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To ensure safety behind the wheel, it’s critical for a motorist to know that he or she is in control of their vehicle. So if a manufacturing defect causes sudden unintended acceleration, it can be alarming and potentially dangerous.
In the last several years, drivers have reported instances of sudden unintended acceleration. Though relatively uncommon, some theses situations have had very serious consequences. While the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has investigated the issue, it has yet to definitely say it’s tied to problems with a vehicle’s electrical system, reports cartalk.com.
What is Sudden Unintended Acceleration?
Sudden unintended acceleration occurs when a vehicle accelerates without prompting from the driver. Some drivers who reported these incidents noted losing the ability to brake. Since drivers involved in unintended acceleration crashes were operating a variety of different vehicles, made by different manufacturers, there has been speculation that a manufacturing defect may be to blame, sparking public outcry for recalls and investigations into the problem.
If you find yourself in this situation, it’s important to respond quickly and calmly. Popular Mechanics says to press the brake pedal as hard as you can (be careful not to pump the brakes though) and shift the vehicle into neutral. Once you’ve regained control, pull to a safe spot and shut off the ignition.
What Causes Issues With Acceleration?
Driver reports of unintended acceleration indicate that it occurs when the car is already in motion. In many cases, investigations have determined driver error to be the cause. For instance, the driver accidentally may have hit the gas pedal instead of the brakes.
However, speculation remains that in some cases, sudden intended acceleration may be caused by an electrical defect with the vehicle.
Sudden unintended acceleration is not a new issue. In the 1980s, some 250,000 Audi 5000 models were recalled by the manufacturer following reports about the issue. At the time of the recall, 271 injuries and five deaths had been officially linked with the Audi 5000. An investigation concluded that the problem was driver error rather than a defect, because Audi’s pedal placement was slightly different than what U.S. drivers were used to.
In 2010, a massive Toyota recall affecting more than 8 million vehicles was issued after the NHTSA investigated brake problems with the 2010 Toyota Prius. It was found that loose floor mats caused the pedal to become trapped, causing unintended acceleration. In 2014, however, Toyota agreed to pay $1.2 billion to avoid prosecution for covering up acceleration safety problems.
Automakers are very aware of this potential risk. To protect drivers from sudden unintended acceleration, Toyota is rolling out a new safety system which will use sensors to detect sudden acceleration and help suppress it if it’s unintended.
Can I File an Unintnded Acceleration Lawsuit?
If you have been impacted by an automotive safety defect, including one that causes sudden unintended acceleration, you may be able to file a lawsuit and pursue compensation. This class action lawsuit investigation is looking for consumers who have been affected in one or more of the following ways:
- Your vehicle has a safety defect but has not been included in a recall
- You or a loved one have suffered an injury in a vehicle with a safety defect, regardless of whether or not it has been included in a recall
- Your vehicle has a safety defect, but the warranty period is over
- Your vehicle has a safety defect issue that isn’t covered by the warranty, but it should be
Filing a lawsuit can be a daunting prospect, so Top Class Actions laid the groundwork by connecting you with an experienced attorney. Consulting an attorney can help you determine if you have a claim, navigate the complexities of litigation, and maximize your potential compensation.
Join a Free Vehicle Safety Class Action Lawsuit Investigation
If you own a vehicle that you believe has a safety defect and you are outside of the warranty period or you believe the defect should be covered by the warranty and it’s not, or you or a family member have been injured by a safety related defect, you may qualify to join this vehicle safety defect class action lawsuit investigation.
This article is not legal advice. It is presented
for informational purposes only.
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5 thoughts onWhat Causes Sudden Unintended Acceleration?
It truns out to be a very simple problem. I submittited a report to SAE yesterday all potentionmeter type APP circuits suffer from it. I can duplicate on GM vehicles all day long.
Brian, I just read your comments. Can you be more specific? I replaced the throttle sensor w/ a new genuine Ford part. Didn’t think sensor was problem anyway, but cheap enough to change over. I still have SUA and let me tell you this. No rug or driver error in my truck. A ghost standing on gas peddle seems more like it? Then again, the gas peddle is not depressed. I’ve got no error codes and no check engine light. I wonder if the ECU has a serious glitch in it? I aim to find out. Several repair shops simply do not know!
Problem-Prius Toyota brakes- my uncles brakes Intermittently go to the floor without stopping which caused property damage and a huge increase in his auto. Ins though I believe he never had accidents or tickets though not his fault. After months of complaints prior to accident, the mfg took the car to inspect the “box” in the car for data. He had taken His car to the dealership in a few times before the accident but they could not find cause. After accident he tried again and then called mfg. again. That’s when mfg. took in car to review the data box within the car.
When I visited him last year, I was in his car when the brakes went to the floor. He always maintains his cars properly. He tried unsuccessfully to get this resolved.
I have a 2012 scion iq and I experienced the failure of braking 2 times within 3 days. Both instances, the car accelerated from a dead stop, and my car collided with another vehicle on the first incident and a concrete pole the second incident. The brakes failed to work despite stomping and pumping the brake pedal.
My scion iq was instructed to take to a toyota dealership to have it investigated by a third party investigator yesterday. I called scion corporation safety hotline and reported the sudden unintended acceleration issue 2 weeks ago. Now, I have to wait up to 30 days for toyota corp. to respond to the report from the independent investigator.