Rep. Stupak to Investigate Toyota Recall
A House Democrat expressed concern Wednesday about a massive Toyota recall that has led the automaker to stop manufacturing and selling vehicles linked to problems with gas pedals, signaling that Congress could soon review the massive recall.
Michigan Rep. Bart Stupak, who leads an investigative subcommittee, said his staff would meet with Toyota officials on Wednesday following the automaker's decision to suspend U.S. sales of eight of its vehicle models, including the Camry, the best-selling car in the United States. The company is also halting production at assembly lines at six North American car plants, beginning the week of Feb. 1.
"We want to find out what Toyota knows about the sudden acceleration problem with several of their vehicles and we want to know what will be done to protect consumers who are currently driving those vehicles," Stupak said in a statement.
Stupak is a senior member on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which held high-profile hearings and pushed for new auto safety requirements following the massive recall of Firestone tires in 2000. Congress approved legislation requiring automakers and other manufacturers to provide data on deaths, injuries, consumer complaints, property damage and warranty claims.
Toyota issued a recall last week for the same eight models involving 2.3 million vehicles. It followed a separate recall of 4.2 million vehicles last year because of problems with gas pedals becoming trapped under floor mats, causing sudden acceleration. That problem was the cause of several crashes, including some fatalities. About 1.7 million vehicles fall under both recalls.
The Obama administration said it pressed Toyota to protect consumers who own vehicles under recall and to stop building new cars with the problem.
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood told WGN Radio in Chicago that "the reason Toyota decided to do the recall and to stop manufacturing was because we asked them to."
David Strickland, the administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, told reporters in Washington that the Transportation Department had been in regular communication with Toyota about the recall. He said the company's decision to stop selling the vehicles was "an aggressive one and one that is the legal and morally correct thing to do."
"Toyota was complying with the law. They consulted with the agency. We informed them of the obligation and they complied," Strickland said. Strickland wouldn't address why Toyota failed to stop selling the vehicles five days earlier when it announced the recall.
© 2010 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Michigan Rep. Bart Stupak, who leads an investigative subcommittee, said his staff would meet with Toyota officials on Wednesday following the automaker's decision to suspend U.S. sales of eight of its vehicle models, including the Camry, the best-selling car in the United States. The company is also halting production at assembly lines at six North American car plants, beginning the week of Feb. 1.
"We want to find out what Toyota knows about the sudden acceleration problem with several of their vehicles and we want to know what will be done to protect consumers who are currently driving those vehicles," Stupak said in a statement.
Stupak is a senior member on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which held high-profile hearings and pushed for new auto safety requirements following the massive recall of Firestone tires in 2000. Congress approved legislation requiring automakers and other manufacturers to provide data on deaths, injuries, consumer complaints, property damage and warranty claims.
Toyota issued a recall last week for the same eight models involving 2.3 million vehicles. It followed a separate recall of 4.2 million vehicles last year because of problems with gas pedals becoming trapped under floor mats, causing sudden acceleration. That problem was the cause of several crashes, including some fatalities. About 1.7 million vehicles fall under both recalls.
The Obama administration said it pressed Toyota to protect consumers who own vehicles under recall and to stop building new cars with the problem.
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood told WGN Radio in Chicago that "the reason Toyota decided to do the recall and to stop manufacturing was because we asked them to."
David Strickland, the administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, told reporters in Washington that the Transportation Department had been in regular communication with Toyota about the recall. He said the company's decision to stop selling the vehicles was "an aggressive one and one that is the legal and morally correct thing to do."
"Toyota was complying with the law. They consulted with the agency. We informed them of the obligation and they complied," Strickland said. Strickland wouldn't address why Toyota failed to stop selling the vehicles five days earlier when it announced the recall.
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Toyota kept quiet for sometime about this and put the blame on the mat and danced around it. Recently I was told to put the old mat back by the dealer . They should have stopped the production long time back and put many resources in finding the cause and a solution.
Toyota is not proactive, but was forced by the government to take action. I am shocked to see that there are people who believe that corporations are looking after the innocent consumers. We should not use this term "Big and too much government" phrase for everything. Without the government the corporation will eat you alive. I am driving a recalled toyota car, who is going to give me a guarantee that I will not crash, after paying $23000 for that damn car. I want government to ask toyota, about the cars that are currently on the road, I did not take a lotto ticket here, I bought a brand new car to drive safely. They are not proactive, but were forced by somebody certainly not by powerless consumers. I need an answer, to me and my family from Toyota or the government about our safety.
One more thing to remember, when we use the term too much government, is that we have already a mixed economy, a private sector and government. If its not for the government,we would be ruled by profit hungry corporations who does not stop at nothing. I am not saying that government should involve in everything, but certainly in an issue that is critical as it is.
Toyota is doing the right thing by limiting their exposure the insane tort/liability climate in the USA and no amount of investigating by Congress is going to find anything else. How about some tort reform Congress? Like changing the system to Loser-Pays?
I would think Toyota is way ahead of you Mr. Stupak!! Tell me why the federal government is wasting time and effort on something Toyota is being proactive about!?
Too much governement..............