NHTSA to Test Lexus Vehicle, Investigate Electronics for All Automakers

&&&&&EMBEDDED_ELEMENT_START&&&&& {“id”:1420668670371,”originalName”:”2015_03_04_17_01_41_403_http___blogs_cars_com__a_6a00d83451b3c669e201310f407537970c_800wi”,”name”:”MMS ID 48089 (created by CM Utility)”,”URI”:”/16/1550409114-1425510101816.”,”createDate”:”2015-03-04 05:01:41″,”metadata”:{“AUTHOR”:”automatic-content-migration”,”KEYWORDS”:””},”href”:”https://www.cstatic-images.com/stock/1170×1170/16/1550409114-1425510101816.”,”description”:”Came from http://blogs.cars.com/.a/6a00d83451b3c669e201310f407537970c-800wi”,”externalid”:”48089″,”updatedby”:”cmuadmin”,”updateddate”:1425511451600,”associations”:{}} &&&&&EMBEDDED_ELEMENT_END&&&&&

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration purchased a 2006 Lexus ES 350 attached to a sudden acceleration complaint in order to test the vehicle. The Lexus was once owned by Rhonda and Eddie Smith of Tennessee, who testified before Congress that in a harrowing incident the vehicle accelerated suddenly on the freeway for six minutes before Rhonda Smith regained control.

NHTSA will study the vehicle at its Vehicle Research and Test Center in East Liberty, Ohio.

Additionally, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said that electronic throttles — which have come under scrutiny in the sudden acceleration investigation — will come under review by U.S. safety officials. This applies not just to Toyota, but all automakers. The purpose will be to see if electromagnetic interference (for instance, from power lines) could affect vehicles’ computer systems.

NHTSA Will Test Runaway Toyota Vehicle (Detroit News)