After a series of safety-related recalls, the US House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform has issued a subpoena for documents relating to Toyota’s handling of its alleged defects and safety recalls.
The Committee wants the documents in the possession of Dimitrious Biller, who served as the National Managing Counsel for Toyota’s American operation from 2003-2007, after Biller made accusations that Toyota had attempted to “hide evidence of safety defects from consumers and regulators”.
As part of an ABC News report, Biller said that “Toyota in Japan does not have any respect for our legal system” and claimed his accusations are verifiable based on documents in his possession.
Toyota had filed an injunction preventing Biller from disclosing the documents but the Oversight Committee’s subpoena supersedes the injunction with committee chairman Ed Towns stating that the only way to ensure the safety needs of American drivers is to examine “exactly who knew what and when”.
It’s another blow for Toyota which has since learned that 4,286 Isuzu trucks are to be recalled in Japan due to a natural gas fuel leak that could result in fires in the cabin.
Toyota Motor Corporation chairman Akio Toyoda has been asked to testify at a hearing on February 24 with Chairman Towns noting there “is widespread public concern regarding reports of sudden unintended acceleration in Toyota motor vehicles” and “there appears to be growing public confusion regarding which vehicles may be affected and how people should respond”.
