Edmunds.com Challenges LaHood to Address Unintended Acceleration Concerns
SANTA MONICA, Calif.--In preparation for tomorrow’s hearings on the Toyota recall, the CEO of Edmunds.com, the premier online resource for automotive information, sent the below letter to Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood:
| February 25, 2010 |
| Dear Secretary LaHood, |
| As did many in America, I spent time this week viewing the Congressional hearings on Toyota and their handling of vehicle recalls. |
| Clearly, Toyota has much to answer for regarding past decision-making, communications and priorities. |
| I fear, however, that a critical point is getting lost. |
| Edmunds.com has been conducting an exhaustive review of the published complaint data available on the NHTSA web site. Part of this effort was a line-by-line evaluation of each complaint and an assessment of the appropriate categorization of the issue described. |
| Some interesting facts have emerged. The first is that since Toyota first announced a safety alert regarding floor mats and the linkage to vehicle acceleration late last year, their complaint volume has skyrocketed. Prior to that point, their complaint volume for this issue was above the norm, but not markedly so. Make the reasonable assumption that floor mats and sticky throttles can account for some of this volume, and their experience is consistent with industry standards. |
| But this illustrates the key point: Every car company has a level of complaint volume from consumers relating to vehicles that suffered unintended acceleration. (As poor as their response may have been, Toyota is actually the only company I can remember actually doing anything to address these complaints.) |
| No matter how hard the questioning at next week’s Senate hearing, what won’t be forthcoming is the answer we all need to hear: What is behind this malady of unintended acceleration affecting all manufacturers and of such concern to consumers? |
|
Unintended acceleration is a problem stretching at least as far back as the investigation triggered by 60 Minutes’ coverage of issues with the Audi 5000. It hasn’t gone away, but I think could benefit from a fresh approach. DoT and NHTSA should take the lead in coordinating an effort that involves all manufacturers. Sharing data and working collaboratively, perhaps together an answer can be found that working individually has rendered elusive. |
| If driver error is the issue, let’s say so once and for all. If design issues are involved, let’s identify and fix them. If there is a workaround, let’s find it. |
| Most of all, let’s get this issue -- and the justifiable concern it creates in the minds of consumers -- behind us. |
| Jeremy Anwyl, CEO |
|
Edmunds.com Inc. |
About Edmunds.com Inc. (http://www.edmunds.com/help/about/)
Edmunds.com Inc. publishes four Web sites that empower, engage and educate automotive consumers, enthusiasts and insiders. Edmunds.com, the premier online resource for automotive consumer information, launched in 1995 as the first automotive information Web site. InsideLine.com is the most-read automotive enthusiast Web site. CarSpace is an automotive social networking Web site. AutoObserver.com provides insightful automotive industry commentary and analysis. Edmunds.com Inc. is headquartered in Santa Monica, California, and maintains a satellite office in suburban Detroit. Follow Edmunds.com on Twitter @edmunds and fan Edmunds.com on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/edmunds.