dan9999
02-03-2010, 05:57 PM
'Stop driving' recalled Toyotas
Secretary Ray LaHood urged Toyota owners to stop driving recalled cars and get them fixed.
Aaron Smith
February 3, 2010: 11:42 AM ET
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood told lawmakers Wednesday that Toyota owners should stop driving cars affected by the recall and bring them back to the company.
"My advice is if anyone owns one of these vehicles stop driving it and take it to Toyota dealer because they believe they have a fix for it," LaHood told a House committee.
Rep. Tom Latham, R-Iowa, had asked if the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration should broadcast information about how to handle a sticky gas pedal -- whether the driver should shift into neutral, brake or turn off the car.
LaHood said that safety information has been publicized, but his own advice would be to not drive the recalled cars at all.
LaHood also acknowledged that NHTSA is investigating Toyotas not just for problems with gas pedals, but for problems with the electrical systems, as well.
"We will also be investigating the electronic components that are in these cars and if they're not safe, we'll have Toyota take a look at that," LaHood said.
He said that Toyota has been cooperative in the investigations.
Toyota has recalled millions of vehicles in recent weeks due to problems with sticking gas pedals that cause the vehicles to accelerate out of control and later halted the sale of the eight vehicles involved in the recall.
Company officials announced on Monday they had found a solution that involved reinforcing the pedal assembly with a part that is being rushed to dealerships.
Secretary Ray LaHood urged Toyota owners to stop driving recalled cars and get them fixed.
Aaron Smith
February 3, 2010: 11:42 AM ET
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood told lawmakers Wednesday that Toyota owners should stop driving cars affected by the recall and bring them back to the company.
"My advice is if anyone owns one of these vehicles stop driving it and take it to Toyota dealer because they believe they have a fix for it," LaHood told a House committee.
Rep. Tom Latham, R-Iowa, had asked if the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration should broadcast information about how to handle a sticky gas pedal -- whether the driver should shift into neutral, brake or turn off the car.
LaHood said that safety information has been publicized, but his own advice would be to not drive the recalled cars at all.
LaHood also acknowledged that NHTSA is investigating Toyotas not just for problems with gas pedals, but for problems with the electrical systems, as well.
"We will also be investigating the electronic components that are in these cars and if they're not safe, we'll have Toyota take a look at that," LaHood said.
He said that Toyota has been cooperative in the investigations.
Toyota has recalled millions of vehicles in recent weeks due to problems with sticking gas pedals that cause the vehicles to accelerate out of control and later halted the sale of the eight vehicles involved in the recall.
Company officials announced on Monday they had found a solution that involved reinforcing the pedal assembly with a part that is being rushed to dealerships.