According to a lawsuit recently filed in West Virginia, Toyota’s 2-million-vehicle recall last month neglected to include all of the vehicles that pose a threat to consumers.
The recall applied to eight models that Toyota has found to have “gas pedal issues” that have the potential to cause uncontrollable acceleration (and have, in some cases, led to deadly crashes). The lawsuit claims that a full 13 other Toyota models also have a risk of uncontrollable acceleration, since each is equipped with an electronic throttle-control system.
In addition, the suit says, Toyota has been concealing information from regulatory agencies and the public by ignoring gapingly large classes of customer complaints—limiting their agency reports, for example, to adverse acceleration incidents lasting less than one second. (This means that incidents lasting more than one second—extremely important incidents like those that caused the fatal crashes in CA and MI—were excluded from the reports.)
Toyota has recalled the 2009-10 RAV4 Crossover, the 2009-10 Corolla, the 2009-10 Matrix hatchback, the 2005-10 Avalon, the 2007-10 Camry, the 2010 Highlander crossover, the 2007-10 Tundra pickup and the 2008-10 Sequoia SUV.
In addition to those, the lawsuit alleges, several other models and years are at risk: 2007-08 FJ Cruisers, 2003-08 Tacoma pickups, 2002-09 Camrys, 2000-09 Tundra pickups, 2001-09 4Runner SUVs, 2001-09 Land Cruisers, 2005-09 RAV4s, 2001-09 Sequoias, 2004-09 Siennas, 2005-09 Corollas, and 2004-09 Highlanders. "Lexus models" from 1998 to 2009 also are listed. –The Charleston Gazette
Things are looking bad for Toyota. If only it would respond to this suit quickly and with an abundance of helpful, transparent information.
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