Toyota and Lexus models for 2008 had a much greater incidence of sudden, unintended acceleration than other brands, according to Consumer Reports’ analysis of a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) safety complaints database.
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“In our review of 2008 model-year data, Ford also stood out with a significant number of related complaints. Both automakers had a disproportionate number of occurrences for their market share, though the statistical likelihood of experiencing such events is low,” the consumer advocacy group said in a statement published on its website.
After analysing all 5,916 reports on 2008 models, Consumer Reports (CR) identified 166 cases in which the complaint described sustained unintended acceleration that the driver found difficult or impossible to control. Such incidents prompted a related safety advisory focused on floor-mat entrapment issued by both NHTSA and Toyota last September, the organisation said.
CR said it used 2008 models to provide a snapshot across all automakers and identify possible issues and narrowed the scope further to complaints submitted before 28 August, 2009, when a California family was killed in a Lexus sedan experiencing uncontrollable acceleration, to eliminate the impact media coverage had in drawing more submissions.
It found the sudden acceleration incidents were distributed over 22 brands, but not spread evenly. Forty-seven complaints were about Toyota models and five were for Lexus vehicles. Between them, Toyota and Lexus accounted for more than a third of all the unintended-acceleration incidents found among 2008-model vehicles. Toyota thus racked up more unintended-acceleration complaints than Chrysler, GM, Honda, and Nissan combined.
CR cautioned that, a as major automakers, Toyota and Ford sell more vehicles than most competitors so it also compared the number of complaints against overall 2007/8 market share. Toyota had 52 complaints, a 41% share of notifications to the NHTSA and average market share of 16%. The Ford figures were 36 complaints, 28% of notifications and 16% market share. At the bottom of CR’s table, Nissan had 4 complaints, 3% of notifications and 6% market share.
“Looking at all complaints on 2008 models through November, we find that Toyota had a significant increase after the media attention following the California tragedy and the company’s safety advisory mailings to owners. In November, the total count for Toyota and Lexus rises to 80 incidents, representing 48% of the complaints from all brands,” Consumer Reports said.
In the acceleration cases the organisation eyed, drivers reported that sometimes their car lurched from a standstill, fighting the brakes. Other times it took off while cruising the highway, or while parking, or even while going in reverse.
With 36 complaints, Ford was the only other manufacturer with a disproportionately high number of reported cases, CR added.
“Some consumers’ personal accounts indicate that the pedal arrangement in the popular F-150 pickup makes it too easy to hit the brake and accelerator at the same time, although there are other detailed sudden-acceleration events that are not readily explained.”
CR noted that, because it is dependent upon motorist submissions, the NHTSA complaint database does not reflect all sudden, unintended acceleration cases.
“But the data does show statistically more complaints for certain Toyota, Lexus, and Ford brand models,” it said.
CR suggested vehicle owners heed recalls and learn the safe way to deal with unintended acceleration.
“We hope to see the introduction of smart-throttle technology on all vehicles, providing a means for the driver to quickly and safely regain control of the car in unintended acceleration scenarios,” the organisation added.
Toyota announced a 4.26m vehicle recall in the US and Canada late in November to address the problem.
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