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Somewhat ironic that Mr. Toyoda was driving an Audi, which was the make that made people familiar with the term "sudden acceleration".
That very same thought came to my mind. I think it's worth noting however, that unlike the supplier's faulty design case with Toyota and other makers today, Audi's little fiasco was simply the result of many Americans' unfamiliarity with close pedal placement.
LOL, you guys are really in La-La Land... This is the newest Toyota deflection tactic. I wonder if this excuse will last as long as the "floor mat" issue.
Hey, if your fantasy makes you happy then all the best American and European automakers are having a great time watching Toyota get blasted out of the water.
Not too sure where you are coming from, but I agree with you on the fact that the pedal is most likely not the real problem.
The pedal maker denies that its products are at fault. Some independent safety experts also are skeptical of Toyota's explanations. 'We know this recall is a red herring,' one says.
By Ralph Vartabedian and Ken Bensinger
January 30, 2010
Toyota Motor Corp.'s decision to blame its widening sudden-acceleration problem on a gas pedal defect came under attack Friday, with the pedal manufacturer flatly denying that its products were at fault.
Federal vehicle safety records reviewed by The Times also cast doubt on Toyota's claims that sticky gas pedals were a significant factor in the growing reports of runaway vehicles. Of more than 2,000 motorist complaints of sudden acceleration in Toyota and Lexus vehicles over the last decade, just 5% blamed a sticking gas pedal, the analysis found.
What's more, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has conducted eight investigations into sudden-acceleration problems in Toyota vehicles over the last seven years, none of which identified a sticking pedal as a potential cause.
"The way the sudden-acceleration problems are occurring in reported incidents doesn't comport with how this sticky pedal is described," said Sean Kane, president of Safety Research & Strategies, a Rehoboth, Mass., auto safety consulting firm. "We know this recall is a red herring."
Sudden-acceleration events in Toyota and Lexus vehicles have been blamed for at least 19 fatalities and 815 vehicle crashes since 1999.
Toyota last fall blamed the episodes on floor mats that entrapped the gas pedals, leading to a massive recall. Then last week Toyota said sticking gas pedals were also causing sudden acceleration by not springing back into idle position, triggering another recall.
On Tuesday, the automaker stopped sales and production of eight models until it could remedy the problem.
Independent auto safety experts have been skeptical of Toyota's explanations, saying floor mats and sticky gas pedals can't fully explain the large number of complaints that have been mounting for the last decade, covering some of the most popular models in the company's lineup, including the Camry.
That argument was given more weight Friday when the manufacturer of the suspect pedals insisted its products had been unfairly blamed.
CTS Corp. of Elkhart, Ind., said in a statement that it had "deep concern that there is widespread confusion and incorrect information" about its products linked to the sudden-acceleration issue.
"The problem of sudden unintended acceleration has been reported to have existed in some Lexus vehicles and Toyota vehicles going back to 1999, when CTS did not even make this product for any customer," the company said.
No shock or surprise. I just feel very badly for the people who were suckered in by a company who touted trusting consumers to purchase their so-called quality products. I wonder what Toyota will used as the next excuse.
Toyota's newest deflection tactic for their death machines...
Of course, blame the Americans for making faulty pedals. However it seems this may be another poor excuse. Looks like Toyota may be digging their grave deeper, you decide!
Somewhat ironic that Mr. Toyoda was driving an Audi, which was the make that made people familiar with the term "sudden acceleration".
I didn't see him drive away in an Audi, did you? but talk is cheap, fix the vehicles properly or they are gonna lose a boat load of customers.
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