The Truth about State Farm, Toyota and NHTSA

There's been a lot written recently about the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's responsiveness to information provided by State Farm on the issue of Toyota vehicle safety--much of it factually incorrect or incomplete.

Today’s Detroit News has it right, however.

The News reports that NHTSA officials were already looking into complaints of unintended acceleration in certain Toyota vehicles in December of 2003 before State Farm supplied any information on that topic to the safety agency in February of 2004.

Internal documents show NHTSA had begun looking into complaints about unintended acceleration
in Toyota vehicles before State Farm supplied information on that topic.

While insurance data is a useful source of supplemental information in identifying auto defect trends, the primary sources are consumer complaints, early warning reporting from manufacturers, technical service bulletins provided by manufacturers to car dealers and foreign recalls on vehicles that are similar to vehicles sold in the U.S.

State Farm’s information was useful, but agency officials were already aware of the trend in unintended acceleration complaints and were taking steps to open an investigation.

What's missing from much of the other coverage I’ve seen is the fact that, over the years, NHTSA officials actually asked State Farm to provide that information so they could incorporate it into their ongoing vehicle defect investigations. As they do information from all sources.

For example, in January of 2006, NHTSA asked State Farm to provide a list of claims alleging unintended acceleration for all vehicle models and model years that occurred between 2000 and 2005.

In April of 2009, NHTSA also asked State Farm for a list of all claims alleging unintended acceleration for all vehicle models and model years between 2006 and 2009.

The point is that our safety officials have been looking at this issue from all angles for quite some time.

So the idea that NHTSA is in the business of ignoring information--valuable or otherwise--from automobile insurers, safety organizations, or consumers is just plain wrong.

I want people to know, as I have said over and over, that safety is our number one priority at DOT, and in none of our agencies is that better demonstrated than our auto safety agency.

Comments

[Michael E. Bailey]

The NHTSA seems to have been on top of things as they relate to the brake problems on the Toyotas. But probably some newspaper editors thought it would make a more sensational story and sell morenewspapers if they could create a situation that made it look like the agency was not doing its job. And some of the reporters may not have wanted to take the time to do all the research for fear that if they did, they would be scooped by other media organizations. With Toyota, the NHTSA has done its job well. Best wishes, Michael E. Bailey.

[Marietta Homes blogger agent]

Now Toyota really gets into a mess.

Agree with Michael, NHTSA has done a fine job this time.

[C. Drew]

Is it true that Ford has experienced more complaint of unintended accelaration in the last 24 months than Toyota?

[Cahill]

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) receives over 30,000 thousand automobile complaints each year. I am sure that all complaints are thoroughly examined by the NHTSA and responses are given to the parties involved. The issue isn’t rather or not NHTSA had ignored certain information or allegations, rather the issue is how the Department of Transportation and NHTSA followed up on the information they were receiving. In my opinion, it appears as though NHTSA lacks the resources to investigate claims made by entities outside the agency with regards to Toyota’s vehicle malfunction.

NHTSA received some of the first complaints regarding certain Toyota car models experiencing sudden acceleration at the end of 2003. Upon further investigation it appears that NHTSA concluded the so called “sticky” pedal situation was caused by floor mats and that is where the investigation halted. Complaints were still being received by NHTSA regarding unintended acceleration. At that time Toyota issued floor mat recalls for certain Toyota models in 2007. The problem still persisted after the recalls and further investigation by NHTSA only determined floor mats as being the culprit of unintended acceleration in Toyota automobiles. The agency was unable to determine if there were other safety defects that could have caused the acceleration concern.

From the time NHTSA first received complaints up to now, NHTSA failed to perform a timely and comprehensive review of the issue. NHTSA should have held Toyota more responsible from the beginning. In between the years of 2004 through 2007, NHTSA had relied on information they received from the company to conclude that the acceleration problem was caused by obstruction from the floor mats. The deaths of over 30 individuals relating to Toyota automobiles suddenly accelerating could have been avoided if proper investigative resources had been put into action.

[C. May]

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) receives over 30,000 thousand automobile complaints each year. I am sure that all complaints are thoroughly examined by the NHTSA and responses are given to the parties involved. The issue isn’t rather or not NHTSA had ignored certain information or allegations, rather the issue is how the Department of Transportation and NHTSA followed up on the information they were receiving. In my opinion, it appears as though NHTSA lacks the resources to investigate claims made by entities outside the agency with regards to Toyota’s vehicle malfunction.

NHTSA received some of the first complaints regarding certain Toyota car models experiencing sudden acceleration at the end of 2003. Upon further investigation it appears that NHTSA concluded the so called “sticky” pedal situation was caused by floor mats and that is where the investigation halted. Complaints were still being received by NHTSA regarding unintended acceleration. At that time Toyota issued floor mat recalls for certain Toyota models in 2007. The problem still persisted after the recalls and further investigation by NHTSA only determined floor mats as being the culprit of unintended acceleration in Toyota automobiles. The agency was unable to determine if there were other safety defects that could have caused the acceleration concern.

From the time NHTSA first received complaints up to now, NHTSA failed to perform a timely and comprehensive review of the issue. NHTSA should have held Toyota more responsible from the beginning. In between the years of 2004 through 2007, NHTSA had relied on information they received from the company to conclude that the acceleration problem was caused by obstruction from the floor mats. The deaths of over 30 individuals relating to Toyota automobiles suddenly accelerating could have been avoided if proper investigative resources had been put into action.

[Plano Listing Agent]

It is a shame that it took the deaths of over 30 people to motivate action on this issue. I hope that Toyota gets a stronger punishment than just the million or so that they have been fined. How about some trade sanctions against them to encourage better cooperation with our governing bodys?

[jewelry reviews]

I am sure that all complaints are thoroughly examined by the NHTSA and responses are given to the parties involved. The issue isn’t rather or not NHTSA had ignored certain information or allegations, rather the issue is how the Department of Transportation and NHTSA followed up on the information they were receiving.