Top lawmakers appear to distrust Toyota Motor Corp.'s internal testing of electronics systems in their vehicles. Toyota began evaluation of the role of its electronic systems in cases of unintended acceleration with their vehicles. Toyota claims results pointed to problems with pedals and the floor mat, recalling close to 10 million vehicles to amend the potential danger. Now, more than 60 complaints have rolled in for Toyota drivers claiming that the fix offered by Toyota was unsuccessful in preventing pedal sticking and unintended acceleration. In light of the complaints, legislators have asked the company to come forward with the results from their testing and submit employees familiar with the testing to congressional interviews.
In a letter to Toyota’s top U.S. sales executive, James Lentz, House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman wrote, "We do not understand the basis for Toyota's repeated assertions that it is 'confident' there are no electronic defects contributing to incidents of sudden unintended acceleration."
Documents provided by the company failed to prove adequate testing was performed according to Waxman and Investigations subcommittee head, Bart Stupak. Some pages of evidence were even submitted in Japanese. Outside testing by Exponent Inc. was also seemed to have “serious deficiencies” and was unable to substantiate the company’s claims that the electronics system is not at fault for the problems.
Verbal assurance from the Japanese automaker’s founder and CEO Akio Toyoda that the electronics is not enough for lawmakers who have become skeptical by the seeming reluctance to submit full evidence.
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