NHTSA calls on NASA rocket scientists to study Toyota’s electronics
March 30th, 2010 by Kurt Niland
Sure, many Toyota drivers have found themselves behind the wheel of a vehicle that suddenly and unexpectedly takes off like a rocket, but who could have predicted federal safety regulators would turn to NASA rocket scientists to help find the cause? Today the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced it is enlisting some of the nation’s top space and aeronautics experts to examine Toyota’s electronic throttle controls for signs they are causing some vehicles to accelerate uncontrollably, often at violent speeds.
Although Toyota continually insists that its acceleration problems aren’t linked to the electronic controls, many industry experts and engineers aren’t so certain. Some researchers say that Toyota’s electronic circuits are flawed and easily corrupted while others maintain electromagnetic interference from high voltage power grids or neutrons blasted from the sun could on occasion compromise Toyota’s electronic throttle controls and cause vehicles to accelerate unexpectedly.
NHTSA has just begun a formal review of Toyota’s electronic controls. Its call on NASA indicates the agency is responding to criticism that it failed to adequately regulate safety concerns in the past.
A 2002 Toyota Technical Service Bulletin recently surfaced, revealing that both the car maker and NHTSA knew that Toyota’s sudden acceleration incidents were linked to a glitch in the vehicles’ electronic system.
The document warned every dealership in the country that Camrys were reportedly surging out of control and recommended adjustments to the electronic controls as a fix for the problem. Toyota also sent the bulletin to NHTSA, but no recalls of the affected vehicles resulted.
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has defended NHTSA’s handling of Toyota’s acceleration problems, but like Toyota, NHTSA will likely undergo a dramatic overhaul that will enable it to respond to consumer complaints and safety issues more effectively.
Part of NHTSA’s shortcomings fall in the realm of electronics analysis say some critics who claim the agency hasn’t had enough manpower or expertise to tackle Toyota’s elusive acceleration problems.
The nine NASA scientists, therefore, will “bring expertise in electronics, electromagnetic interference, software integrity and complex problem solving to the Toyota review,” according to a Reuters report.
The NHTSA review is scheduled to conclude by late summer. If it finds a conclusive link between Toyota’s sudden, unintended acceleration problems and the electronic throttle or software, another recall could result.