As Congress held hearings and members angrily wagged fingers at Toyota executives, some critics were pointing at the federal government as an integral the main problems enveloping the Japanese auto giant.
Vista, Calif. Rep. Darrell Issa co-chaired a reading of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform addressing the recent recalls, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s handling of consumer complaints and oversight of automakers.
Oversight lacking
As lawmakers probed Toyota’s internal efforts to quash U.S. government investigations and its efforts to correct reported issues with sudden acceleration and braking in its cars, additionally they cast an increasingly skeptical eye toward the NHTSA.
Once the agency receives consumer complaints about defects in vehicles, it opens an investigation where its engineers conduct evaluations of the reported flaws. Among the problems Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has acknowledged is that only two of the agency’s 125 engineers are electronics engineers.
Complaints about Toyota vehicles have ranged from issues with floor mats, gas pedals that stick and brakes that fail. Consequently, there has been widely publicized reports of crashes, injuries and more than 30 deaths nationwide. The automaker has recalled over eight million vehicles so far.
New safety laws looming
Agitated by consumer outrage on the failure of the respectable corporate culture of Toyota and the federal government’s own consumer watchdogs, lawmakers are threatening new legislation to avoid future safety scandals of this scope.
One proposal would require automakers to set up data recorders in most vehicle — black boxes similar to those in airplanes — containing accident and performance data downloadable by regulators.
Toyota says recent models contain such devices, but admitted there’s merely a single machine in the whole country capable of reading the boxes, and a company representative must certanly be present while the machine is operated.
Another legislative proposal would require new cars to own brake override systems; software ensuring an engine’s throttle would go to idle whenever the brakes are deployed.
Congress may also consider empowering NHTSA with the authority to levy criminal penalties on automakers that delay safety recalls. The agency can currently assess civil penalties as high as $16.4 million, nonetheless it hasn’t used this power since 2004.
Have you been affected by Toyota’s failures?
If you or even a family member has been hurt in a San Diego car accident as a result of defect in a Toyota vehicle or another vehicle brand, contact Waldron Personal Injury Lawyer who is able to evaluate your case and assist you to use the law to guard yourself and your family.