San Francisco, CA (News)—In yet another blow to the Toyota Motor Corporation, a federal investigation into reported steering issues with the world’s best selling vehicle, the Toyota Corolla, was said to begin Thursday, February 18, 2010. The formal inquiry, covering approximately 500,000 vehicles manufactured by the scrutinized automaker, was prompted after the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) http://www.nhtsa.gov received over 150 consumer complaints, according to information provided by the Washington Post. Furthermore, it was reported that as the U.S. government’s plans to probe defective late-model Corollas were released, Toyota, who had not yet been notified of the formal investigation, announced in Japan that a recall of the 2009-2010 Corollas is under consideration. According to Reuters, pending litigation against the Japanese automobile manufacturer has consisted of numerous personal injury and consumer class-action lawsuits. Toyota has been linked to a total of 34 reported fatalities and has subsequently been sued for some of the victims’ wrongful deaths.
Toyota’s public disclosure regarding a possible recall of the new Corolla models’ seemingly came as a surprise to the auto industry, as the manufacturer allegedly tends to withhold information on possible recalls until they are officially declared. Since last fall, Toyota has recalled 7.86 million vehicles, including the Avalon, Camry, Highlander, Matrix, Prius, RAV4, Sequoia, Tacoma, Tundra, and Venza, due to hazardous acceleration and breaking problems. Now, customers have reported malfunctions in the Corollas’ steering system to the NHTSA, stating for instance, “When driving on the highway (60+ mph), the vehicle will all of a sudden start to wander back and forth in the lane for a few hundred yards… Then as quickly as it started, it stops.” The apparently flawed steering system in the vehicles affected could have allegedly resulted in four motor vehicle collisions (MVC). The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee subsequently scheduled a February 24, 2010 hearing as a means of addressing Toyota’s troubles. However, Toyota President Akio Toyoda just recently reversed his decision to skip the hearing, and leave Toyota North America President Yoshimi Inaba Issa to answer questions regarding the manufacturers’ plans to address the imperative safety issues at hand.
Leading San Francisco product liability attorney, Mary Alexander states if you or a loved one has been injured or killed due to stuck accelerator pedals, break issues, or steering problems prompted by a defective Toyota vehicle, you may have a product liability claim that would entitle you to compensation for your injuries and damages. With 25 years of experience litigating a broad spectrum of product liability and personal injury claims, contacting the adept trail firm of Mary Alexander & Associates could help you recover the damages you deserve.
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Mary Alexander
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Phone: (866) 802-9497
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