driver's hand on Toyota steering wheel

After nearly a year of intense study, a joint investigation by NASA and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found no electrical flaws played a role in instances of unintended acceleration in defective Toyotas.

Our Defective vehicles attorneys have a number of issues with the study. The Wall Street Journal reports drivers are now being blamed for most of the instances.

“We enlisted the best and brightest engineers to study Toyota’s electronics systems, and the verdict is in,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “There is no electronic-based cause for unintended high-speed acceleration in Toyotas.”

Of course it’s an absurd assertion — the NHTSA calls it “pedal misapplication,” as if drivers forgot which was the gas and which was the brake. Thousands of drivers. Not Ford or Chevy drivers, however, just Toyotas. But it illustrates the need to consult with an aggressive defective products law firm when dealing with a serious or fatal injury caused by vehicle defects.

The government studied fewer than 100 vehicles. Toyota sold 8.42 million vehicles last year alone.

While finding no evidence of malfunctioning electronics, the NHTSA is considering several advanced safety measures to deal with the issue of unintended acceleration.

By the end of 2011, a proposal would require brake override systems and require standardization of keyless entry systems.

  • Require data recorders for all vehicles.
  • Begin broad research on the security and reliability of electronic control systems.
  • Research design, placement and driver usage of gas and brake pedals.

“While today marks the end of our study with NASA, our work to protect millions of American drivers continues,” said NHTSA Administrator David Strickland. “The record number of voluntary recalls initiated by automakers last year is also very good news, and shows that we can work cooperatively with industry to protect consumers.”

Toyota recalled about 8 million vehicles for gas pedal issues during the last two years and paid $48.8 million in civil penalties in connection with the recalls.