Tribulations at Toyota: The Search for the Gas Pedal Flaw

Toyota has recalled millions of vehicles due to reports of sticking gas pedals and unintended acceleration. But finding out exactly what causes the problem has proven difficult. An explanation for why most of the accidents have occurred in the US has likewise proven elusive.

It is an agonizing predicament that Toyota finds itself in — the most excruciating in the company’s history. Vehicles accelerating on their own continue to cause problems, and the inability to bring the matter to a close could spell ruin for the company.

Worn down Toyota managers wanted to bring a little optimism to the Geneva Motor Show last week, but the latest bad news — that repairs failed to solve the carmaker’s gas pedal problem — ruined the mood. Numerous Toyota drivers in the United States … More