• 23
  • February
    2010

It was the tragic Saylor accident that helped blow the lid off of Toyota defects, leading to a floor mat recall and paving the way for all the additional recalls that followed. It was Saylor family that became the human face for the Toyota recall. Now, suspected revelations in the Saylor case could mean more trouble for the reeling auto manufacturer.

It was August of last year. witnesses reported seeing Mark Saylor struggling with his Toyota Lexus, even slowing to a near stop with emergency flashers on. Then, out of nowhere, the vehicle surged forward, careening down the road at speeds above 100 mph.

It ended in a fiery car accident at the end of the freeway. Mark, his wife, their daughter and his wife's brother were all killed. At the time, the uncontrollable acceleration was blamed on the car's accelerator becoming lodged in an ill-fitting floor mat. Now, those involved in the case aren't so sure.

With recent Toyota recalls for vehicles like the Prius targeting electrical problems, those close to the Saylor case seem more willing to question whether the fatal car accident may have been due, at least in part, to electrical failure.

The problem with diagnosing such electrical problems is that they can come and go without a trace. While a stuck floor mat can be pointed to in pictures and demonstrated visually, electrical problems are a little harder to dig out.

Up until now, Toyota has denied knowledge of any electrical problems that could have led the Saylor car accident. Still, as more potential auto defects are uncovered, Toyota may be forced to offer a second opinion.

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