Toyota Hearings: Transportation Secretary Pledges Investigation Into Toyota Electronics

WASHINGTON — In an appearance that was marked by defensiveness and even outright belligerence, U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood pledged to lawmakers that the federal government will begin investigating concerns about the electronics in Toyota vehicles and any role they may play in sudden acceleration. LaHood spoke at congressional hearings on Wednesday.

"We will get in the weeds on this to find out if electronics are part of the problem," said LaHood. "If we find a problem, we will make sure it's resolved."

However, he did not specify if the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which would oversee such an investigation, is about to open up a defects investigation or recall regarding Toyota's electronic throttle control systems, which have come under question, or whether electromagnetic interference is part of the problem. LaHood testified that "some people believe electromagnetic interference [may] have a dangerous effect on these vehicles."

LaHood's appearance was preceded by another verbal whipping by lawmakers aimed at NHTSA and Toyota. Rep. Edolphus Towns (D-New York), chairman of the oversight and government reform committee, began the hearing by proclaiming, "If the [Toyota] Camry and Prius were airplanes, they would be grounded."

"Is it safe to drive these cars?" Towns mused. "Is Toyota now serious about solving the problem?"

The hearing provided insight into how the government has been hampered in its ability to get a handle on the problems with Toyota's recalled vehicles. After being pressed by lawmakers, LaHood admitted that the federal government is incapable of reading the information in so-called black boxes in Toyota vehicles. This nugget of information was gleaned from an e-mailed message that legislators got their hands on. It showed NHTSA asking Toyota for help in downloading data from an event recorder in the case of a January accident in Texas. "It would appear that NHTSA is unable to download this data on its own without Toyota's presence," said Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton (D- D.C.).

LaHood replied that NHTSA can only read data from GM, Ford and Chrysler. "Toyota has a proprietary system that only they can read," he said.

"This is what I mean by the culture of secrecy," fumed Norton. "Would your agency allow that kind of secrecy to continue?"

"No," LaHood replied tersely.

When asked if there should be a federal standard addressing that issue, LaHood said: "Let me get back to you on that."

At one point during the hearing, LaHood — who often raised his voice — told one lawmaker: "Just because I've raised the decibel in my voice doesn't mean I'm mad."

Lawmakers and LaHood emphasized the "culture of secrecy" at Toyota, with Norton describing it as a "notorious culture of secrecy.... Have you had difficulty in penetrating the Toyota culture?" she asked LaHood.

"We've had some issues," he said. "[That's why] I picked up the phone and I talked personally to [Akio] Toyoda [president of Toyota Motor Corp.] and told him these are serious matters and you need to take them seriously."

LaHood said Toyota is "safety deaf.

"I also believe their business model for communicating between North America and Japan needs some change," he said. "They need to listen to one another and hear what one another is saying."

Lawmakers castigated LaHood because Toyota employs former NHTSA officials. "GM, Ford and Chrysler [don't] have anybody who formerly worked for NHTSA," noted Rep. Dan Burton (R-Indiana). LaHood said the "law probably should be tightened up" regarding former NHTSA officials going to work for an automaker, a situation that Burton described as a "sweetheart arrangement."

Lawmakers also wanted to know why David Strickland, the new NHTSA administrator, is not on the docket to testify. "Mr. Strickland has been on the job for 40 days," said LaHood. "I'm not going to have our administrator appear. I'm taking responsibility for this. I'm going to be accountable."

"Don't get mad at me, Ray," responded Burton, who had pressed for Strickland's testimony.

Inside Line says: A deep dive into the relationship between the feds and Toyota results in little more than a queasy feeling. — Anita Lienert, Correspondent