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

Toyota reported June sales in the US of 140,604 units, up 6.8% over June 2009. The Toyota Division sold 123,272 vehicles, 7.4% more than the same month in 2009, while Lexus sold 17,332, an increase of 2.7%.

Year to date, Toyota sold 846,542 cars, trucks, and vans, a 10.6% increase (adjusting for selling days) or 9.9% (not adjusting). Toyota remains America’s leading retail brand in sales.

Toyota cars registered a sales decline of 2% which was compensated for by a 26% hike in truck sales. Camry and Camry Hybrid had a combined sales hike of 8%, and Corolla went up 10%. The new Avalon hit 2,833 cars, up 33%.

Light truck sales were led by the RAV4, which recorded sales of 12,573 units, up 25% percent over the same month last year. Tundra had a sales hike of 49% and the new Sienna minivan went 72% over June 2009. Sienna sold 9,357 minivans, narrowly losing out to the Chrysler Town & Country (which posted a 34% increase to hit 9,595) but beating the Dodge Caravan (at 8,658 units, a 49% increase).

Scion posted June sales of 3,745 units. Lexus reported car sales of 8,149 units, down 7%, and light trucks sales of 9,183 units, up 13%.

June sales included of 14,639 hybrid vehicles.

June and Half Year Sales Chart by Vehicle

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.

Some NAFTA Toyota manufacturing executives have been promoted, ostensibly to allow Toyota to make decisions more quickly; the presidents of the Georgetown (Kentucky), Blue Springs (Missouri), and Cambridge (Ontario) plants were named chairmen, and new presidents were named to replace them. The president of the Princeton (Indiana) plant has been replaced.

North American Toyota plants are operated by separate companies, allowing them to close plants and have the U.S. government pick up the pensions of the workers, as they did with the former NUMMI plant after GM transferred their share to Toyota.

Toyota said it would increase regional operations’ autonomy after its slow process of having all major decisions routed through Japan was exposed in Congressional hearings.

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.