The “unnamed source” has been used by journalists to expose important news stories (“Deep Throat” helped Bob Woodward uncover Watergate) but has also been used to mask ineffective coverage. Conflicting reports concerning Toyota and the NHTSA investigation of its “sudden acceleration” recalls have both relied on “unnamed sources” at the NHTSA.

The Wall Street Journal cited an unnamed source that claimed that results of NHTSA tests indicate that “driver error” is the leading cause of unintended acceleration in Toyota. According to the article, no new defects (beyond the sticky accelerator and the floor mat interference issues previously addressed by Toyota) have been found.

However, an automotive web site has made the claim that Toyota “planted” the story with the Wall Street Journal, again citing “unnamed sources” at the NHTSA. The article, which first appeared in just-auto.com, has been picked up internationally.

Since there is no NHTSA report as yet, the NHTSA has not officially commented, one way or the other. In the meantime, the question is being elevated to “he said, he said” status. But is this entirely fair?

First, the Wall Street Journal article appears to be true. Whether it was instigated by Toyota or by “unnamed sources” at the NHTSA aside, it appears to accurately describe the NHTSA investigation.

Second, it is logical to conclude that a writer at the Wall Street Journal might have access to sources at the NHTSA. Less likely is that just-auto.com has access to those sources. Just-auto is a UK-based web site. The author of the article, Simon Warburton, has been covering the automotive industry as a web journalist for only about six months now. It seems unlikely that he has uncovered a source at the NHTSA who is willing to attack the credibility of Toyota and the Wall Street Journal while no other media outlet in the world has uncovered such a source.

Still, in the world of instant news, somehow the just-auto story has been elevated to the same status as the Wall Street Journal story. It’s just easier to repeat the sensational headline than to do a little research.

Lexus Announces Intention to Recall Certain U.S. Market Vehicles to Replace Engine Valve Springs
TORRANCE, Calif. (July 2, 2010) — Lexus intends to file a Defect Information Report (DIR) regarding approximately 138,000 Lexus vehicles, powered by 4.6 and 5.0 liter V8 and 3.5 liter V6 engines in certain 2006, 2007 and 2008 GS, IS and LS models in the U.S. The formal report will be filed this week.

In the covered vehicles, a small number of the valve springs may be contaminated. If a vehicle is affected, the contamination could potentially result in abnormal engine noise or idling. In rare instances, the engine may stop while the vehicle is in operation.

Lexus estimates that the likelihood of a customer vehicle experiencing this condition is two-tenths of one percent (0.2 %). Lexus has received no reports of accidents or injuries related to this condition. No vehicles from the current 2010 model year nor 2009 are affected.

Lexus will send owners of the involved vehicles a recall notification via first class mail. Owners are requested to contact their local Lexus dealer for diagnosis and repair after receiving their notification. The repair will involve replacement of the engine’s valve springs at no charge.

Owners can continue to drive their vehicles. If symptoms are noticed, such as vibration, rough idling, unusual engine sounds or poor performance, the vehicle should be brought to a Lexus dealer for service.

Certain Lexus vehicles produced among the following models and years are covered:
2007 and 2008 GS 350
2007 and 2008 GS 450h
2008 GS 460
2006, 2007 and 2008 IS 350
2007 and 2008 LS 460
2007 and 2008 LS 460 L
2008 LS 600h L

Lexus has announced a new round of recalls for the 2010 Lexus HS 250h. During NHTSA crash tests, the car spilled fuel sparking Toyota to stop delivery and announce the pending recall of 17,000 vehicles.

The test, performed by an independent contractor, replicated “extreme conditions” and resulted in a “very small amount” of fuel to spill, according to Toyota.

In the test, the vehicle was struck from behind at 50 mph then mounted on a device that spun it around to simulate a rollover. The spill occurred while the vehicle was on its side.

Toyota has not announced a fix for the problem, stating that they will have to replicate the conditions to find out what went wrong before they can address the problem.

Toyota will announce a solution to owners when it becomes available. Owners can continue to drive the car, says Toyota, citing the extreme nature of the test.

Lexus had previously suspended sales of the GX 460 SUV after Consumer Reports rated the vehicle as unsafe. During routine tests, Consumer Reports discovered that if a driver took a sharp turn and abruptly lifted his foot off of the accelerator, the rear of the vehicle would skid sideways dangerously. This presented a rollover risk as the rear would skid to a degree that would likely cause the back tire to leave the pavement or hit a curb.

Lexus has offered free loaner cars to its GX 460 customers until a solution could be found.

Effective April 19, Toyota is officially recalling the Lexus GX 460 worldwide and the Land Cruiser Prado, which is not available in the US. The recall affects 21,000 Prados worldwide and 13,000 GX 460s. About 9,400 of the GX 460s were sold in the US, the rest were sold in the Middle East and Russia.

Dealers will update the software on the Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) system, which should correct the problem. All dealers are expected to have the software update available by the end of April and Toyota will begin sending letters to customers in early May. The software update is expected to take roughly one hour.

Toyota is set today to sign an agreement with the US government to pay a record $16.375 million fine. The NHTSA fined Toyota for failing to notify it of a sticking accelerator defect within five days of becoming aware of the problem.

It is the maximum fine allowed by law for a single violation.

Paying the fine will not release Toyota from any criminal or civil liability caused by the defect and does not preclude additional fines related to other recall issues.

Toyota failed to report the defect for at least 4 months after becoming aware of the problem, according to documents obtained by the government.

Once Toyota signs the paperwork, it will have 30 days to pay the fine.

Toyota will launch a voluntary Safety Recall involving approximately 600,000 first- and second-generation Sienna 2WD minivans sold in the United States to address potential corrosion in the spare tire carrier cable.

This condition may appear on certain 1998 through 2010 model year Siennas that have been operated in cold climate areas with high road salt use. Continued prolonged exposure to road salts may cause excessive corrosion of the carrier cable in some of these vehicles. In the worst case, the carrier cable may fail and the spare tire could become separated from the vehicle, a road hazard for following vehicles that increases the likelihood of a crash.

Toyota is currently working to develop a remedy for this condition. Until a remedy is developed, customers will receive an interim notice instructing them to bring their vehicle to a dealership for a preliminary inspection.

Once the remedy has been developed, customers will receive a second notice regarding steps to correct the problem.

In addition to the District of Columbia, vehicles originally sold or currently registered in the following cold climate states with high road salt usage are covered by this recall: Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin and West Virginia.

Owners of vehicles in other states will receive a separate Special Service Campaign notification that includes details on how to obtain an inspection if they desire. Toyota will perform the same inspection and repair for those vehicles at no charge. The inspection will take approximately 30 minutes depending on the dealer’s work schedule.

Toyota is offering a free inspection of all affected vehicles regardless of whether or not they are from states affected by the recall.