Toyota rules out electronics as unintended acceleration cause – report

2008 – 2010 Toyota Avalon Limited
Independent report by a California engineering firm says electronics not a cause of sticking accelerators
Well, finally something that can be labeled good news for Toyota.
According to the Japanese automaker, the sticking accelerator problem for which it has had to recall several models globally is not due to any electrical faults.
In a report by the Wall Street Journal, Toyota commissioned California engineering firm Exponent to study the problem. The Journal obtained a copy of the study conducted by Exponent which found that no electronics issues were related to the problem.
The Wall Street Journal quotes from the report:
“Exponent has so far been unable to induce, through electrical disturbances to the system, either unintended acceleration or behavior that might be a precursor to such an event, despite concerted efforts toward this goal.”
Toyota commissioned the independent study in order to counter claims that it wasn’t doing enough to fix the problem of unintended acceleration and that the defect was linked to its electronics. Toyota has issued a recall to fix floor mats and gas pedals which may cause the throttle to get stuck.
“We have no indication that the electronic throttle is an issue. We are not the only ones with electronic throttles,” said Don Esmond, senior vice president of Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. Inc. at a dealer’s even in Florida.
Toyota has had to recall about 8.5 million cars worldwide due to the defective gas pedals.
Source: autonews.com (sub req)
Press Release (Click to expand)
Toyota Update: Exponent Report on the Company’s Electronic Throttle Control System
Toyota has retained Exponent, a well-respected engineering and scientific consulting firm, to conduct a comprehensive, independent analysis of Toyota and Lexus vehicles using the ETCS-i system (Electronic Throttle Control System with intelligence) for concerns related to unintended acceleration.
Toyota has provided members of Congress with an interim, first phase report from Exponent on its evaluation of the ETCS-i system, consistent with the company’s commitment to increased transparency regarding the quality and safety of its vehicles.
The interim report, dated February 4, 2010, notes that Exponent was unable to induce unintended acceleration in any of the ETCS-i equipped Toyota and Lexus vehicles it tested. In all cases, the vehicle either behaved normally or entered a fail-safe mode where engine power was significantly reduced or shut off.
Exponent’s testing and evaluation is ongoing. Its first phase evaluation was performed by a team that included both engineers and technicians with specialized knowledge in mechanical, electrical, and automotive engineering and involved extensive testing on multiple vehicles and individual components under a variety of normal and abnormal conditions.