Toyota Says It’s Upgrading Software That Reads Crash Data

March 13 (Bloomberg) -- Toyota Motor Corp. said it is upgrading software that helps read information from devices used to record vehicle crash data, according to a statement on the automaker’s Web site.

Toyota, the world’s biggest automaker, has recalled about 8 million vehicles to repair defects that may cause unintended acceleration. Its handling of the recalls, and the government’s response, have been the subject of hearings by three committees in Congress.

Media reports have “mischaracterized how Toyota uses and discloses information” from recorders in its Toyota and Lexus vehicles, the company said in the statement. Toyota has always made all data recorded available to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, law enforcement officials and courts “when requested or ordered to do so,” the automaker said.

The software for the data recorders will be upgraded to be compatible with all vehicles, Toyota said in the statement. The Toyota City, Japan-based company delivered a specialized computer used to read crash data to U.S. regulators on March 3, and three more will be delivered in April, the company said.

Toyota will also provide 150 computers to read the “event data recorders” throughout North America by the end of April, the statement said.

“Once the additional read-out units are available and appropriate procedures are in place, Toyota will provide vehicle owners with access to EDR data from their vehicles upon request,” Toyota said.