“Recent reports indicate that NHTSA may have internal deficiencies in investigating certain safety defects, and even worse, the potential to be excessively influenced by the industry they are supposed to oversee on the public’s behalf,” said committee chairman Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., and Sen. Mark Pryor, D-Ark., chairman of the committee’s protection panel.  The letter contains the first indication that the Department of Transportation is supplementing investigations by congressional committees of NHTSA’s performance in the Toyota unintended-acceleration controversy.

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood told lawmakers today that there is “absolutely not” a “cozy relationship” between NHTSA, which he oversees, and the industry.  “In the last three years, we recalled 23 million cars,” LaHood testified today before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.  The Senate letter also said the inspector general should look at whether NHTSA has the expertise and resources to examine possible electronic interference in Toyota vehicles’ acceleration.  The review also should include whether there is a “revolving door” of employees between the agency and the auto industry, it said.

The letter was released during the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing today about Toyota’s safety defects.  A spokesman for the inspector general’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.  The Senate Commerce Committee is scheduled to held a hearing Tuesday, March 2, on Toyota’s safety problems.

Among the recent Toyota recalls were a 2007 recall of Camrys and Lexuses for floor-mat interference with gas pedals; an October 2009 recall of another 4.3 million vehicles for floor mat interference; and a January recall of 2.3 million vehicles for defective accelerator pedals.  Toyota has said that none of its tests have found evidence of electronic interference with acceleration.

Neil Roland:  Automotive News

LOS ANGELES — Toyota Motor Corp. launched a media offensive today that attempted to debunk the possibility that its electronic throttle control could be a root cause for unintended acceleration claims.  “There is no evidence, nor any sign, that electronic throttle control systems have been involved,” said Toyota spokesman John Hanson.  In a 90-minute conference call, Toyota engineers displayed internal videos that showed how Toyota “fail-safe” systems would not allow a vehicle to accelerate on its own.

The automaker also showed documents of how its internal electromagnetic interference testing exceeds U.S. and European regulatory minimums. Some claimants have stated that certain radio frequencies made their Toyotas accelerate out of control without warning.  Paul Williamsen, manager with the automaker’s University of Toyota training center, said that once any of many hard-coded central processing units within the car register a fault involving the throttle sensor or throttle pedal, it will return the engine speed to idle or shut off the engine altogether.

“We have the highest-order of redundancy and error checking of any system,” Williamsen said of the electronic throttle control system. “Our fail-safes work in four milliseconds. We’re talking inches of vehicle travel, not vehicle lengths.”

Williamsen said that on-board diagnosis systems will register trouble codes that should help illuminate throttle problems. However, in the case of unintended acceleration claims, the diagnosis system cannot determine if the fault lay with the car, or perhaps with a driver who mistook the gas pedal for the brake.  “It is apparent there were some instances of misapplication” of the gas pedal, Hanson said. “We are investigating what the other options might be.”

However, an ABC News report quoted Southern Illinois University professor Dave Gilbert as saying he had found a flaw in Toyotas that prevents the vehicle from registering a fault and activating its fail-safe system.  Toyota did not directly comment on the ABC report. The automaker has maintained that unintended acceleration in its vehicles is tied to sticky gas pedals or floor mats interfering with the pedals’ movement. Both issues have been addressed by recalls.

Toyota announced it would recall approximately 2.3 million vehicles to correct sticking accelerator pedals on specific Toyota Division models. Toyota has investigated isolated reports of sticking accelerator pedal mechanisms in certain vehicles without the presence of floor mats. There is a possibility that certain accelerator pedal mechanisms may, in rare instances, mechanically stick in a partially depressed position or return slowly to the idle position.

Toyota’s accelerator pedal recall and suspension of sales is confined to the following Toyota Division vehicles:
2009-2010 RAV4
2009-2010 Corolla
2009-2010 Matrix
2005-2010 Avalon
Certain 2007-2010 Camry
2010 Highlander
2007-2010 Tundra
2008-2010 Sequoia

No Lexus Division or Scion vehicles are affected by these actions. Also not affected are Toyota Prius, Tacoma, Sienna, Venza, Solara, Yaris, 4Runner, FJ Cruiser, Land Cruiser and select Camry models, including all Camry hybrids, which will remain for sale.

Ulrich Hackenberg, VW board member for technical development, said the coupe, unveiled at the Detroit auto show, combines fuel-economy with fun-to-drive performance.  The car can reach 141 mph and accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 8.1 seconds. It is front-wheel drive.  Hackenberg said the car “appeals to the head and heart.”

It is the second major introduction by VW this car-show season, and the second U.S. concept debut from Volkswagen focusing on fuel-efficiency. Last month, VW unveiled the lightweight Up! Lite concept at the Los Angeles Auto Show.

GM demonstrated the mobile application for reporters yesterday at the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

The driver will be able to use the phone for various functions, including:

• Scheduling or initiating charging;

• Getting status reports, such as how much electric driving range is available; and

• Warming up or cooling the vehicle before getting in.

Another feature allows text messages to remind drivers to plug their vehicles in.

The mobile application also will handle some functions currently available only if a driver contacts the OnStar call center.  Those include remote door locking and unlocking and turning on the horn and lights to help drivers locate their vehicles.  OnStar is also said to be considering expanding some smartphone applications to other GM vehicles.

“Hyundai Assurance represents our complete commitment to our customers, with job-loss vehicle return coverage, five years of roadside assistance, and our industry-leading 10-year warranty,” stated John Krafcik, president and chief executive officer of Hyundai Motor America. 

”Assurance shows that we’re doing things a little bit differently at Hyundai, and this is making a difference in our business results,” he added. “You can expect more of this in 2010, starting with the all-new Tucson and Sonata.”

The warranty package, in particular, includes a fully transferrable five-year, 60,000-mile new-vehicle warranty. This repairs or replaces components manufactured or originally installed by Hyundai that become defective in material or factory workmanship, under normal use and maintenance. 

It also features a 10-year, 100,000-mile powertrain coverage for new Hyundai buyers. The automaker said this includes repair or replacement of Hyundai-manufactured or installed powertrain components under normal use and maintenance. 

Other provisions of the warranty include a seven-year, unlimited miles anti-perforation warranty; a 12-month, 12,000-mile replacement parts and accessory limited warranty; and an eight-year, 80,000-mile federal emission and performance warranty.

Meanwhile, the Roadside Assistance, which is offered for five years, includes:  towing for inoperable vehicles – including accidents, battery jump starts, change a flat tire, lock-out assistance, out of gas assistance and trip interruption 

Finally, officials noted that Hyundai Assurance will continue to be standard protection on new vehicles financed or leased via participating Hyundai dealers. Also, it is suplementary to all existing consumer incentives and offered to all consumers. It is offered regardless of age, health, employment history or financed amount of the vehicle. 

Hyundai Assurance is free for the first year of the financing or lease date for models financed through any lender and financing source, they added.