NASA Finds No Problem with Toyota, Auto Maker Happy

Something went terribly wrong last year, when Toyota was forced to conduct the biggest recall the world has ever seen, but that something was not (we say again, was not) the electronic throttle control system. And, if you don't trust Toyota when it says that, or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), maybe you'll trust NASA.

As most of you know, starting the end of 2009, an increasing number of Toyota and Lexus models started accelerating on their own, at times taking their occupants to the edge of life and at times even beyond.

Several scenarios were quickly launched, blaming either a badly designed floor mat or the aforementioned electronic throttle control system.

Enough on the subject was written since, with the world divided between Toyota defenders and Toyota detractors. To put an end to all this debate, the NHTSA, together with NASA, were tasked at the beginning of 2010 to find out what really happened.

Apparently, nothing. Or, at least, nothing that can be blamed on Toyota, its cars or the way in which it builds its cars. Says Michael Kirsch, principal engineer and team lead of the study from the NASA Engineering and Safety Center (NESC).

"NASA found no evidence that a malfunction in electronics caused large unintended accelerations."

And here's Toyota's reply:

“Toyota welcomes the findings of NASA and NHTSA regarding our Electronic Throttle Control System with intelligence (ETCS-i) and we appreciate the thoroughness of their review. We believe this rigorous scientific analysis by some of America's foremost engineers should further reinforce confidence in the safety of Toyota and Lexus vehicles."

“We hope this important study will help put to rest unsupported speculation about Toyota's ETCS-i, which is well-designed and well-tested to ensure that a real world, un-commanded acceleration of the vehicle cannot occur.”

And now comes our question: What did happen, then?