Mobile UPI  |   About UPI  |   UPI en Español  |   UPI Arabic  |   UPIU  |   My Account
Search:
Go

Sudden Toyota speed-ups investigated

|
|
 
  
Published: April 7, 2008 at 2:43 PM
Advertisement

WASHINGTON, April 7 (UPI) -- The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has begun an investigation into unexplained acceleration of Tacoma pickup trucks, the U.S. agency said.

Thirty-three of the Toyota truck owners have complained the vehicle suddenly accelerated on its own. Eight of the complaints involved crashes, the Detroit Free Press reported.

Sudden acceleration has been a mystery for car safety agencies for decades. Six previous investigations have closed without pinpointing any mechanical failure.

In a previous report the NHTSA found "the inescapable conclusion" was that drivers were pressing the gas pedal unintentionally.

But others say that does not explain the tendency of sudden acceleration complaints to come from owners of specific vehicles.

"Sudden acceleration is a tough issue," said Ricardo Martinez, former NHTSA chief administrator. "If a crash occurs, you always blame it on the vehicle, but most always the investigation found that wasn't the case."

Toyota has denied the issue is mechanical. "We don't feel it's an issue with the vehicle," said company spokesman Bill Kwong. "In most cases" of past years, "it's a misapplication of the pedals by the driver," he said.

Topics: Ricardo Martinez
© 2008 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Any reproduction, republication, redistribution and/or modification of any UPI content is expressly prohibited without UPI's prior written consent.

Order reprints
  
Join the conversation
Most Popular Collections
Protesters, police clash at NATO summit Notable deaths of 2012 2012 Billboard Music Awards
The 137th Preakness Stakes Annual Solar eclipse occurs in U.S. Chen Guangcheng arrives in the U.S.
Additional Business News Stories
1 of 26
President Obama Delivers the Commencement Address at the Air Force Academy Graduation in Colorado
View Caption
Air Force Academy cadet Katherine Lee Dials reacts as another cadet replaces her shoulder boards after walking the line at the United States Air Force Academy Graduation Ceremony at Falcon Stadium on May 23, 2012 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The Air Force Academy graduated 1074 cadets this year. UPI Photo/Marc Piscotty.
fark
Missing [✔] White [ ] Girl [✔] aaaaaand that's why the news is just now reporting that she disappeared...
What a 19-year old said after peeing in the back of a police car: C) I told you I had to go, you...
Yes I built a gigantic bull sculpture next to the highway. DO I LOOK CRAZY TO YOU?
Kid refuses to wear hearing aid because "Superheroes don't", so Marvel creates one for him
If you are in the mood for a real-life adventure story, read about William Morgan, an American who...
Four-alarm fire on board nuclear submarine in dry-dock at Maine naval base. In other news, half-price...