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Automotive Consumer
AUTOS: Toyota Hit With Record Fine
Japanese automaker agrees to $17.4 million levy from the NHTSA over delayed response in Lexus RX pedal-entrapment complaints.
The Lexus RX 350 crossover was the subject of pedal-entrapment complaints that led to the record NHTSA fine. (Photo: Lexus)
Just two years after Toyota paid fines totaling $48.8 million, including a then-record single fine of $16.4 million, the automaker has been hit with a new record $17.4 million fine over a delayed pedal-entrapment recall on 2010 Lexus RX 350 and RX 450h models.
As CNN Money explains, the NHTSA contacted Toyota in May after receiving several reports of throttle-pedal entrapment by floor mats from owners of 2010 Lexus RX models. In June, Toyota responded to the NHTSA, admitting that 63 such incidents – some dating back to 2009 – had been reported on the Lexus crossover.
Toyota then followed up with the recall of about 150,000 RX models, including both gas and hybrid variants, but the NHTSA saw the response as coming too late after the initial reports. So the agency has fined Toyota $17.4 million for the delay, the highest amount ever charged to an automaker.
As part of the settlement, Toyota avoids admitting it was at fault in the incident but agrees to a further restructuring of its quality-assurance group. It will also undertake a review of all safety-related issues as a result of this latest fine.
This story originally appeared at Motor Authority.
As CNN Money explains, the NHTSA contacted Toyota in May after receiving several reports of throttle-pedal entrapment by floor mats from owners of 2010 Lexus RX models. In June, Toyota responded to the NHTSA, admitting that 63 such incidents – some dating back to 2009 – had been reported on the Lexus crossover.
Toyota then followed up with the recall of about 150,000 RX models, including both gas and hybrid variants, but the NHTSA saw the response as coming too late after the initial reports. So the agency has fined Toyota $17.4 million for the delay, the highest amount ever charged to an automaker.
As part of the settlement, Toyota avoids admitting it was at fault in the incident but agrees to a further restructuring of its quality-assurance group. It will also undertake a review of all safety-related issues as a result of this latest fine.
This story originally appeared at Motor Authority.
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