Washington, DCThe National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said Tuesday that as many as 89 deaths may be related to incidences of
unintended acceleration in Toyota vehicles.
According to a report on UIP.com, the NHTSA has received 6200 reports of unintended acceleration in Toyota vehicles from 2000 to May 20, 2010. These reports include 71 crashes that killed 89 people, although the data remains to be verified.
To date, Toyota has recalled about 7.7 million vehicles in the US due to two possible problems that may result in the throttles remaining open or getting stuck.
Toyota has so far been fined $16.4 million for what the NHTSA describes as an illegal delay in reporting the defects to the government agency. It wasn't until January 2010 that consumers learned about a Toyota safety recall over unintended acceration in specific Toyota models.
Toyota also recalled approximately 4.2 million Toyota and Lexus vehicles over the risk of pedal entrapment due to faulty or misaligned floor mats.