Toyota Recall News: NHTSA calls in NASA to Check Toyota Electronic Throttle Systems

As concern and scrutiny continue to build over the Toyota safety issues that have sparked a massive recall, the U.S. Department of Transportation is bringing in the big guns, asking for help from America’s “astronaut engineers” at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

To date, Toyota has recalled over eight million vehicles, partially in response to reports of sudden or unintended acceleration by Toyota drivers. Recalled vehicles have been involved in injuries and fatalities on the road, and many drivers have yet to see their safety issues addressed even though the company has moved to fix a large portion of vehicles with reinforced brake pedals and other new engineering.

Nine NASA scientists will be assisting the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration or NHTSA led by Ray LaHood who has said his department is “determined” to figure out what’s behind the Toyota safety issue. LaHood says the NHTSA has had assistance from NASA before and indicated that their expertise will come in handy in efforts to put an end to speculation about the Toyota engine systems.

What are the skills that NASA scientists bring to the table? These engineers are expected to assist with issues involving electromagnetic interference, software integrity and some other general electronics evaluations.

One reason that the NHTSA has turned to outside sources for help is that, though Toyota claims mechanical items are to blame for acceleration problems, some U.S. legislators and consumer advocacy groups believe that the problem lies with Toyota’s electronic throttle systems, new engineering that places a computerized signal between the accelerator pedal and the engine.

Investigations by the NHTSA prior to 2004 found no problems with the throttles, and Toyota’s technicians have been “unable to replicate” reported problems that drivers believed to have been caused by the electronic systems. Nevertheless, government groups are calling for more investigation to make sure that these electronics are safe to be installed in modern cars.

Over the past six months, customers have continued to report problems with “runaway” Toyota vehicles that have accelerated improperly. In some cases, drivers claim that they have been unable to stop their vehicles using the brake pedal.

Central Florida Toyota Recall Injury Attorney

If you or someone in your family has been injured in an accident involving a Toyota vehicle recalled for one of these safety issues, call Orlando Toyota recall injury lawyer James O. Cunningham. This Central Florida Toyota recall injury attorney has years of experience dealing with personal injury cases and can help drivers obtain compensation for Toyota recall related accidents involving injury or fatality. Call our legal team at 386-243-4994 or use convenient web forms to get more information.

James O. Cunningham

Since 1977, personal injury lawyer James Cunningham has provided effective legal advocacy to people who are injured through the negligent actions of another person or entity throughout the Central Florida area. He fights to obtain recoveries for his clients’ physical and emotional pain and suffering and pursues his clients’ personal injury cases with a commitment to excellence and impeccable preparation.