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A new Consumer Reports analysis of complaints reported to the government suggests that unintended-acceleration problems may have occurred in more Toyota models than those listed in the company’s current recalls.
We looked at consumer complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Office of Defects Investigation about 2005 through 2010 Toyota models. This relatively small sampling doesn’t provide enough data for a statistically significant analysis, but it does provide a source of anecdotal reports.
Unintended acceleration appears to be an issue with many auto manufacturers, based on an analysis we did last fall. And the recent controversies raise questions about whether there should be specifications for pedal design and clearance from the floor.
In this analysis, we found about 450 cases of acceleration-related complaints involving Toyota models in the database’s Vehicle Speed Control category. Most of those we eliminated from the study because they could have been caused by driver error. However, we found 130 cases that could not be identified as driver error and involved models not included in the recent recalls. (There could still be more complaints listed in other categories, such as Braking.) The cases we evaluated fall into three groups:
Different model years from those recalled
A number of reports involve model years that are outside the range of current recalls. While Toyota has recalled only the 2007-2010 Camrys, for example, we found 25 reports related to 2005-2006 Camrys. This is notably fewer than those for the recalled models, and some other car models from other manufacturers have more incidents. But the cases are instructive. Here is one experience:
2006 Toyota Camry: "I had pulled slowly into a parking space. I had my foot on the brake. I was stopped. I was putting the car into the park position when the car suddenly surge [sic] forward at a high rate of speed. My foot was on the brake the entire time. The car went over the cement block into the parking space, jumped over a cement curb onto a grassy center island and finally stopped when I hit a tree. I have pictures of skid marks on the grassy area and the pavement to show that I had my foot on the brake and I was trying to stop the car. The car was totaled, and I sustained bruises from the airbag and the seat belt. I contacted Toyota. They sent an engineer to inspect the car. The engineer said that he could not recreate the problem and nothing was wrong with the car. I knew that my foot was on the brake, not the gas pedal. Even if it was on the gas pedal, I was parking and certainly would not have stomped on the gas pedal to make the car surge out of control as it did."
Different models from those recalled
Neither of Toyota’s recalls for unintended acceleration include the 4Runner, FJ Cruiser, Land Cruiser, Sienna, Yaris, or any Scions. (The Yaris is included in a floor mat and gas pedal recall in Europe.) Yet, we found similar complaints about each of the above, as illustrated by this one:
2007 Toyota 4Runner: "Driving a 2007 Toyota 4Runner SR5 V6 4-wheel drive vehicle on a highway at the speed limit of 70 mph. In the left lane (4 lane highway). I slowed down to change lanes entering the right lane, I think applying the brakes to slow down and move over. As I began to accelerate again in the right lane, I let up on the accelerator pedal so as to not exceed the speed limit, but it did not come back up when my foot did, and the vehicle did not slow down normally as it should but raced ahead. I quickly looked to see if my floor mat had caused the pedal to stick which I observed it did not. I then applied the brakes to try to slow the vehicle yet the vehicle was still attempting to accelerate. Fortunately, I was able to somewhat slow down and guide the vehicle onto an exit ramp to my right, all the while holding down the brake as hard as I could to keep control of the car. I guided it onto the right side of the ramp out of the traffic path and quickly moved the gear first to neutral then to park. This stopped the vehicle but the engine continued to rapidly rev. I then immediately turned off the ignition. The wheels were pointed straight ahead, and I avoided any kind of crash or injury. Then I turned on my emergency lights. I let the vehicle sit off for a minute or so, then leaving the vehicle in park. I turned on the ignition again upon which the engine revved as high as but did not move. So I turned off the ignition for good…."
Other causes of unintended acceleration
Some complaints don’t appear to be related to either floor-mat entrapment or a sticking accelerator pedal. A few incidents, for example, seem to be related to pedal placement, which makes it easy for some drivers to hit the gas and brake simultaneously or hit the gas when they mean to hit the brake.
Here’s one driver’s report:
2005 Toyota Tacoma: "It's not the floor mat! Unintentional acceleration problem. Backing to turn around, looking over my right shoulder and turning the steering wheel to the left. When moving my right foot from throttle to brake, the truck suddenly accelerated and the harder I braked, the faster it went. Stopped the movement by shutting off the engine. What happened: in the position I was in, twisted to look over my right shoulder, when moving my foot to the brake, I inadvertently failed to move my foot completely onto to the brake and off the throttle. My foot engaged both pedals and the brakes did not engage until the brake pedal was pressed down far enough to also press on the throttle. This has happened to me 3 times, fortunately in my driveway and there were no collisions. The problem is that the brake pedal goes down too low before actually activating the brakes. The solution is to design so that the brakes engage when the pedal is a little higher than the throttle. Is it just me? Could be, but I have been driving for 50 years and this has never happened with any other vehicle."
And here’s one for which no explanation is apparent:
2008 Toyota Tacoma TRD: "Sudden, unexpected increase in engine rpms while stopped at a red traffic light. I had just come to a complete stop at a red light when the engine suddenly began to roar. When this happened, I was not able to keep the truck from moving forward by applying additional braking pressure. A man who was about to cross the street in front of the truck heard the noise and jumped back onto the curb to avoid being hit. The truck proceeded through the intersection and approx. another 100 feet before the rpms returned to normal and the vehicle came to a stop. I was very fortunate there was no cross traffic at the time this problem occurred. Approx mileage is 10k. Please note the following: 1 - My foot was on the brake, not the gas pedal, and I do not drive using both feet, and my shoe size is 8. 2 - The floor mat was lying flat on the floor when this was happened. 3 - I am very familiar with the slight increase in rpms that happens when the air conditioning cycles, and this was several orders of magnitude beyond that. This is the 5th Toyota pickup I have owned in the past 12 years, and the only one to have this kind of issue…."
Toyota spokesman Brian Lyons says the company is continuing to look for potential problems and their solutions in all areas, especially unintended acceleration. On Tacoma pedal placement, Lyons says, "NHTSA has standards for where the pedals have to be placed. And the Tacoma adheres to those standards."
When hundreds of thousands or even millions of a given model were sold in the time period we studied, it’s hard to draw definitive conclusions from this relatively small number of complaints, which are self-reported and not verified by the agency. Without further analysis, we can’t say whether these Toyota complaints are out of proportion with those involving other automakers or whether these complaints are related to the current Toyota issues. In an earlier analysis looking only at 2008 models, we found about 40 percent of the complaints were related to Toyota models. But this ratio could be much different for other model years.
Still, this limited analysis suggests there may be more causes of unintended acceleration, affecting a wider variety of models. This reinforces the need for more examination by NHTSA and Toyota. And it underscores the need for closer monitoring of the NHTSA database to identify trends that could be related to vehicle defects. We’ll have more to come on this.
While these experiences are scary, they are still relatively rare. If you own one of the models mentioned here, we advise that, as with all drivers, you should make sure that your floor mats are secured and that nothing can interfere with the accelerator pedal. All Toyota models equipped with the potentially defective accelerator pedal assembly are being recalled. But, in general, if any driver notices that the pedal is not operating smoothly, they should have their car looked at as soon as possible. Since unintended acceleration can happen in any vehicle, you should also be familiar with the five steps on how to regain control of a runaway car.
—Eric Evarts and Gordon Hard
Be sure to follow Consumer Reports Cars blog (RSS) and Twitter (@CRcars) to keep up with the latest safety information and advice, also see our car safety and unintended acceleration guides.
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