New details emerge
Supplies of the Toyota Yaris Cross, Corolla Axio and Corolla Fielder have been suspended due to previously discovered violations involving data falsification.
Toyota held a press conference today to explain what went wrong. Chairman Akio Toyoda said Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism was informed on May 31 about how the automaker used testing methods that deviated from established standards. The three vehicles were found to have incorrect data in pedestrian and occupant protection tests, as well as errors in crash tests and other testing methods for four models that have since been discontinued: the previous-generation Crown sedan, the older Isis and Sienta minivans, and the fourth-generation Lexus RX.
Toyota assures owners of the affected vehicles that «they do not have any problems that are contrary to laws and regulations. Therefore, there is no need to stop driving the affected vehicles.» However, deliveries to customers of the Corolla Axio, Corolla Fielder and Yaris Cross have been temporarily stopped.
Moreover, Toyota claims that in some cases the vehicles were tested and passed crash tests even under more severe collision conditions than those mentioned in the certification tests.
As we reported earlier, an investigation by Japanese authorities has found that Toyota Motor, Mazda, Yamaha Engine, Honda Giken Industries and Suzuki falsified the results when testing the performance of their vehicles.