Toyota continues to have problems with its throttle assembly, and the company doesn't seem to be getting any closer to a solution. The throttles are manufactured by CTS Corporation, and Toyota and CTS have put out differing statements as to the cause, and even the effect of the throttle problem.
Toyota says the pedal assembly has a friction issue that may make the pedal "harder to depress, slower to return, or, in the worst case, mechanically stuck in a partially depressed position." On the other hand, CTS says the friction problem accounts for only a handful of cases, "and in no instance did the accelerator actually become stuck in a partially depressed condition."
This is rapidly becoming a public relations nightmare for Toyota, and a huge boost for competing car makers, who are aggressively courting potential buyers of Toyota vehicles. This situation is reminiscent of the late 1980's when complaints were made that certain Audi sedans would suddenly accelerate. Several people were seriously injured in accidents, and the problem received widespread television coverage. An investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration essentially absolved Audi from any blame, but the damage had already been done, and sales of Audi cars plummeted. Audi did make changes to prevent their cars from being shifted out of Park unless a foot was on the brake pedal.
Toyota needs to find a solution quickly, before further damage is done to a fine auto manufacturer.
Throttle-by-wire in automobiles is a bad idea. Unlike the airline industry, automobile design from concept to production is precipitously undertaken everywhere. There is no excuse for the failure of such an important device. Why would any auto manufacturer move from the time-tested cable operated throttle to something that could be so inherently dangerous.
Also, I cannot believe that Toyota did not provide any safety measures into their design. It does not take a rocket scientist to understand that an electronic throttle control could and will eventually go awry. Something as clear and simple as a software sub-routine that would override the throttle by application of the brake pedal is mandated into this design. It would also break people of the habit of riding the brake. I hope Toyota gets raked across the coals for this one - they deserve nothing less.
Posted by: RAY JOHNSON | February 09, 2010 at 07:44 AM