NHTSA Investigates Toyota
WASHINGTON - The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said it was quickly investigating hundreds of new complaints about recalled Toyota Motor Corp. vehicles, as the automaker sought to contain the fallout on several fronts, The Detroit News reported.
NHTSA reported that it has now received complaints alleging 34 deaths linked to sudden unintended acceleration in Toyota vehicles since 2000.
Government records also show nearly 1,000 new braking complaints about the recalled Toyota Prius in recent weeks.
At a meeting with dealers in Florida on Monday, Toyota tried to calm fears as it reported that more than 500,000 recalled vehicles have been repaired.
The automaker also said it is considering increasing incentives or extending warranties as part of its response to the recalls, which have made some consumers wary of Toyota products.
Last week, Toyota recalled 437,000 Priuses and other hybrids worldwide over concerns the brakes could lose power over bumpy or icy terrain. The automaker has announced a software upgrade to address that problem.
Toyota also has recalled 2.3 million vehicles in the United States to fix sticky gas pedals and 5.4 million because the pedal can be trapped by a floor mat. About 8,000 Tacoma pickups were called back because of a possible propeller shaft crack that could cause a driver to lose control.
More Industry

Penske Auto Group Deal a Record
The deal to take the dealership and transportation services company private sets a new pace for industry buy-sell transactions.
Read More →
War Toll a Damper on Used Auto Prices
Cox Automotive found wholesale depreciation to be elevated in September amid high fuel prices and this year's unusual hurricane season.
Read More →
Bridge the Maintenance Gap
With many drivers missing recommended maintenance, service departments offering transparency and efficiency have a better chance of reaching financially strained consumers.
Read More →
California Store Has New Owner
The longtime dealership in the northern part of the state is known for robust fleet sales and has served the state capital for 115 years.
Read More →
BMW Plant Pursues Cleaner Energy
BMW Group Plant Leipzig has utilized hydrogen to help power its production since 2013, but a new pipeline is planned to take it to another level.
Read More →
Auto Affordability Inches Up
The latest Cox Automotive and Moody’s Analytics index shows a slight increase in new-vehicle affordability despite high prices.
Read More →
Ohio Auto Group Under New Ownership
After 79 years with the Schluter family, Mansfield Auto Group has been acquired by Missouri-based Clement Auto Group.
Read More →
RV Group Expands Carolina Footprint
Blue Compass RV Columbia Northeast is the 13th RV dealership owned by Blue Compass in the Carolinas.
Read More →
Agent Acumen
An Agent Summit panel of people who’ve been supporting auto dealers for years gave both timely and timeless advice for those starting out or mulling the prospect.
Read More →
Missed Maintenance Creates Opportunity
As families get back on the road and into daily school routines, service drives have an opportunity to capture customers who are behind on recommended vehicle maintenance.
Read More →