LOS ANGELES — Toyota bought back cars from drivers who reported sudden acceleration defects, but the company didn’t tell federal regulators about the problem, according to court documents filed in the sprawling litigation against the automaker.
Plaintiffs’ lawyers contend the Japanese company compelled the owners to sign confidentiality agreements that prevented them from speaking publicly about the issues they encountered.
In some cases dating to 2006, Toyota’s technicians experienced the vehicles speeding up without pressing the gas pedal, according to the documents filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court.
“The deeper we dig into the facts that surround Toyota, the more damning the evidence that Toyota was aware of the issue and failed to act responsibly,” plaintiffs’ attorney Steve Berman said. “The revelation that they bought up the cars in question and prevented the owners from talking about their experience is curious at best, nefarious at worst.”
Toyota spokesman Mike Michels denied the allegations, saying company technicians weren’t able to duplicate the sudden acceleration claimed by drivers in two instances.
“After having thoroughly analyzed these vehicles and driven them for thousands of miles, Toyota (technicians) and engineers have not been able to replicate the customers’ acceleration concerns nor found any related issues or conditions in these vehicles,” Michels said in a statement. “In fact, test driving of these vehicles is ongoing and they are operating safely.”
The automaker didn’t respond to the allegations that it required the owners to remain silent and said it looks forward to defending itself in court.
