Friday, October 28, 2016

California woman driving a 2001 Honda Civic killed after her airbag inflator exploded.








NHTSA has failed to protect the public, ignored complaints and allowed vehicle deaths to continue.  

We will never know for certain how many were killed by EXPLODING TAKATA AIRBAGS because the deaths mimic crimes.....who knew? 



Stephanie Erdman of Florida, who suffered severe injuries in September 2013 when a Takata Corp. air bag exploded in her Honda Civic, testifies before the Senate transportation committee on Capitol Hill in Washington on Wednesday. | BLOOMBERG 
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/11/21/business/corporate-business/explosive-mix-takata-air-bag-factories/#.WBPE8NQrLGg





Reported Takata Airbag Bomb Victims

Not less than seven deaths and close to 200 injuries have been linked to airbags explosion, while safety experts believe there might be thousands of unreported cases all over the world. Find below few examples of victims of safety device, which turned to hidden bombs in automobiles
Scene of accident resulting from an airbag explosion
Scene of accident resulting from an airbag explosion
Ashley Parham, 18, in Oklahoma City: This victim, who was driving a 2001 Honda Accord, was killed in a minor parking lot accident in 2009 while picking up her brother at school. Parham suffered a gaping cut to her neck from shrapnel shot from the car’s air bag.
Gurjit Rathore, 33-year-old Virginia mother of three died in a 2001 Honda Accord. Rathore died in 2009 in an accident involving a mail truck. Her family alleged that the air bag exploded in her face, severing arteries in her neck and causing her to bleed to death.
Devin Xu, a 47-year-old man from Rosemead, Calif: Another victim who was killed in 2013 while driving a 2002 Acura TL sedan in a parking lot in 2013. The coroner’s report cited “facial trauma due to foreign object inside airbag” as the cause of death.
Law Suk Leh, a 43-year-old: A Malaysian woman, this victim was in her final week of pregnancy, when, while driving her 2003 Honda Civic, was killed by exploding shrapnel.  The sad incident occurred in July of 2014, after hitting another car on the island of Borneo. The post mortem report showed she died from a “severe puncture wound on the neck.”
When 18-year-old Ashley Parham had a minor car-park crash in a 2001 Honda Accord Sedan like this one, the driver's side airbag inflater exploded sniffed life out of her
When 18-year-old Ashley Parham had a minor car-park crash in a 2001 Honda Accord Sedan like this one, the driver’s side airbag inflater exploded sniffed life out of her
Hien Tran, a 51-year-old Orlando woman, Driving a 2001 Honda Accord, Tran died in October 2014 after her car was in an accident in late September. Shards from the ruptured Takata-made air bag killed her, according to her autopsy report, which cited plastic and metal fragments throughout the car’s driver compartment.
Ashley Parham - RIP
Ashley Parham – RIP
Unnamed victim: On April 27, 2015, Sen Bill Nelson, ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Technology reported that Takata has informed him of a sixth death caused by ruptured air bags, but neither Takata nor Nelson identified the victim.
Rich Newsome, an attorney representing seven victims of faulty Takata air bags, including Corey Burdick, a Florida man disfigured and blinded in one eye by shrapnel from an exploding air bag in May, called recent public outcry and government reactions that followed as a victory for consumer protection.
But, he added: “Today’s expanded recall is already too little, too late for people who died or injured and their families. Hopefully today’s news will push the agenda for recall reform to the forefront and result in legislation that will help NHTSA identify these kinds of defects before regular families with defective cars are needlessly harmed in the future.”

Ashley Parham - killed by an airbag explosion from a 2001 Honda Accord

AND TRAGIC DEATHS CAUSED BY EXPLODING TAKATA AIRBAGS CONTINUES! 


California woman driving a 2001 Honda Civic killed after her airbag inflator exploded.



