Rocket scientists to probe Toyota's runaway cars

Facing a public clamour to work out why some Toyota vehicles are mysteriously speeding out of control, the US safety authorities have called in extra brainpower: rocket scientists.

Nine Nasa engineers have been seconded to the transport department's safety regulator, to examine claims that electromagnetic interference or even cosmic rays might be behind the cases of unintended acceleration and several dozen fatal crashes.

Toyota says - and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) concurs - that there is no evidence leading to anything other than simple mechanical faults. The carmaker says loose floor mats can slide over the accelerator pedal, or the pedals can become sticky, and it has recalled almost nine million vehicles to make adjustments.

However, media and political attention has focused on the possibility of electronics problems. In place of the cable that used to connect the accelerator pedal to the engine, new cars now use a computer and sensor system which communicates an accelerator pedal's position to the engine throttle, telling the car how fast it should go.

Toyota is running expensive television and newspaper advertisements specifically rebutting the claims that the electronics are at fault. The ads say all manufacturers of cars now use similar systems.

The recalls have already lost the firm US$2 billion ($2.81 billion) in repair costs and lost sales.

The NHTSA said yesterday it was stepping up its investigations into the safety issue, because the publicity has led to increasing cases of supposed unintended acceleration. Until now, just two full-time engineers with electronics experience have been working on the issue.

Meanwhile, in Japan yesterday, Toyota president Akio Toyoda convened a 50-member committee on quality, promising to change the culture of the company to respond more quickly to safety concerns.

- INDEPENDENT