Safety concerns continue to mount as investigators review not only the causes but also the delays surrounding the Toyota sudden-acceleration recall.

Some wonder whether a flaw in Toyota's electronic throttle controls, rather than sticky accelerator pedals or bulky floor mats, are to blame. As the public learns that the issue of sudden unintended acceleration was raised as early as 2004, crash victims are left to ask why it took so long for a recall to be announced.

If you or someone you love has been involved in an accident involving sudden acceleration of a Toyota, Lexus or Pontiac auto, contact the sudden-acceleration recall attorneys at St. Louis-based Carey, Danis & Lowe by filling out our online contact form or calling 800-721-2519 toll free.

Sticky-Pedal Recall

In January 2010, Toyota advised the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration that approximately 2.3 million vehicles in the United States have a defect that can cause the accelerator to stick. In addition to recalling the autos, Toyota announced that it would suspend manufacture and sales of the affected models until the stuck-accelerator problem could be fixed.

The autos affected by the gas pedal recall are:

• 2007-2008 Toyota Tundra
• 2008-2010 Toyota Sequoia
• 2005-2010 Toyota Avalon
• 2007-2010 Toyota Camry
• 2009-2010 Toyota Corolla
• 2009-2010 Toyota Matrix
• 2009-2010 Toyota RAV4
• 2010 Toyota Highlander
• 2009-2010 Pontiac Vibe

Pedal-Entrapment Recall

Just a few months before the sticky-pedal recall, in October 2009, Toyota announced that it was recalling approximately 3.8 million Toyota and Lexus autos because their floor mats could trap the gas pedal, causing sudden acceleration.

Many of the vehicles affected by the floor-mat-entrapment recall are also involved in the sticky-pedal recall.

The vehicles affected by the floor-mat-entrapment recall are:

• 2007-2010 Toyota Camry
• 2005-2010 Toyota Avalon
• 2004-2009 Toyota Prius
• 2005-2010 Toyota Tacoma
• 2007-2010 Toyota Tundra
• 2007-2010 Lexus ES 350
• 2006-2010 Lexus IS 250
• 2006-2010 Lexus IS 350
• 2008-2010 Toyota Highlander
• 2009-2010 Toyota Corolla
• 2009-2010 Toyota Venza
• 2009-2010 Toyota Matrix
• 2009-2010 Pontiac Vibe

Toyota has announced permanent fixes for both issues. To remedy the problem of the sticky gas pedal, the car maker said, it will install a precision-cut steel reinforcement bar in the accelerator assembly. To correct the floor-mat-entrapment issue, Toyota will either reshape the accelerator pedal or replace it.

But questions remain whether these fixes will correct the problem. According to the Los Angeles Times, a growing number of outside experts are concerned that the electronic throttle system may be partly to blame for sudden acceleration. And on Feb. 25, the House Energy and Commerce Committee members Rep. Henry A. Waxman (D-Beverly Hills) and Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich), will hold hearings on unintended, sudden acceleration. They are seeking assurances that the problem is caused by sticking pedals and floor mats and not by the cars' computer systems.

In early February 2010, it was announced that NHTSA was also trying to determine whether electromagnetic interference from radar, radios and other sources was causing electronic throttles to accelerate on their own.

Prior Complaints

According to a timeline published in USA Today, NHTSA opened a preliminary investigation into whether an electronic throttle problem in the 2002-2003 Toyota Camry and Lexus ES failed to control the speed of these cars. After four months, the NHTSA concluded that there was no defect and closed the investigation.

But the concerns over sudden acceleration did not abate. In March 2007, complaints of sticking accelerators in some of Toyota's European cars began to surface.

We will continue monitoring the investigation into the Toyota sudden-acceleration problem. For the latest news, visit our blog.

If you have been injured as a result of sudden acceleration in a Toyota, Lexus or Pontiac auto, or a loved one has been injured or killed, contact the attorneys at Carey, Danis & Lowe. We can help. Carey, Danis & Lowe is a national law firm that represents individuals injured by America's largest corporations.