By David A. Wood

 — Another Takata airbag-related death has been announced by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) after a 50-year-old Honda Civic driver was killed by the airbag.
Takata airbags have killed at least 15 people worldwide and injured more than 140 due to metal inflators inside the airbags that rupture and turn into live grenades. Scientists determined the explosive chemical ammonium nitrate can become unstable due to heat, humidity and moisture, causing the metal inflators to turn into shrapnel.
The California woman was driving a 2001 Honda Civic in Riverside County on September 30, 2016, when the Takata airbag inflator exploded in the crash. NHTSA and Honda investigated the circumstances of the crash and concluded the driver-side airbag was first recalled in 2008 but had never been repaired.
Honda says its records show the registered owners of the Honda Civic were mailed recall notices at least 20 times since 2008.
NHTSA didn't name the woman or provide additional details about the crash, but Honda says the 2001 Civic involved in her death was one of 313,000 Honda and Acura vehicles included in an urgent message NHTSA released in June when the safety agency told owners to park the cars or get the airbags repaired.
At that time, safety regulators said there was no reason for owners to wait for repairs because Honda assured the government that plenty of replacement airbag inflators were available.
The concern was high because all the specific inflators used in the 313,000 vehicles had been recalled between 2008 and 2011 but had never been replaced. NHTSA also said that based on test results, those specific inflators were 50 percent more likely to rupture in a crash compared to other inflators.
NHTSA says about 70 million Takata airbag inflators will be recalled in the U.S. by 2019 and as of October 7, 2016, about 11.5 million airbags have been repaired. Those 70 million inflators are in vehicles from multiple manufacturers, with Honda leading the way with the most affected vehicles.
The automaker says about 53.5 percent of the driver-side airbags and 37 percent of passenger-side airbags have been fixed.
Honda recently said it was "disappointed and troubled" by Takata's lies after Honda uncovered data showing the airbag manufacturer falsified and manipulated inflator tests that were supplied to the automaker.
Honda found "several instances" where Takata manipulated test data for the sole purpose of making the airbag inflators appear safe when they weren't.


Eighth Takata airbag victim, Jewel Brangman, killed in a rented 2001 Honda Civic.


Posted in News


 — Honda has confirmed an eighth death caused by metal shrapnel from an exploding Takata airbag. Jewel Brangman, 26, was driving a rented 2001 Honda Civic on September 7, 2014, when the Civic was involved in an accident in Los Angeles County.
The accident caused the driver-side airbag to explode and Brangman to die from a laceration to the left side of her neck and a severe brain injury.
The 2001 Honda Civic, owned by Sunset Car Rental LLC, of San Diego, had been previously recalled to repair the airbags, but the repairs were never made.

Toyota RAV4: Uber driver slams into Boston building with passenger onboard



 Going 70+ mph down low-speed deadend area. Toyota RAV4


Police said Caillot's Toyota was first involved in a minor crash near Cambridge St. and Grove St., before losing control and crashing into the brick wall at 79 Pinckney Street.




Uber driver slams into Boston building with passenger onboard

Cause of crash under investigation

UPDATED 10:28 PM EDT Oct 26, 2016


BOSTON —The vehicle that slammed into a building in downtown Boston was being driven by an Uber driver who had a passenger onboard at the time of the crash. 
An SUV went straight through a brick building in the Beacon Hill section of Boston at Myrtle and Grove Streets. 
Witnesses said the Toyota RAV4 was speeding up Grove Street, possibly after being invovled in a hit and run on Cambridge Street. 
Boston EMS said two people were inside the car and were taken to Massachusetts General Hospital. 
The driver's wife, who identified the driver as Jean Caillot, told Newscenter 5's Shaun Chaiyabhatthat her husband has been an Uber driver for three years and that he was driving with a passenger onboard. Uber confirmed this information and said they have reached out to Caillot. 
It is unclear why Caillot drove into the building at this time. He suffered minor injuries, but no broken bones from the crash. 
The passenger suffered non-life-threatening injuries. 
Nobody was inside the apartment unit at the time of the crash. The homeowner said she's glad nobody was home. Inspectional Services examined the home and deemed it livable. 
 

http://www.wcvb.com/news/car-slams-into-building-in-boston/42259764


Lutchee naidoo wrote:
I was parking my Toyota rev4 into a car park and vehicle was totally stopped ,when it suddenly surged into rev and started moving forward,I couldn't control the vehicle even though I was pressing on the brakes for dear life,it gained speed ,rampaged pass trees and knocked a stationery vehicle ,climbing on a curb and getting onto the street of oncoming vehicles.I hit the curb of the street and finely managing to bring the car to a stop and putting it into park and turning the car down.I sustained injuries throughout this ordeal.I don't want to drive this car again

Totally traumatised by this


Bought a used 2012 Toyota Rav 4 with over 50K miles on it in December 2014. When decelerating, usually in preparation to slow down or stop, and usually at low speed, the engine will suddenly rev very high and pressing the brake pedal often cannot stop the forward movement immediately. Have to force the transmission out of drive into neutral. I have an appointment with the local Toyota dealership tomorrow. Am reading that this is not an uncommon problem with several Toyota models, but specifically the Rav 4. This is a very dangerous malfunction and could result in serious accident if the driver cannot overcome the acceleration quickly. Sounds like the Toyota dealerships are unable to diagnose or fix the problem and are foisting it off on driver error, floor mats, etc. I'm going to take a bath if I have to sell the car, but will have to if the problem is not fixed. Surely Toyota has figured out the repair since 2012?


