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Keyless Ignition Blamed for Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

According to a recent WMGT Channel 41 article, carmakers are facing increasing examination regarding the safety of keyless engine start systems on their cars. Apparently, there are at lest three CO-related deaths that are being blamed on the technology, one in New York and two in Florida.

One night in February 2009, Mary Rivera parked her Lexus in a ground-floor garage attached to the home in Whitestone and accidentally left the engine running. The next day, family members went home and found Rivera unconscious on the bedroom floor.

Unfortunately, her longtime companion Ernest Codelia Jr. was found dead in bed. An autopsy showed his blood was full of deadly carbon monoxide. "The engine should shut off after a specific period of time of inactivity. It's a problem that's only going to be magnified as more cars end up on the road with keyless start," Rivera's lawyer, Noah Kushlefsky, says.

The Kushlefsky’s case in the lawsuit explains that the keyless ignition system violates federal safety standards because owners can leave the vehicle running even with the key fob in their pocket.

According to Channel 41, Toyota sympathizes with the families of people injured or killed as a result of this kind of incident, but has not issued a statement regarding the lawsuit, instead releasing this explanation about its system:

"Toyota's electronic key system fully complies with applicable federal motor vehicle standards and provides multiple layers of visual and auditory warnings to alert occupants that the vehicle is running when the driver exits with the key fob. Electronic key systems such as Toyota's are neither new nor unique within the automobile industry."
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About the author: Mihnea Radu
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Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida.
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