CTS Corp Accelerator Pedal Assemblies

On January 21, 2010, Toyota notified the NHTSA that it had decided certain model year 2007-2010 Toyota vehicles and certain MY 2009-2010 Pontiac vehicles contain a safety-related defect. Toyota stated that the accelerator pedal assemblies in those vehicles may become hard to depress, slow to return to idle when released, or may remain mechanically stuck in a partially depressed condition, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash. Further, Toyota stated that CTS Corporation (CTS) was the fabricating manufacturer of the defective accelerator pedal assemblies. NHTSA assigned recall number 10V-017 to this matter. RMD mailed an IR letter to CTS on February 1, 2010 with 23 questions regarding the recalled accelerator pedals. The IR questions requested information such as quantities manufactured, complete customer lists, part number changes, test results, chronologies, and extensive communications between CTS and Toyota. The letter also asked if CTS planned to notify its purchasers of a safety-related defect in its accelerator pedals. RMD requested that the first 7 questions, those involving customers and quantities, be answered by February 3, 2010 and the remaining questions within 30 days. After a granted extension request, CTS submitted its response to the first 7 questions on February 5, 2010. Confidentiality was granted by NHTSA's Chief Counsel's Office, but CTS detailed its customer list for all manufacturers it has sold accelerator pedals and listed all quantities sold. It was noted that subject pedals, those recalled by Toyota for containing a friction element of PPS or PA 4/6 material, were not sold to any other vehicle manufacturer. CTS officials chose to travel to U.S. DOT on February 17, 2010 to meet with ODI personnel. CTS explained the history of producing accelerator pedals for Toyota and expanded on the construction of the recalled pedals. CTS explained the recall issue with example pedals and test videos and asserted that unintended acceleration and a "slowe