A 10-month investigation found no flaws in Toyota vehicles’ electronic systems that might cause unintended acceleration, but federal officials say they will propose new safety rules for all cars based on the engineers’ findings.The report confirmed an earlier Department of Transportation study of vehicle data recorders that found no electrical cause for Toyota acceleration incidents. Toyota has recalled nearly 12 million vehicles worldwide for mechanical defects — sticking gas pedals or floor mats that could jam pedals — that could lead to unintended acceleration.The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) launched its study last spring at the request of Congress, and enlisted NASA engineers with expertise in areas such as computer controlled electronic systems, electromagnetic interference and software integrity to conduct new research into whether electronic systems or electromagnetic interference played a role in incidents of unintended acceleration. In conducting their report, NASA engineers evaluated the electronic circuitry in Toyota vehicles and analyzed more than 280,000 lines of software code for any potential flaws that could initiate an unintended acceleration incident.While NASA and NHTSA have identified no electronic cause of dangerous unintended acceleration incidents in Toyota vehicles or any new mechanical causes beyond sticking pedals and accelerator pedal entrapment, NHTSA is considering taking several new actions as the result of the findings, including:
- Propose rules, by the end of 2011, to require brake override systems, to standardize operation of keyless ignition systems, and to require the installation of event data recorders in all passenger vehicles;
- Begin broad research on the reliability and security of electronic control systems;
- Research the placement and design of accelerator and brake pedals, as well as driver usage of pedals, to determine whether design and placement can be improved to reduce pedal misapplication.
Download the full report from NHTSA. Commentary: Keith Armstrong, a United Kingdom-based EMI and safety design consultant who has testified against automakers in unintended acceleration cases, questions the thoroughness of NAS’s report. Click here to read the commentary. What do you think about the NHTSA report? Join the discussion in the Automotive Forum.
