For Immediate Release: Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Contact: Oversight and Government Reform Committee Press Office, (202) 225-5051

Chairman Towns, Rep. Issa Ask Insurance Companies for Sudden Unintended Acceleration Complaints and Reports

WASHINGTON – Chairman Edolphus “Ed” Towns and Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) today wrote to several major auto insurance companies asking whether any of these companies reported sudden unintended acceleration (SUA) incidents to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).   Letters were sent to the following insurance companies: Geico, State Farm Group, Progressive Group, Allstate Insurance and Farmers Insurance Group.

The letter states, “the Committee is investigating widespread incidents of sudden unintended acceleration (SUA) in vehicles manufactured by Toyota Motor Corporation. During a hearing scheduled for February 24, 2010, the Committee intends to focus in part on whether the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reacted properly to years of complaints and other evidence regarding the acceleration problems. A recent article in the Washington Post indicated that State Farm notified NHTSA about ‘numerous’ sudden unintended acceleration incidents in Toyota vehicles as early as 2007. The Committee is interested in knowing whether your company similarly reported SUA incidents to NHTSA.”

Chairman Towns announced last month that the Committee is investigating Toyota’s recall millions of its vehicles due to reports of malfunctioning gas pedals and scheduled a hearing for February 24, 2010 titled, “Toyota Gas Pedals: Is the Public At Risk?”  The hearing will examine the Federal government’s response to the recall, and to gain a better understanding of the nature of the sudden acceleration problem in Toyota vehicles and what should be done about it.

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Documents and Links

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Letter from Chairman Edolphus Towns to Geico CEO Tony Nicely

Letter from Chairman Edolphus Towns to State Farm CEO Edward Rust

Letter from Chairman Edolphus Towns to Progressive Group CEO Glen Renwick

Letter from Chairman Edolphus Towns to Allstate Insurance CEO Thomas Wilson

Letter from Chairman Edolphus Towns to Farmers Insurance Group CEO Robert Woudstra