January 28, 2010 7:22 PM

House Committee to Launch Toyota Investigation

By
Ken Millstone
Topics
In The News
(AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi)
The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee on Friday will launch an investigation into Toyota's sticking accelerators – a problem that has been linked to at least six deaths, sparked a production halt and one of the largest recalls in history, and may have been caused by irresponsible shortcuts in its rise to being the world's No. 1 automaker.

Committee Chairman Edolphus Towns (D-N.Y.) will call for a hearing entitled, "Toyota Gas Pedals: Is the Public at Risk?" tentatively scheduled for Feb. 4.

In a letter to Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, Towns writes, "There is some indication the problem may not be limited to Toyota," adding "The public is unsure as to what exactly the problem is, whether it is safe to drive their cars, or what they should do about it."

Towns and the Government Reform Committee are already in the spotlight for grilling Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner in an investigation of the government bailout of AIG.

Read more about the Toyota recall at CBSNews.com:

Evening News: Toyota Recall Fuels Confusion, Anger
Toyota Part-Maker: Fix Is in the Works
Ford Stops Some China Vehicle Production
Toyota Part-Maker Gets Unwanted Spotlight
Toyota Took Short Cuts in Drive to Top
Toyota's Massive Recall Snowballs
Toyota Recalls 1M More Vehicles
Toyota Recall Not Result of Simple Glitch
GM Tries to Lure Wary Toyota Owners
Toyota's Sales Halt Deals Blow to Image
Rep. Stupak to Investigate Toyota Recall
  • Ken Millstone

    Ken Millstone is an assignment editor at CBSNews.com

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