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Toyota Moving On From Pedal Problems
(IRN)-An Illinois Toyota dealer is relieved that the government found that no electronic flaws contributed to unintended acceleration in Toyota vehicles 18 months ago.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, a former Illinois congressman, announced the results, which place the blame on mechanical problems, "sticky pedals" and floor mat design, as well as possible driver error: "pedal misapplication."

Toyota dealer Mike Alf, owner of St. Charles Toyota in St. Charles, says the brand has weathered the storm. "Our customers were great," he said. "Toyota"s done a lot of improvements throughout the year. One is adding our brake override system, our smart-stop technology."

Alf says sales are up as customers look for fuel-efficient cars.

In 2009, four people died in a high-speed crash involving a Lexus. The U.S. government and a team of NASA engineers said Tuesday that no electronic flaws contributed to unintended acceleration in Toyota vehicles.

Although the report did not clear Toyota of all wrongdoing, the company already has paid nearly $33 million in fines for not telling regulators about problems sooner, its findings likely will shrink Toyota’s legal risk and give Toyota a chance to repair its image.

Quality concerns were a factor in driving Toyota's U.S. market share to 15.3 percent last year, down from 17 percent in 2009.

(Contributing: Detroit Free Press)
(Source: Illinois Radio Network)
02 09 11 by Newsroom
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