Toyota Refutes CNN Report that it Knew About Unintended Acceleration Problems Since 2006

The sudden acceleration-related problems that plagued Toyota's vehicles and which were blamed for several accidents, injuries and deaths, led to a huge recall campaign, a massive fine and even a Congress inquiry. And it is not over yet. Not only because of the pending lawsuits, but also due to a report from CNN on its Anderson Cooper 360 program that aired on Thursday. 

 

The news network claims that it has uncovered a 2006 Toyota internal memo marked “confidential” that described the results of the adaptive cruise control software in the model bearing the internal code 250L that is the Lexus LS 460. 

According to CNN’s translation of the original Japanese document, the report stated: "The cruise control activates by itself at full throttle when the accelerator pedal position sensor is abnormal." It also suggested that the carmaker would have to implement "a fail-safe overhaul" for another production model, the 180L, i.e. the Toyota Tundra.

 

Michael Pecht, a mechanical engineering professor and director of the CALCE Electronics Products and Systems Center at the University of Maryland, worked as a consultant for the Congress during the investigation.

 

CNN cited Pecht saying that “This looks like an example of electronics causing a car to suddenly accelerate”, and questions why the document was omitted from those obtained by the Congress, the NHTSA and NASA, which helped in the investigation.

Toyota responded to CNN’s report – and it wasn’t with the traditional Japanese courtesy… The manufacturer’s statement begins as follows:

 

"CNN has irresponsibly aired a grossly inaccurate segment that attempts to resurrect the discredited, scientifically unproven allegation that there is a hidden defect in the electronic throttle control system that can cause unintended acceleration."

 

Toyota says that the process described in the document is about a test process carried out on its vehicles, not a software problem it knew about.

 

It adds that the translation of the document is inaccurate:

 

"The translation of ‘勝手に’m which appears in the document, actually translates to ‘by itself’ (as it does in the first translation by CNN) or ‘on its own’… and ‘発進’ correctly translates to ‘starts out’. This phrase ‘starts out on its own’ is used to refer to the fact that the adaptive cruise control (ACC) was preparing to resume its pre-set speed. This is not a reference to sudden unintended acceleration."

 

Moreover, Toyota cites the translator hired by CNN who acknowledges that, “I added these words based on my understanding of the context.”

So to sum it up, CNN claims that Toyota knew of the unintended acceleration issue as far back as 2006, while the carmaker responds that CNN mistranslated its documents, which in fact described a standard testing procedure.

 

You can watch CNN’s report and read Toyota’s full response right after the jump.