Toyota Facing $16.3 Penalty For “Sticky Pedal” Defect
Toyota Motor Corp is facing the largest ever penalty sought by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) against an automobile manufacturer in the United States. NHTSA has announced that it is seeking a $16.375 million civil penalty on account of Toyota’s of failure to notify the agency of a lethal 'sticky pedal defect’ within the required the five working day time frame. NHTSA accuses Toyota waiting almost four months before taking action, needlessly putting millions of drivers and their families at risk of serious personal injury or even death. In a recent press statement NHTSA has also confirmed that it has obtained documentary evidence that proves Toyota knew of the potential defect as early as September 29, 2009 and waited until late January 2010 before issuing a recall for some 2.3 million Toyota and Lexus vehicles.
