NHTSA, DOT Settle Lawsuit over Hidden Toyota Unintended Acceleration Documents - 2012-08-01

The Department of Transportation has settled a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit with Safety Research & Strategies, agreeing to turn over investigatory documents, videos and photos related to the agency’s involvement with a 2011 recall of Toyota and Lexus models for alleged accelerator entrapment by interior trim. 

Safety Research & Strategies continues to examine information showing that unintended acceleration still plagues Toyota vehicles and that many incidents cannot be explained by floor mats, bad drivers and sticky pedals. 

According to SRS's preliminary analysis, NHTSA looked at 17 Toyota and Lexus exemplar vehicles as part of its preliminary investigation - but only two of those 17 were among the recalled vehicles. Republican Senator Charles Grassley, informed by whistleblowers, is also raising concerns about how the agency has managed other Toyota UA probes. 

Under threat of losing a lawsuit filed by Safety Research & Strategies, NHTSA released the investigative videos and photos that persuaded the agency that Toyota was right to claim that trim interference could cause unintended acceleration in Lexus vehicles that were recalled in February 2011. 

Attorneys at Langdon & Emison have extensive experience in automobile defect cases. You can read more about Toyota sudden acceleration problems here.