FROM: 

2012 Prius C: "THIS CAR IS DANGEROUS!!!! Someone will die."





SONOMA -- One person was killed and three others were injured in a collision involving three motorcycles and a SUV on Saturday along Highway 1 in Sonoma County, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Officers responded to a report of a collision involving a car and a motorcycle about 12:30 p.m. in the northbound lane of Highway 1 near the Fort Ross State Historic Park in Sonoma County. 
Alexander Odgers-McGuire, 19, of Concord, was traveling south in a Toyota Rav4 at an unknown speed when his vehicle crossed over the double yellow lines into the northbound lane, officers said.

FROM:

Fatal Toyota RAV4 crash




SUV catapults 60 feet off bridge, lands upright; 2 inside OK 

Image
AP Photo/The Record of Bergen County, Marko Georgiev


Thursday, October 13, 2016

Toyota recalls 340,000 Prius hybrid cars for faulty brakes




Toyota recalls 340,000 Prius hybrid cars for faulty brakes


TOKYO (AP) - Toyota Motor Corp. is recalling 340,000 gas-electric hybrid Prius cars around the world 212,000 of them in Japan and 94,000 in North America, for a defect in their parking brakes.
Japanese automaker Toyota said in a statement Thursday that it was not aware of any reports of accidents linked to the defect "as of Oct. 3, 2016," updating an earlier statement, in which it had said it was still looking into various reports.
Toyota said the parking brake cable can disengage unexpectedly, causing the brakes to stop working properly. So if the car is left in any gear other than park, it could start rolling away, and possibly crash.
In the recall announced Wednesday, Toyota said 17,000 Prius vehicles were recalled in Europe, and the rest in Australia and other regions. The problem models were manufactured from August 2015 through October 2016. Owners will receive notices starting next month.
The company said all the vehicles were manufactured at its Tsutsumi plant in Toyota city, Japan, the company's headquarters, one of a handful of plants around the world that make the Prius.

Toyota's brand suffered in 2009, when the company was embroiled in a massive global recall over quality lapses, including faulty brakes, defective floor mats and sticky gas pedals. Its brand power has bounced back since then, after the company, long known for high worker morale, reviewed its quality control.



Sunday, October 9, 2016

Shopper suffers serious injuries after TOYOTA PRIUS crashes into Goleta grocery store















Shopper suffers serious injuries after vehicle crashes into Goleta grocery store

Elderly driver suffered minor injuries

Posted: Oct 08, 2016












GOLETA, Calif. - A male shopper suffered major injuries after a vehicle crashed into the Trader Joe's at 5767 Calle Real in Goleta Saturday.
According to Santa Barbara County Fire Captain Dave Zaniboni, an elderly man driving a Toyota Prius crashed into the front entrance of the grocery store at around 9:45 a.m.
The 85-year-old driver from Santa Barbara suffered minor injuries and was treated on scene. Two juveniles suffered minor injuries and were treated on scene. A 35-year-old man from Santa Barbara was shopping during the crash. He suffered major injuries and was transported via AMR to Cottage Hospital. He is in stable condition.
Two fire engines, a trucking company, AMR and the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department responded to the call. The Santa Barbara Building Department was also called to the scene.
The cause of the crash is currently under investigation, but it appears the driver was attempting to park at a high rate of speed when he crashed into the front entrance.
Alcohol or drugs are no believed to be factors in the crash. The driver of the vehicle was cooperative and was not arrested.

http://www.keyt.com/traffic/shopper-suffers-serious-injuries-after-vehicle-crashes-into-goleta-grocery-store/109090548
****************



2002 – 2016 TOYOTA PRIUS Problems & Complaints  (NHTSA complaints as of: 8 Oct 2016)



There are 50 complaints filed for the 2014 TOYOTA PRIUS


There are 77 complaints filed for the 2013 TOYOTA PRIUS


There are 135 complaints filed for the 2012 TOYOTA PRIUS



There are 177 complaints filed for the 2011 TOYOTA PRIUS


There are 2102 complaints filed for the 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS


There are 369 complaints filed for the 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS


There are 1166 complaints filed for the 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS


There are 1713 complaints filed for the 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS


There are 1289 complaints filed for the 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS


There are 916 complaints filed for the 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS

http://www.arfc.org/complaints/2005/toyota/prius/

There are 554 complaints filed for the 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS


There are 92 complaints filed for the 2003 TOYOTA PRIUS


There are 154 complaints filed for the 2002 TOYOTA PRIUS




COMMENTS: 









