However, it seems that one of the aforementioned recalls, the one for sudden acceleration (which is linked to a number of fatal crashes), has nothing to do with Toyota cars problems, with the blame for the problem being put on the drivers.
The Wall Street Journal has reported that the U.S. Department of Transportation has been analyzing dozens of data recorders from Toyota vehicles involved in accidents linked to sudden acceleration issued and has found that throttles were wide open and that the brakes were not applied at the time when the crashes occurred.
If the investigation is correct, this means that the Toyota and Lexus drivers who claimed that their vehicles went out of control were actually pressing the gas pedals in their cars.
However, the reports underlines the fact that the investigation does not exonerate Toyota from two other issues that have lead to massive recalls: the sticky accelerator pedal and floor mats that trap accelerator pedals.
It was also stated the investigation has not revealed any electronic faults that could have made Toyota vehicles accelerate by themselves. However, it seem that there was one case when the a vehicle was faulty. This involved a Lexus ES350 that lead to a fatality, killing four people last year.
The investigations were carried out by the authorities, with Toyota having no implication in the process.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration(NHTSA) said that a final conclusion could not be released until a more complex study is performed together with NASA, with the action potentially taking months.
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