On August 28, 2009, a 911 call in San Diego finally forced Toyota to step up their inquiries into defects in thousands of recently manufactured cars. The call came from a driver of a Lexus sedan manufactured by Toyota complaining that the vehicle accelerated without prompting. It ended in tragedy, as all four people in the car were killed during the crash.

Before the accident, Toyota received more than 2,000 complaints of unintended acceleration. The company also went through multiple government investigations since 2002. However, it was not until the end of January of 2010 that the company finally expanded a series of previous recalls to cover millions of vehicles around the world with possible manufacturing defects. In previous recalls, Toyota claimed that accelerator problems were from loose floor mats that could interfere with the pedals.

Toyota finally admitted in January 2010 that the accelerator problems were caused by a faulty accelerator. This admission proves that Toyota was not entirely truthful with consumers. The company had previously stated that "there was no evidence" of any explanation other than the defective floor mats, and that these findings were backed by the federal traffic safety agency. However, the federal agency stated that Toyota's statements were "misleading and inaccurate."

Toyota has now recalled over 5 million vehicles due to possible defects that could lead to unintended acceleration. The company revealed that sticking pedals and defective floor mats do not make up for the majority of defects that lead to unintended acceleration. Toyota is still trying to identify the cause of the defects. To see a timeline of Toyota's recalls related to accelerator defects as well as a list of all recalled vehicles with accelerator defects, click here.

Contact our Experienced Attorneys

If you or a loved one has been injured as a result of a Toyota vehicle with accelerator defects, contact an experienced injury attorney at the Pintas & Mullins Law Firm today. With over forty years of experience, our attorneys work aggressively to ensure that you receive the best representation and the largest settlement possible. We will provide you with a free no-obligation consultation and explain your legal rights.