Tuesday, May 25, 2010

If you have a complaint rate of 0.078%, should you be concerned?

The NHTSA announced that between 2000 and May 2010, they've received 6,200 complaints, and have attributed 89 deaths and 57 injuries related to unintended acceleration.  To date, the vehicle affected total 8 million.

  • 0.078% complaints compared to number of vehicles affected
  • 0.0018% deaths and injuries compared to number of vehicles affected

The last time there was this much uproar about a defect, Ford had to recall 6.8 million OEM tires on Explorers sold between 1991 and 2000.  If you divide that 6.8 million tires by 4 (4 tires per vehicle), that was 1.7 million vehicles actually affected.  The federal government's final report stated that over 700 people were injured and 200 people died as a result of faulty tires resulting in rollovers, with over 2200 complaints.

  • 0.129% complaints compared to number of vehicles affected (based upon 4 tires per vehicle)
  • 0.053% deaths and injuries compared to number of vehicles affected (based upon 4 tires per vehicle)

Just for comparison's sake:

  • 0.00014% chance of getting hit by lightning in the US.
  • 19 - 23% lifetime chance of dying from cancer in the US.
  • 0.090% chance of dying from smoke or fire.
  • 1% chance of dying in a car accident.

Maybe you noticed, that you have a greater chance of dying in a car accident, than being involved in an accident involving unintended acceleration in an affected Toyota?

No comments: