State Farm, the insurance giant, says it has known about problems with Toyotas for at least six years, based on a Daily Finance report. The insurer is making statements now revealing that it first told federal regulators about problems with Toyotas as early as 2004, which it discovered by reviewing its records. State Farm could see the trends of an increasing number of accidents involving Toyota vehicles. The insurer said that it contacted the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in late 2007, and in recently reviewing its records said that initial contact actually took place in 2004.
Two congressional committees investigating Toyota recalls have sought the State Farm records. The government believes five crash deaths are linked to the unintended acceleration and another 29 fatalities are likely linked as well. The sticky pedal problem has not been linked to any deaths. Publicity shy Akio Toyoda, who is the grandson of the company’s founder, has said he has no intention of appearing before Congress. (He later reversed himself). While Toyota is under intense scrutiny, so is the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration for failing to handle complaints related to unintended acceleration that came from consumers and now it is revealed, from the insurer who should know.
