Toyota Caught Cheating on Japanese Certification Tests Again
Toyota has self-reported its violations, which include providing false data for things like crash testing and engine output.
In recent years, we’ve seen our fair share of scandals involving automakers, with many revolving around cheating emissions testing standards. Perhaps the biggest was Volkswagen’s debacle involving diesel engines, which wound up leaving that automaker with a large proverbial black eye, as well monumental fines. Toyota isn’t immune to this either, as the Japanese automaker has been in the midst of some concerning developments in its home country as of late – this time, centered around new vehicle certification testing.
According to the Financial Post, Toyota has acknowledged that it failed to carry out proper certification testing for seven models – including the RAV4 and Camry – or, more specifically, tests involving advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) features such as pedestrian protection. Additionally, Toyota used inadequate or outdated data for a variety of crash tests, airbag inflation, and engine output testing. It is worth noting that there aren’t any safety issues or concerns related to these data irregularities, however, and they also don’t pertain to models sold outside of Japan.
Trouble is, this isn’t the first time Toyota has cheated Japanese certification testing – in fact, it previously discovered that six other models – including the Lexus RX and Toyota Crown – had some testing irregularities back in June, after which Chairman Akio Toyota apologized. At that time, the automaker ceased production of those models, and Toyota opened an investigation into the matter – which is precisely when it discovered that additional models had received the same treatment.
As for why this happened, Toyota says that its workers didn’t understand Japanese rules pertaining to how documents should be prepared, nor the sheer importance of providing accurate, up to date data. Management apparently wasn’t involved in the process either, nor did they fully understand how it’s supposed to work. Regardless, production of a variety of models including the Corolla Fielder and Axio, as well as the Yaris Cross, has been suspended until September, which is when the Japanese Transport Ministry expects those vehicles to comply with federal standards.
This sort of issue is apparently quite common, surprisingly, as fraudulent tests have also been found at other automakers including Mazda and Honda as of late. While it may sound serious – and potentially dangerous – this type of violation apparently isn’t terribly alarming, however, as members in the ClubLexus forums recently pointed out. In fact, a report from Kelley Blue Book sheds a little more light on those transgressions.
Apparently, Toyota used timers instead of crash sensors to set off airbags while testing those units, the wrong crash angles for pedestrian safety tests, and used data collected from the wrong side of the car in some pedestrian crash tests, though in one particular case, it overdid things by using a heavier sled than required in rear crash testing. Regardless, it’s interesting that in Japan, automakers must perform this type of testing themselves, which leaves the door open for such transgressions. Here in the U.S., the government handles all of that itself, which levels the playing field and eliminates that particular possibility.
Photos: Toyota
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