A "wrongful death" occurs when a person dies due to the negligent, careless, intentional, or reckless act of another person or entity. If someone close to you has died due to the wrongful act or neglect of another, it can sometimes occur due to the use of products or devices which have been recalled.
The House Energy and Commerce Committee is currently bringing Toyota to task regarding Toyota vehicles accelerating out of control. More than 8 million Toyota vehicles have been recently recalled for issues ranging from troublesome floor mats to sticky gas pedals to faulty brakes to cracked propeller shafts. The government is investigating product safety law violations regarding whether Toyota made false statements to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration involving unintended acceleration. An internal Toyota memo cites millions of dollars in savings from delaying safety regulations, avoiding defect investigations and slowing down other industry requirements.
Recent Advisories include:
Department of Transportation Addresses Toyota Safety Issues
Thursday, February 4, 2010 WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) today announced that it is opening a formal investigation of the Toyota Prius Hybrid model year 2010 to look into allegations of momentary loss of braking capability while traveling over an uneven road surface, pothole or bump.
The Office of Defects Investigation has received 124 reports from consumers, including four reports alleging that crashes occurred. Investigators have spoken with consumers and conducted pre-investigatory field work.
“Safety is our top priority,” said Secretary Ray LaHood. “That is why in recent weeks NHTSA has also issued a consumer advisory on the recall of several models of Toyota vehicles and the Pontiac Vibe involving pedal entrapment and sticky accelerator pedals. We will continue to monitor these issues closely.”
U.S. Department of Transportation Responds to Third Toyota Recall
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Transportation learned today of a third Toyota recall involving 2010 Prius hybrids and Lexus HS 250h vehicles experiencing brake system problems. Some 2010 Camrys prone to brake fluid leaks have also been recalled...
NHTSA Launches Probe into Timeliness of Three Toyota Recalls
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration today announced that it is using its statutory authority to obtain documents from Toyota to determine if the automaker conducted three of its recent recalls in a timely manner. Federal law requires all auto manufacturers to notify NHTSA within five days of determining that a safety defect exists and promptly conduct a recall...
Toyota is Recalling Certain Model Year Vehicles Due to Friction Lever Concerns
Due to the manner in which the friction lever interacts with the sliding surface of the accelerator pedal inside the pedal sensor assembly, the sliding surface of the lever may become smooth during vehicle operation. The accelerator pedal may become hard to depress, slow to return to idle, or, in the worst case, mechanically stuck in a partially depressed position, increasing the risk of a crash.
Vehicle Make / Model: Model Year(s):
TOYOTA / AVALON 2005-2010
TOYOTA / CAMRY 2007-2010
TOYOTA / COROLLA 2009-2010
TOYOTA / COROLLA MATRIX 2009-2010
TOYOTA / HIGHLANDER 2010
TOYOTA / RAV4 2009-2010
TOYOTA / SEQUOIA 2008-2010
TOYOTA / TUNDRA 2007-2010
Manufacturer: TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC. Mfr’s Report Date: JAN 21, 2010
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 10V017000 NHTSA Action Number: N/A
Component: POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY:PEDAL/LINKAGE
Summary:
TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2010 AVALON, MODEL YEAR 2007-2010 CAMRY, MODEL YEAR 2009-2010 COROLLA, COROLLA MATRIX, RAV4, MODEL YEAR 2010 HIGHLANDER, MODEL YEAR 2008-2010 SEQUOIA, AND MODEL YEAR 2007-2010 TUNDRA. DUE TO THE MANNER IN WHICH THE FRICTION LEVER INTERACTS WITH THE SLIDING SURFACE OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL INSIDE THE PEDAL SENSOR ASSEMBLY, THE SLIDING SURFACE OF THE LEVER MAY BECOME SMOOTH DURING VEHICLE OPERATION. IN THIS CONDITION, IF CONDENSATION OCCURS ON THE SURFACE, AS MAY OCCUR FROM HEATER OPERATION (WITHOUT A/C) WHEN THE PEDAL ASSEMBLY IS COLD, THE FRICTION WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS OPERATED MAY INCREASE, WHICH MAY RESULT IN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECOMING HARDER TO DEPRESS, SLOWER TO RETURN, OR, IN THE WORST CASE, MECHANICALLY STUCK IN A PARTIALLY DEPRESSED POSITION.
Consequence:
THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL MAY BECOME HARD TO DEPRESS, SLOW TO RETURN TO IDLE, OR, IN THE WORST CASE, MECHANICALLY STUCK IN A PARTIALLY DEPRESSED POSITION, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy:
TOYOTA HAS NOT YET PROVIDED A REMEDY PLAN OR AN OWNER NOTIFICATION SCHEDULE
See Recalls Below:
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