Philadelphia Car Accident Lawyers Blog

Toyota is investigating reports of power steering problems with the world's bestselling car, the Toyota Corolla. No recall has been announced but Toyota is examining the couple hundred complaints very seriously.

The investigation will aim to discover what exactly is causing some drivers to feel like they are losing control of their vehicles. Toyota has yet to discover if the problem stems from a problem with the steering system or from the braking system or the tires. After the massive recalls by the company Toyota is taking this most recent problem very seriously and has vowed to discover and fix this latest defect in one of its vehicles.

Over 8.5 million vehicles have been recalled by Toyota since the end of 2009. The first was recall was a problem with floor mats interfering with accelerators and causing drivers to lose control of their vehicles. The second recall named a defect that caused vehicles to suddenly accelerate on drivers and the third was a problem with the electronic braking on the Toyota Prius.

Over thirty deaths have been attributed to the sudden acceleration of Toyotas. Thirteen have been reported since the end of 2009 adding to the 21 reports since 2000. Toyota once had a sterling reputation for safety but these latest transgressions have the company suffering in sales and under the scrutiny of the United States Government. Toyota is doing the best to repair its reputation and is hoping to be proactive with the Corolla problem instead of reactive as it has been in the recent past.

Related Sources:

Gov't: 34 deaths alleged in Toyotas since 2000

Toyota considers Corolla recall

Honda Motor Corporation is adding 437,000 vehicles to a recall that was originally announced in November 2008. The recall includes 378,000 vehicles in Pennsylvania and nationwide. Additionally 41,000 have been recalled in Canada and 17,000 in Asia and Australia.

The vehicles have a defective driver's side airbag that can deploy with too much pressure causing unnecessary injury or death to the driver of the vehicle. This latest addition to the recall comes after an investigation into the machine that stamps the airbags. The defective machine at times used insufficient pressure to make the airbag inflators and in a safety measure Honda has recalled all vehicles that have airbags made by the machine.

Vehicles affected by the recall:

2001 and 2002 Accord Sedans
2001 and 2002 Civic Compacts
2001 and 2002 Odyssey Minivans
2001 and 2002 CRV Sport Utility Vehicles
2002 Acura TL Sedans

Owners of the recalled vehicles will be notified by Honda and will then be able to bring the defective vehicle to a dealer for a free repair.

Related Sources:
Honda adds 437,000 cars to global air bag recall

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has launched an investigation into the Toyota Prius. Pennsylvania motorists who own and drive a 2010 Toyota Prius should be aware that there have been reports of the brakes failing on the vehicle.

There have been numerous reports to the NHSTA of brakes failing on Toyota Prius drivers when they encounter a hazardous road. The brakes are momentarily failing when they drive on slippery roads, hit a pot hole or drive on uneven road surfaces. Toyota has confirmed that there is a software glitch in the brake that is causing the vehicle to temporarily lose braking power but has not yet launched a formal recall. The investigation involves nearly 40,000 vehicles and is so far limited to the 2010 model. The problem is also being investigated in Japan by its government. The Prius was not named in the floor mat or the accelerator recall.

Toyota, its dealerships and its drivers are facing an especially trying time. Toyota was once renowned for its safety but these latest rounds of recalls and investigation has made many people questioning Toyota's reputation. The Secretary of Transportation, Ray LaHood, issued a statement for Toyota drivers to immediately stop driving recalled vehicles and take them back to the dealership. LaHood has since retracted that statement and said that drivers should get their vehicle fixed as soon as possible.

Related Web Sources:
Feds probing Prius brakes
Toyota checking 2010 Prius brakes; mum on recall
Confusion and fear at Toyota dealerships

A New Jersey woman was driving down I-95 when suddenly her car became extremely difficult to drive. The woman's power steering on her 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt had failed and she narrowly avoided crashing into the guardrail. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration the woman is not alone and an investigation into the defect has begun.

NHTSA has received over one thousand complaints from about a power steering malfunction in models 2005 thru 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt. When the power steering on a vehicle shuts off the automobile becomes extremely difficult to maneuver and drivers can easily lose control of the vehicle. Motorists have described the feeling as trying to life a very heavy weight. There is not yet a recall but General Motors is cooperating with the NHTSA investigation.

Related Sources:
Probe Underway Into Chevy Cobalt Complaints

A Montgomery County woman unexplainably crashed into the store front of a laundromat in Glenside. The woman was attempting to place her Toyota Camry in park when the vehicle suddenly accelerated up the curb and through the window of the local laundromat. Luckily no one was injured in the accident and the laundromat owner estimates the woman was travelling 50 mph.

This accident comes as Toyota announces another 1.09 million vehicles recalled because of sudden acceleration concerns. This recall is in addition to the 2.3 million vehicles Toyota has recalled.

Vehicles affected by the mats recall:
• 2008-2010 Highlander
• 2009-2010 Corolla
• 2009-2010 Venza
• 2009-2010 Matrix
• 2009-2010 Pontiac Vibe
•
Vehicles affected by the accelerator recall:
• 2009-2010 RAV4
• 2009-2010 Corolla
• 2009-2010 Matrix
• 2005-2010 Avalon
• 2007-2010 Camry
• 2010 Highlander
• 2007-2010 Tundra
• 2008-2010 Sequoia

Toyota has decided to halt production at six North American car-assembly plants starting February 1 and will halt sales in North America on the vehicles named in the recalls to fix the problem before it reaches consumers. Toyota has yet to set a date when production and sales of the vehicles will resume.