Singer/songwriter, Kris Kitko did an AWESOME job on her YouTube video, "Toyota Where Are Ya?" The video was directed at Toyota regarding her own real world experience with Toyota SUA, sudden unintended acceleration. With her satirical approach, she completely destroyed the Toyota and NHTSA myth about SUA, namely “pedal misapplication” by drivers. Unfortunately, Kris Kitko’s YouTube video is no longer available for viewing online.
In the wake of the NHTSA/DOJ $1.2 BILLION settlement following a CRIMINAL investigation, Kris should be encouraged to use her finely-honed musical skills to do a sequel to her first Toyota SUA YouTube video. The U.S. Federal Government allowed Toyota “deferred prosecution” in this settlement provided it follow the steps outlined in the terms of the agreement. No one…not one single Toyota executive…is going to serve any prison time for knowingly withholding evidence that could have saved many lives and ensured public safety on the roads.Toyota ADMITTED that it LIED to both the Toyota customers and the government.
Michael Barr, renowned embedded systems expert, after studying Toyota’s ETCS-I far longer than NASA did, found the existence of faults in the software which could lead to a real-world, potentially-catastrophic SUA event with a number of potentially ineffective failsafes. Imagine flying down the road in a Toyota with no functioning brake override to exit a software task-death! Isn’t that a bit like being on a high-speed roller coaster and having the track fail to keep you on? And want to know the most SHOCKING part? Toyota reportedly didn't have a copy of the code in their OWN monitor chip! Michael Barr and company had to SHOW them! Can we just say, “Scary!”
Toyota cites that there is no electronic cause for SUA in its vehicles based on the short-duration investigations by NHTSA and NASA. Michael Barr and other experts have shown these studies to be scientifically seriously flawed. First, the ETCS-I software investigation was extremely limited. Only a SMALL FRACTION of the embedded software was tested by NASA.
Secondly, Toyota misrepresented the presence of EDAC RAM (error detection and correction random access memory) while indications of this issue were apparently redacted in the original NHTSA report. This misled NASA into NOT LOOKING INTO a number of potential sources of failure – which they may otherwise might have.
According to NASA expert, Dr. Henning Leidecker, some Toyota's can grow "tin whiskers" within certain electronic components. This can result in short circuits which can lead to yet another type of electronically-induced SUA event. Dr. Leidecker and associates actually DID FIND and study a case of "tin whiskers" found within the accelerator pedal assembly; rendering a Toyota vehicle UNDRIVEABLE.
Dr. Leidecker suggests driving the affected Toyota vehicles is "a game of Russian roulette." Dr. Leidecker is most concerned about 2002-2006 Toyota Camrys with their potential to grow "tin whiskers." He indicates the risk of this condition increases over time.
Meanwhile, whistleblower Betsy Benjaminson remains scared for Toyota drivers. She is convinced Toyota's own internal documents strongly indicate SOMETHING IS WRONG with their ETCS-i ELECTRONICS . She says "ghosts" indicate glitches can cause a runaway car. Betsy now blogs on a Blogger website where she continues to EXPOSE key documents that she says open the company's PR KIMONO. Betsy's goal is to reveal the true inside story of Toyota's SUA problem and to demonstrate and expose the differences between the company walk and company talk.
How did Betsy turn whistleblower? As a Japanese-to-English translator, Betsy was hired by Toyota's legal team to translate documents for the criminal investigation of Toyota. Just like the DOJ, Betsy SMELLED A RAT. After checking with top experts, she came forward to alert the public to the major safety issues involved.
Toyota owner, turned consumer activist-blogger, Parris Boyd has been blogging about what he calls “The Recall King” (a.k.a. Toyota) for years. His blog, “Beware of Toyota. Their next victim may be YOU…,” was initially an outlet for his frustration with Toyota--after his MR2 Spyder’s engine disintegrated at low mileage. What Parris faced was an unresponsive, stonewalling company operating within a state of denial.
During the height of Toyota’s engine oil SLUDGE debacle, Parris created his blog with the goal of using his free speech to help other similarly-affected Toyota owners. He also wanted the public to know just how Toyota and its dealerships treated their “valued customers.” Parris’s Blogger website currently receives over 100 views a day!
So, WHY is Toyota trying so hard to CONVINCE its own customers and the public that its vehicles suffer from SUA caused only by 1) improperly placed or type of floor mats (huh?); 2) sticky accelerator pedals (like those pesky sticky Sienna minivan sliding doors?); or 3) pedal misapplication (oh...the little old lady theory?). Why does it IGNORE the recent findings of the electronic experts? WHY isn’t it currently LISTENING to its own customers?
Well, YOU be the judge. The FACTS are before you.







