Toyota delayed Venza recall in U.S. for six weeks, records show

[Omaha Steve]

Source: LA Times

By Ken Bensinger and Ralph Vartabedian

Toyota Motor Corp. recalled its Venza in Canada late last year because of floor mats that could entrap the gas pedal, but it did not launch a similar recall in the U.S. until six weeks later, records show.

The delay has caught the attention of federal regulators, who last week fined Toyota a record $16.4 million for failing to promptly recall 2.3 million vehicles to correct problems that could lead to sudden acceleration.

Under U.S. law, automakers have five business days to notify the government after finding a potential defect -- a regulation that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has indicated it will strictly enforce.

"NHTSA continues to investigate the timeliness of Toyota's pedal entrapment recall," the agency said in a statement to The Times. "We will continue to hold Toyota accountable for violations we find."




Read more: http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-toyota-venza16-2010apr16,0,7135458.story

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Clint Hogue, left, and wife Julie look at a Toyota Venza with salesman Mark Puetz at a dealership in Lakewood, Colo. (Matthew Staver / Bloomberg / February 23, 2010)

[TexasObserver]

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