Toyota to Face Congressional Hearing over Auto Product Defect Issues
Toyota Motor Corp. is facing an inquiry from the U.S. Congress this month after the massive vehicle defect recall involving faulty gas pedals that can stick and cause unintended acceleration. According to a Reuters news report, the Congress hearing will be held to determine how quickly and effectively Toyota responded to complaints about sticking pedals and slipping floor mats that caused the accelerator pedal to jam. This is an unusual move from the government, but is not a huge surprise considering the effect this recall is going to have. In January, Toyota, in an unprecedented move, also halted the production and sales of eight of its models, including the top-selling Toyota Camry and Corolla models that are included in this recall.
Auto Maker to fix Faulty Pedals
Toyota, whose name has been synonymous with quality and reliability, has now recalled a total of 8 million vehicles in North America, Europe and China. That number is more than the number of cars and trucks sold worldwide in 2009. Toyota has also announced that it has a fix for the faulty gas pedals and will start repairing the problem soon. But, given the number of vehicles that have been recalled, it seems that completing the fix on all the cars could take several months or even years.
Was the Recall Quick and Effective?
I would be curious to find out how prompt and effective Toyota was in conducting this recall. Could they have avoided this mess had they acted in a timely manner and admitted their product defects and prevented catastrophic injuries, instead of putting out video messages on their Web site denying that their vehicles had problems or defects? Why was it that the company came out and admitted their product defects only after the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) criticized Toyota openly for giving themselves "a clean bill of health?"
Auto Product Liability Issues
I hope we learn more from this upcoming Congressional hearing, especially about whether Toyota dragged its feet on this recall. There have already been several investigative reports in the Los Angeles Times stating that Toyota has long known about the unintended acceleration issue - for nearly 10 years. They have either denied or ignored the problem.
If you are a Toyota owner and have been injured as a result of one of these defective vehicles, please consult with a reputable personal injury lawyer, who has extensive experience handling auto product liability cases involving Toyota and other large auto makers. The best auto product defect law firms will always offer a free and comprehensive consultation to injured victims and their families.
The BISNAR|CHASE personal injury law firm is not representing any of the parties mentioned in this article at the time the article was posted. Our information source is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident or a similar incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call us or another reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a consultation. The best law firms will provide a free consultation. We provide a free, confidential consultation to not at fault persons named in this article. The free consultation offer extends to family members as well.
