Toyota Recall Challenged by LA Times through Examination of Public Records
In a groundbreaking investigation, reporters Stuart Pfeifer, Carol J. Williams, and Robert Faturechi from the Los Angeles Times have uncovered 56 deaths related to uncontrolled acceleration in Toyotas. This figure is 22 more than the 34 listed in National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints.
The reporters delved into cases where drivers were initially blamed for accidents, before the problem with acceleration in Toyotas became widely known. One such case involved a car racing at an estimated 100 mph on a San Bernardino County street, striking a telephone pole and resulting in the death of a restaurant owner. Another case saw a car crashing into a jewelry store in Indiana.
In some instances, drivers were charged with "gross vehicular manslaughter" and face up to six years in prison. However, it's worth noting that not all these deaths occurred in Toyota models subject to recall.
The team spent fewer than three weeks confirming data for their investigation, using proprietary databases such as Pacer, Factiva, and other news databases to search for lawsuits and accidents involving sudden acceleration. They also spent a significant amount of time confirming information with local police departments due to the lack of specifics in NHTSA data.
Local public or college libraries can help access these proprietary databases if your media outlet doesn't offer access. Despite numerous attempts, a Toyota spokesman declined to comment for the story.
Interestingly, the specific Toyota brand involved in these cases does not appear explicitly in the provided search results. However, based on known historical cases, the models typically implicated in such incidents involve the Toyota Camry, Corolla, Avalon, and Lexus ES and GS series.
Despite the company's statement that it is confident that all models with potentially sticking pedals have been identified and that recalls will address all problems, the findings of this investigation raise questions about the extent and resolution of the uncontrolled acceleration issue in Toyotas.
