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NHTSA investigates Saab, Toyota vehicles

02/04/2008, 4:39 PM

By Drew Johnson

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has announced that it is looking into problems reported on two Saab and Toyota vehicles. The Saab investigation involves 49,932 9-3 Aero sedans equipped with the 2.8L turbocharged engine.

Although no recalls have been issued, the NHTSA is investigating five complaints of a loss of braking power involving 9-3 Aero sedans. No injuries have been linked to the problem, although one accident has been reported.

The NHSTA has also announced that it is investigating complaints involving 2006-2007 Toyota Tacoma pickup trucks for unintentional acceleration. That investigation could impact 362,000 vehicles.

Toyota has had similar problems in the past with its Prius and Lexus ES due to defective floor mat.

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02/04, 4:43 PM

posted by:

A4

audi fixed this issue 20 years ago toyota

02/04, 4:52 PM

posted by:

CA36GTP

Unintentional acceleration AGAIN? Does Toyota learn nothing?

As for Saab, I’ve never heard of them having brake issues before. Saab kind of does their own thing apart from GM in many ways, perhaps they went with a different supplier.

02/04, 5:07 PM

posted by:

jackjimturkey

When I hear of “unintentional acceleration,” i’m inclined to think it’s the driver getting the pedals mixed up

02/04, 5:11 PM

posted by:

SS4LIFE

right LP640 did you forget about the 362,000 TOYOTA TACOMA’s that were also mentioned??? Or did you just have to bash on the 49,000 Saab 9-3 Aeros being investigated? (That’s what we call selective reading ladies and gentlemen.)

Hmm I almost got an 06 Saab 9-3 Aero too.

Yeah JJT, remember in Toyota’s language for a “faulty accelerator” is “unintentional acceleration” and Toyota won’t issue a “RECALL” but a “Warranty service extension” And we wonder why the press just loves Toyota???

02/04, 5:56 PM

posted by:

injunraiv

I tend to think that ‘unintended acceleration’ is a copout from some dumass driver. Any vehicles brakes can overpower its engine, therefore all the driver would have to do is apply some whoa pedal. If they push the floormats up under the pedal, how is this Toyota’s fault? Gawd, where is this country headed?

02/04, 6:21 PM

posted by:

928dreamer

That is exactly the attitude that Toyota management gave my father in law when he presented his problem. He is an experienced driver and knows how to handle a car. Sure the brakes can overpower the engine output, but…….if you were driving around town in heavy traffic and suddenly your 260 HP V6 went to WOT, it is going to take quick reflexes and FIRM pressure on the brake pedal to stop things before you go too far. This is exactly the senario he was dealing with. Fortunately, he was able to get the car stopped and put the car out of gear before hitting anyone or anything. So, tell me, how confidant would you be driving a car that randomly does this.

Sure in some cases it is a matter of an elderly driver panicing and hitting the wrong pedal, but this is happening in too many cases in too many Toyota models. Mark my words, there is a bigger problem than confused motorists or sticky floor mats.

02/04, 6:26 PM

posted by:

928dreamer

I don’t know what happened to my prev post, but this happened in my Father in law’s new V6 Avalon. Toyota gave him no end of crap and he lost thousands of dollars having to trade in an essentailly new car to get something different.

02/04, 6:27 PM

posted by:

928dreamer

BTW, he did not have the all weather floor mats, and neither did a lot of other reported instances of unintended acceleration.

02/04, 6:28 PM

posted by:

DrFill

Need a new mat supplier.
Toyota mats suck!
That’s not cool!
DrFill

02/04, 7:05 PM

posted by:

AxeHead

What’s next…faulty mud flaps causing unintentional rock chips? no wait…defective genuine Toyota air fresheners causing unintentional nausea? Stupid.

02/04, 8:05 PM

posted by:

RicardoHead

The unintentional boredom caused by being near a Toyota causes me to intentionally never even consider their crappy vehicles.

02/04, 8:26 PM

posted by:

DrFill

Maybe they’ll unintentionally buy you for the price of a Big Gulp……
And sell you for a $3 profit to Avis for their new Jabroni rental service?
DrFill

02/04, 8:36 PM

posted by:

Veda

928dreamer, yea unfortunately as a whole in US, the problem is usually not with the vehicle but with the driver.

02/04, 8:37 PM

posted by:

1c3d0g

LMAO…can’t even get that right, can’t ya Toy Ota?!? :-P

02/04, 8:47 PM

posted by:

928dreamer

Come on people, its not the floor mats and in most cases I doubt it is the driver. Toyota has a problem, (probably electrical or computer driven) that causes the cars to Wide Open Throttle without any throttle imput from the driver. This will ultimately cause a recall that affects every model it makes across the board. I believe this because I have read several complaints regarding the Camery and I know my Father in Laws experience with his Avalon. This is going to be big trouble for Toyota.

02/04, 8:49 PM

posted by:

Commodore

Dr.Fill – correction: Toy’s suck. The floormats are just an excuse so that they don’t have to add the cars to their ever growing recall list

02/04, 9:03 PM

posted by:

DrFill

It would only take a millenium to catch the domestics list of defects.
So call me in 3008 please.
DrFill

02/04, 9:43 PM

posted by:

SS4LIFE

Actually DrFill at the rate Toyota is going it’s going to be sooner then that. While companies like Honda, and Mazda, and Subaru still have my faith in their quality, Toyota is starting to slip up, a lot. And that’s not good

02/04, 11:29 PM

posted by:

global_lightning

Dang-it! Saab is the only GM brand I’m evenly remotely interested in, but crap like this keeps me safely in my ovloV.

02/05, 9:07 AM

posted by:

e46Ne90

“unintentional acceleration” i think toyota can blame this one on floormats again. “Its not our fault! its the floormat!! recall the floormats”

02/05, 10:49 AM

posted by:

injunraiv

928dreamer: Not knowing your F-I-L, I’ll have to assume you know of which you speak. But Audi had similar accusations back in the 80s, and they were all unfounded. It is possible that there is something to these complaints, but for my part I don’t believe it.

I am glad it’s Toyota facing this instead of a domestic though… ;)

02/05, 11:18 AM

posted by:

SwerveEarly

Where the F is Ed and the crew to chop down Toyota like they did Audi?

02/05, 11:55 AM

posted by:

CTS DRIVER

Are any of theese drive by wire? do you think it can be a software glitch activating the cruise controll? it just seems odd.

02/05, 12:00 PM

posted by:

shumpy

Looks great on toyota. Maybe they can blame these cases on aftermarket flormats with which not all vehicles were equipped.

02/05, 12:54 PM

posted by:

chaaalie

global_lightning: Funny that you say you’ll stay “safely in your Volvo” … Saab’s overall safely ratings are actually better than Volvo’s. (Of course this braking issue might not help that! but it is limited enough – just 5 reports and only one crash related to the complaint – that it could be as simple as over-eager mechanics inadvertantly cracking a fitting or something when making an unrelated repair in the Aero’s more tightly packed engine compartment.)

Not defending them blindly – as they do have a really good track record in the safety department … service is another issue (but they are consistently improving in that area as well.)

02/05, 2:23 PM

posted by:

injunraiv

I believe they are ‘drive by wire’, but I think any problem is more likely to be in the Throttle Position Sensor. We had one recently that went to open when cold and twisted ‘just so’. I don’t know if it would be possible to get to WOT in this manner, but to me it’s the only thing that makes any sense at all (if it is really a problem).

 
 
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