic radiation and found no flaws in Toyota’s electronic systems. The report noted that the only car-based causes of alleged acceleration incidents were trapped floor mats and sticking pedals that have been addressed by Toyota’s recalls. Based on findings in the study, LaHood said NHTSA is considering new regulations to improve the safety of vehicles, including requiring brake override systems, standardizing keyless ignition systems and requiring event data recorders on all new vehicles. “We believe this rigorous scientific analysis by some of America's finest engineers should further reinforce confidence in the safety of Toyota and Lexus vehicles,” said Steve St. Angelo, Toyota’s Chief Quality Officer for North America, in a statement on the report. “We will continue to develop and equip Toyota and Lexus vehicles with industry-leading safety technologies, including many based on breakthroughs in sophisticated electronics systems. We will also continue to cooperate fully with NHTSA and respected outside experts in order to help ensure that our customers have the utmost confidence in the safety and reliability of our vehicles.”

New York Times Article