Toyota Scrutinized By NHTSA for Steering Rod Defect

Just a month after Toyota was fined $16.4 million for failing to file a timely notice to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration about the “sticky pedal” defect, federal regulators have opened a separate investigation involving the steering systems in nearly one million Toyota SUV’s and pickup trucks. The rod, which connects the steering wheel to the wheels, can become weak and snap and cause drivers to lose control of their vehicles. Officials believe that Toyota knew about the defect one year before they issued a recall in 2005. A similar recall was issued in Japan in 2004. Automakers must notify NHTSA within five days of learning about safety defects in their vehicles. Toyota has attempted to explain away the problem by stating that U.S. drivers do not perform the number of close-quarters maneuvers required in Japan. Therefore, a U.S. recall was unnecessary, since the steering  rod would not be exposed to as much stress and would not likely snap. The NHTSA has linked the Toyota steering system defect to at least 15 crashes, 7 injuries and 3 deaths. (5/11) Washington Post