Will your 2010 Toyota Prius accelerate wildly? NASA may decide

Toyota is none too keen about all of the attention garnered lately with recent incidents where motorists are complaining of faulty braking mechanisms and floor mats that are jamming accelerator pedals. Right now Toyota is at risk of another investigation that would result in an even wider recall which can’t be good for business.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is beginning an investigation of the electronic throttles that control brakes for some of Toyota’s vehicles including the 2010 Prius. Complaints with the braking mechanism have been present for a while as is apparent in this Prius forum. Despite that, Toyota has conducted its own research already and is confident that its electronic throttling is working properly. To confirm that though, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and Congress want to bring in additional expertise from NASA.

What sort of expertise?

Nine NASA scientists would bring expertise in electronics, eletromagnetic interference, software integrity and complex problem solving to the Toyota review, Transportation Department officials said. According to Reuters.

Toyota is also engaging with a third party engineering firm to get another opinion, but beyond Toyota’s impacted sales this has the potential to significantly change how consumers perceive the safety of electric and hybrid vehicles. For that reason, the sales gains Ford and GM are seeing at Toyota’s expense may only be a temporary windfall.

Toyota is also facing some scrutiny on whether or not it responded to situations leading to recalls quickly enough for regulators.

The company is not resting amid the turmoil though, it has appointed an American Quality director and has established a quality panel focused on paying attention to customer complaints surrounding potential defects and responding quickly when necessary.

With over 8 million vehicles recalled since October, Toyota is obligated to make some changes in an effort to reassure consumers. Hopefully those changes will fix any problems and return the market to competing over making the most fuel efficient vehicles.