NYT: Troubles Predate Recalled Toyotas

By: David Morgan
Topics: Toyota

(AP)

A study of complaints filed with the government over vehicles with speed-control problems has found that many reports of problems are for vehicles that do not fall within those recently recalled.

The New York Times reports today that Toyota had more complaints involving crashes than any other carmaker, including for Camrys that predate model year 2007.

According to the Times, the 2002 Camry (left) had about 175 speed-control complaints.

Camrys built before 2007 were not subject to the automaker's recall of six million cars.

The Times' Bill Vlasic, Hiroko Tabuchi and Jo Craven McGinty analyzed 12,700 consumer complaint records filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration over the last decade, involving all makes of vehicles.

Ford had the most (about 3,500), and Toyota ranked second (with about 3,000 complaints). But Toyota has far more complaints tied to accidents (1,000) than did Ford (450).

According to the Times' analysis, between 2000 through 2009, Toyota had one speed-control crash complaint for every 20,454 vehicles sold in the U.S.; Ford had one per 64,679 vehicles; Honda had one per 70,112; and G.M. had one per 179,821.

The single largest source of unintended acceleration complaints was the 2007 Camry, which Toyota has recalled. But in 2004, 125 crashes reported to the NHTSA were linked to speed control, and about two-thirds of those Camrys.

To read more of the Times' report click here.

David Morgan
David Morgan is a senior editor at CBSNews.com and cbssundaymorning.com.

5 Comments +

Add a Comment


by Hanks2010 March 11, 2010 9:54 AM EST: A short historical recall if you will...

http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2010-02-01/historys-10-biggest-car-blunders/#gallery=1280;page=1; Reply to this comment


by Clark Nova March 10, 2010 9:21 PM EST: The reason that Toyota has the greatest number of these no-lead solder generated shorts is that they use their own proprietary no-lead solder, unlike any used in the rest of the industry. All non-lead solders cause problems but Toyota's solder seems to be the worst of a bad bunch.

RoHS kills.; Reply to this comment


by smartasss1 March 2, 2010 2:58 PM EST: The braking system should be in a different chip from the drive control system. So if the drive control circuit malfunctions, the braking system being physically isolated from the drive control will still function.; Reply to this comment


by steveherb1 March 2, 2010 12:54 PM EST: Sure accidents involving crashes not fires. My Ford cruise control recall was fixed and still burned to the ground. The hard part is these auto manufactures view consumers as a statistic. After the crash or fire it's too costly to sue. Auto manufactures know this and welcome the financial challenge. If you didn't have full coverage you take the hit weather the recall was fixed or not. Bad things happen to good people but that is not a legal excuse to releasing liability for the product. You gamble use cheap under rated plastics and wiring; you pay the price and not the consumer. Ya, I'm talking to you FORD.; Reply to this comment


by steveherb1 March 2, 2010 12:54 PM EST: Sure accidents involving crashes not fires. My Ford cruise control recall was fixed and still burned to the ground. The hard part is these auto manufactures view consumers as a statistic. After the crash or fire it's too costly to sue. Auto manufactures know this and welcome the financial challenge. If you didn't have full coverage you take the hit weather the recall was fixed or not. Bad things happen to good people but that is not a legal excuse to releasing liability for the product. You gamble use cheap under rated plastics and wiring; you pay the price and not the consumer. Ya, I'm talking to you FORD.; Reply to this comment