New Government Report: Unintended Acceleration in Passenger Vehicles

Unintended Acceleration in Passenger Vehicles
By Suzanne M. Kirchhoff and David Randall Peterman
(Paperback, 33 pages, 2010, $20)

Congress is considering legislation to strengthen federal regulation of auto safety, in response to hundreds of reported accidents, and more than 50 fatalities, that may be linked to sudden acceleration in certain makes of Toyota and Lexus vehicles.

Contents of this report: (I) Introduction: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA); (II) Federal Oversight of Auto Safety: Sudden Acceleration Complaints; Audi Historical Precedents; Toyota-Related Complaints Since 2000; NHTSA Response to Toyota Complaints; (III) Toyota Overview; Toyota Corporate Structure; Black Box Availability; Recall Impact on Toyota Sales; Toyota Lobbying; (IV) Policy Issues and the Congressional Response: Does NHTSA Have Enough Resources for Defects Investigation?; Is the Toyota Issue a Sign of Broader Problems Within the Auto Industry?; Are Electronics and Software Testing Stringent Enough?; Electronic Throttle Problems; (V) Congressional Options. Figures.

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