As of late, the Toyota Prius has been generating complaints of unintended acceleration. First reported a year ago, several Prius owners have complained that the car will accelerate or lunge forward with no input from the driver. Toyota service technicians have dismissed the claim as a flaw in vehicle’s computer system, electronic controls or software program and put the blame on driver error or a floor mat jamming the accelerator.
But it looks as though Toyota’s unexpected acceleration problem extends beyond just the Prius model. According to the Detroit Free Press, federal regulators have stepped up an investigation into 98,454 Lexus ES 350 sedans after receiving 40 reports of unintentional acceleration, including 8 accidents, 12 injuries and several cases in which cars only stopped after an accident. Just like with the Prius accidents, Toyota told officials that the incidents were caused by loose floor mats and contends that it dealt with the flaw through a mailing to customers earlier this year.
Despite Toyota ’s claims, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration verified several of the complaints. In one such case, a man’s car accelerated to over 100 mph on a 6-mile stretch of highway. However, the NHTSA did find that the majority of the cars in the investigation had optional all-season floor mats. When improperly installed, it is possible for these rubber mats to slide under the accelerator, causing the pedal to jam.
The NHTSA also found that many of the ES 350s had the optional push button start instead of a traditional key. Some drivers tried to shut off the car during the unintended acceleration but were unable. Toyota said that the button must be held down for 3 seconds in order to shut off the engine. The investigation remains ongoing.