Related Web Sources:

Woman's Toyota crashes into Laundromat
Toyota recalls an additional 1.09M vehicles

Toyota has announced another massive recall on older model vehicles after continuing reports of vehicles suddenly accelerating on drivers. This latest recall covers 2.3 million vehicles and comes at a surprise to Philadelphia drivers and others nationwide.

In December 2009, Toyota launched its largest recall in history. The recall was a response to a problem that had plagued the company for years, floor mats that interfered with accelerator pedals. The recall finally offered a permanent solution to problem.

However The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration is still receiving numerous complaints of Toyota vehicles suddenly accelerating and causing severe accidents. Drivers are reporting that the accelerator pedal is sticking in a partially depressed condition and causing the vehicle to suddenly accelerate. The reports come from drivers who have removed the floor mats from their vehicles. In Toyota's last massive recall the company stated that there is no mechanical defect with the pedal but this latest recall alters the company's stance. Investigations by Toyota have discovered that when the pedal mechanism is worn it can take longer to return to an idle position or more dangerously remain partially depressed.

If a vehicle suddenly accelerates drivers are being told to firmly press down on the brake and shift the car into to neutral. Once in neutral they are told to steer the vehicle off the road and turn off the engine. Drivers should not turn off the car in traffic as they are likely to lose power steering, making the car difficult to maneuver. There is no remedy yet for this recall.

The following Toyota Division vehicles were named in the recall:

• 2009-2010 RAV4,
• 2009-2010 Corolla,
• 2009-2010 Matrix,
• 2005-2010 Avalon,
• 2007-2010 Camry,
• 2010 Highlander,
• 2007-2010 Tundra,
• 2008-2010 Sequoia

Related Sources:

Toyota issues recall for 2.3 million vehicles

Toyota Files Voluntary Safety Recall on Select Toyota Division Vehicles for Sticking Accelerator Pedal

Philadelphia drivers may be unknowingly driving around on defective valve stems. Over twenty three million valve stems from China have been recalled in fear the stems can crack.

A cracked valve stem can lead to decreased tire pressure, one of the leading causes of a tire blowout. It is extremely difficult to control a vehicle during a tire blowout and ultimately most blowouts end in a serious collision. As a way to increase profits, the Chinese manufacturer removed the chemical applied to the valve stem to prevent cracking. Unfortunately there is no way to know if your tire has a defective Chinese valve stem because there is no part number or model number stamped on the stems. Drivers can check for cracks on their valve stems by rotating the stem clockwise and checking the surface for cracks.

Related Sources:
Valve Stem Problem in Chinese Tires

Philadelphia Toyota Drivers, there is finally a permanent solution to a problem that has been plaguing Toyota and its drivers for years. After years of reports of the floor mats causing the vehicle to suddenly accelerate, Toyota announced a recall in October that urged all drivers to remove the floor mats until a vehicle-based remedy could be implemented. The remedy announced by Toyota will be a reconfiguration of the accelerator pedal and a brake-to-idle override that will allow the driver to quickly stop the vehicle in an unintended sudden acceleration situation. Toyota will also install new floor mats in the vehicles.

Starting in January, drivers can bring their Toyota or Lexus to a dealer and the dealership will shorten the length of the accelerator pedal until replacement pedals arrive. They will also install an "extra measure of confidence" by programming the car to idle when the brake and accelerator are pressed simultaneously. Toyota hopes this extra measure will alleviate concern and re-instill confidence in their vehicles. In many sudden acceleration accidents the driver has stated that no amount of braking could slow down or stop the vehicle.

The recalled vehicles include:
2005 - 2010 Avalon
2007 - 2010 Camry
2004 - 2009 Prius
2005 - 2010 Tacoma
2007 - 2010 Tundra
2007 - 2010 Lexus ES 350
2006 - 2010 Lexus IS 250
2006 - 2010 Lexus IS 350

There have also been reports that some Toyota sudden unintended acceleration accidents are not due to the floor mat. The problem lies with the electronic throttle and while the "extra measure of confidence" that is being installed in the recalled vehicles the 2002 thru 2006 Camry/Lexus ES also have electronic throttles and have been reported to suddenly accelerate on drivers. Toyota currently has no plans to address these situations and is only offering the solution to the vehicles mentioned in the recall.

Pennsylvania Toyota drivers may want to remove their floor mats on the driver's side. Toyota has announced a recall of almost 4 million vehicles and is urging all Toyota and Lexus drivers to remove their floor mats and not replace them until the automaker can come up with a permanent solution to a dangerous problem.

Toyota has received numerous reports of the floor mat causing the accelerators to jam causing drivers to lose control of their vehicle which can ultimately end in a high speed collision. The first known reports came to Toyota in 2004 and concerned the Prius but since then there have been over 100 reports with dozens of crashes, nearly twenty injuries and five deaths.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has warned drivers to remove floor mats from the following vehicles:

• 2007-2010 Toyota Camry
• 2005-2010 Toyota Avalon
• 2004-2009 Toyota Prius
• 2005-2010 Toyota Tacoma
• 2007-2010 Toyota Tundra
• 2007-2010 Lexus ES 350
• 2006-2010 Lexus IS 250 and IS 350