The recent scandal at Toyota/Daihatsu involving crash test irregularities continues to unfold. The issue first came to light when it was discovered that several car models failed to comply with government safety standards yet were still sold to customers. The investigation has expanded to include a total of seven models, three of which—Yaris Cross, Corolla Axio, and Corolla Fielder—have ceased shipments in Japan.
🚨Breaking News: Toyota Halts Sales of Three Cars Amid Major Safety Scandal!🚨
In a shocking turn of events, Toyota Motor Corp. has admitted to cheating on vehicle certifications for seven models, leading to a halt in the sales of three popular cars. This scandal has sent… pic.twitter.com/hmmvMIJmaP
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During a press conference, Toyota Chairman Akio Toyoda addressed the issue, revealing that discrepancies involved the use of non-standard testing methods in crash tests and other evaluations. On May 31, Toyota informed Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism about the discrepancies. The problematic practices include inadequate data on pedestrian and occupant protection for the three halted models, plus errors in tests for four discontinued models: the previous-generation Crown sedan, the Isis and old Sienta minivans, and the fourth-generation Lexus RX luxury crossover.
Further details provided by Shinji Miyamoto, Chief Officer of Toyota’s Customer First Promotion Group, revealed specific errors in Toyota’s testing procedures. For the Crown and Isis models, Toyota used airbag timer ignition development test data, which simulated more severe collision conditions than the standard certification tests. Similarly, for the Corolla, the company used development test data under more severe conditions to evaluate pedestrian head injury risk, with the actual impact angle during tests being steeper than the legal standard.
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Another significant error involved the misuse of unilateral point data for bilateral safety evaluations in the Corolla, Sienta, and Crown, which should have involved separate measurements for the left and right sides. Additionally, during rear-end collision tests for the Crown and Sienta, Toyota used a heavier moving barrier than what regulations stipulate, and then submitted the severe-condition test data for certification.
In the case of the Yaris Cross, Toyota failed to adapt to a regulatory change concerning how luggage impacts the rear bench in a crash, opting to use outdated test data for certification. Finally, the Lexus RX faced issues with engine power testing; the targeted output was not achieved initially, leading to adjustments in the engine control system to meet the required standards before retesting.
Toyota has reassured car owners that despite these testing errors, the performance of the affected vehicles does not contravene laws or regulations, and thus there is no need to cease using the vehicles. However, to address the immediate concerns, the company has paused shipments of the three affected models until further notice.
Major Points
- Toyota/Daihatsu has halted shipments of three models (Yaris Cross, Corolla Axio, and Corolla Fielder) in Japan due to crash test irregularities.
- The scandal involves seven models, some of which did not meet government safety standards but were sold to tens of thousands of customers.
- Toyota admitted to using non-standard testing methods and inappropriate data in crash tests and other safety evaluations.
- Errors include using outdated test conditions, applying incorrect data for regulatory submissions, and manipulating test settings to achieve desired outcomes.
- Despite these issues, Toyota assures that there are no performance or legal issues with the affected vehicles, and there is no need for owners to stop using them.
Fallon Jacobson – Reprinted with permission of Whatfinger News