There is a BIG hidden secret in the auto industry...it's called ELECTRONIC sudden unintended acceleration! I know...you thought that was just about FLOOR MATS and sticky pedals, or "driver error," right? That's certainly what TOYOTA would like you to continue to believe, BUT DON'T!
These ultra-complex new engines are completely computer driven. Software is needed to control the throttle system. You THINK you are giving gas when you press the accelerator, but you are only SUGGESTING this to the computer. In electronic SUA cases, the throttle software may be glitch-prone and NOT do as you wish.
What happens then? Well, the glitch may (and has for countless SUA victims) result in an OPEN THROTTLE situation. The brakes become INEFFECTIVE in these situations and crashes into storefronts, buildings, and homes have resulted.
What does the automaker say? They hook the vehicles up to the computer and declare NOTHING WRONG! They cite the EDR which has erroneous data and say YOU were NOT braking. They point the finger at you based on AGE, GENDER, MEDICAL history, prescription meds, etc. YOU name it, they've TRIED it!
Get the picture? And you THOUGHT the GM issue was big? Think again! This cover-up of ELECTRONIC SUA is scandalous and very well-orchestrated.
Why even a WHISTLEBLOWER has been legally harassed by Toyota as it does NOT want her Toyota internal docs posted online anymore. The automaker wants to intimidate and SILENCE her. It doesn't want the PUBLIC involved, for goodness sake!
Charlene McCarthy Blake








Thank you Charlene for this great info. It seems like police is acting as an expert who has no idea about ELECTRONIC SOFTWARE DEFECTS in cars today..
[NEWS FLASH: Modern automobiles contain dozens of ECUs and tens of millions of lines of embedded software code. Many of their “problems” are NOT MECHANICAL in nature, but rather -- ELECTRONIC. These “problems” can often “disappear” once the vehicle is “turned-off” and “back-on” again (akin to “rebooting” a personal computer). Police ARE NOT engineers with thirty-to-forty+ years of “actual relevant experience” with complex electronic and embedded software safety-critical systems.]








Are you aware the Toyota & Lexus vehicles have a long history of sudden unintended acceleration? Do you really believe the man kept his foot on the gas through all the impacts and then kept pressing the gas after shifting into reverse? Likely he shifted to get the RUNAWAY PRIUS TO STOP! Please research TOYOTA's long cover-up of their SUA problem. It's the ELECTRONIC form of SUA that Toyota denies exists to date! These crashes-into-storefronts have become EPIDEMIC since the advent of the ALL-ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL SYSTEM!
Charlene McCarthy Blake





You may want to Google and read about Toyota and Lexus long history for sudden unintended acceleration..
The U.S. Justice Department announced a criminal fraud charge against Toyota Motor for misleading customers about unintended acceleration complaints in its cars, and said it would defer prosecution in exchange for a $1.2 billion fine, the largest in history against any automaker. The government also said it would appoint an independent monitor to review Toyota’s safety processes and reporting procedures for the next three years.








What was the model year of this electronically-glitchy Toyota PRIUS? The driver couldn't get the engine to reset even upon shifting into reverse? The OPEN THROTTLE electronic fault caused substantial injury and lots of destruction! How much longer will Toyota cover up its sudden unintended acceleration problem? Toyota's one WHISTLEBLOWER, Betsy Benjaminson, has been trying to warn the public for several years now but the automaker has SUED her as result!








Toyota admits deceiving consumers; $1.2-billion penalty is record
Carmaker says it misled consumers and regulators about two defects that caused sudden-acceleration incidents. 'Toyota put sales over safety, and profit over principle,' FBI says.
In a landmark settlement of criminal charges, Toyota Motor Corp. admitted deceiving regulators about deadly safety defects and agreed to pay $1.2 billion, the largest penalty ever imposed on an automaker.
“Toyota put sales over safety, and profit over principle,” said George Venizelos, assistant director of the FBI. “The disregard Toyota had for the safety of the public was outrageous. Not only did Toyota fail to recall cars with problem parts, they continued to manufacture new cars with the same parts they knew were deadly.”
.
The settlement brings Toyota's tab for the sudden-acceleration ordeal to about $5 billion in fines, settlements, repair costs and lost sales.








Toyota was formally charged with one count of wire fraud, which will be dismissed after three years if the automaker abides by the settlement terms. Prosecutors typically charge wire fraud in cases in which they suspect the use of phones, email and other electronic communications for criminal purposes.
Toyota's lengthy history of sudden acceleration was the subject of a series of Los Angeles Times articles in 2009, after a horrific crash outside San Diego that took the life of an off-duty California Highway Patrol officer and his family.