The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is currently considering another investigation into reports of unintended acceleration with Toyota vehicles.

The agency has received a petition from the driver of a 2010 Corolla who blames a parking accident on low-speed surging. After reviewing the NHTSA complaint database, the owner claims to have found 163 reports of similar behavior.

“Vehicle idled normally for approximately 15 minutes while I cleared snow from the driveway,” begins one complaint alleging similar behavior, but no crash. “I entered vehicle, put my foot on the brake and shifted into reverse. Accelerator suddenly went to full throttle. I managed to shift back into park and the engine rpm increased to red-line level.”

The reports appear to focus on Toyota’s electronic throttle control system (ETCS-i) as a potential cause. The same system can be found in Corollas with model years ranging from 2006 through 2010.

The NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation promises to evaluate all 163 complaints before determining if a deeper inquiry is warranted, though 22 of the owner filings have already been flagged as outside the scope of the petition request.

The allegations echo the unintended-acceleration problems that led Toyota to recall millions of vehicles several years ago. After agreeing to a $1.2 billion settlement over its recall mishandling, Toyota claimed to have made “fundamental changes” to prevent such scenarios from reoccurring.

The already-limited number of Porsche 918 Spyder supercars appears to have been reduced after a refueling incident at a gas station northwest of Toronto.

A video posted to YouTube shows the rear end of the car engulfed in flames next to an Esso fuel pump in Caledon, Ontario, presumably resulting in a total loss but with no reported injuries.

Witnesses reportedly claim the fire started after the fuel began to overflow from the filler neck and splash on the hot exhaust, according to a CBC report. The claims have not been officially confirmed, however.

The particular example is said to have been purchased for $900,000 by Michael Wekerle, a financial executive also known for his role as a judge on the CBC television series Dragons’ Den.

Porsche has only planned to build 918 examples of the hybrid sports car, which pairs a 4.6-liter V8 engine with two electric motors for a combined output of 887 horsepower and 590 lb-ft of torque. It promises to launch from zero to 62 mph in 2.8 seconds, eventually topping out at 211 mph.

“We are aware of media reports of a burning 918 Spyder at a gas station in the Toronto area,” Porsche Canada’s PR manager, Patrick Saint-Pierre, said in a statement to Caledon Enterprise. “Porsche is prepared to bring its technical resources to help all authorities who are investigating the matter.”

Toyota has issued a recall for older Tacoma pickups over defective suspension components.

The company has discovered a problem with aging leaf springs, which are prone to fracture due to stress or corrosion.

The worst-case scenario involves a broken leaf spring moving out of position and puncturing the fuel tank. Such a failure could cause a fire and potential injuries and deaths if leaking fuel finds an ignition source.

The company claims it is unaware of any accidents or injuries that have been caused by broken leaf springs in affected vehicles.

The recall includes both 4X4 and two-wheel-drive PreRunner variants from 2005-2011 model years, totaling approximately 690,000 vehicles.

Photo by Andrew Ganz.

Rejecting reports that the Cadillac ELR may soon be discontinued, a company spokesman has confirmed that an upgraded model is on its way for the 2016 model year.

The revised hybrid luxury coupe will feature “engineering enhancements,” Cadillac’s David Caldwell recently told Edmunds, without elaborating.

General Motors has already confirmed that a redesigned version of the ELR’s stablemate, the 2016 Chevrolet Volt, will debut early next year at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

With an expected unveiling as early as November at the Los Angeles show, it is unclear if the revamped ELR will preview the next-generation Volt or simply showcase Cadillac-specific tweaks to the current-generation platform.

Just 774 ELR units have left showrooms in the first eight months of the year. Slow sales have been primarily blamed on its $75,000 price tag, which puts it into the same bracket as the entry-level Tesla Model S.

Acknowledging the lackluster sales, Cadillac’s top engineer, David Leone, recently noted that senior management may consider retiring the ELR rather than continuing the develop the nameplate on the next-generation Volt platform. Other executives previously argued that the electrified luxury model will not be judged solely in terms of sales volume, consistent with the broader attitude of incoming chief Johan de Nysschen.

Described as a “baby monitor for your car,” the Valet Mode introduced on the 2015 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray is a cool and high-tech way to keep an eye on your new set of wheels. There is, however, one major flaw – using it might make you a felon.

Relying on the car’s built-in Performance Data Recorder, the 2015 Stingray’s Valet Mode is capable of recording HD video and in-car audio. The system is intended to make you feel a little more comfortable leaving your keys with the pimply-faced valet attendant but, according to General Motors, valet mode may actually be illegal to use.

“To help our customers use the Performance Data Recorder (UQT) consistent with legal requirements that pertain to audio recording devices, we will be requiring a very important update to the system of each affected vehicle in the near future,” GM said in a statement issued to dealers that was obtained by fan site Corvette Forum. “We expect that the update will be available early next month.”

The document continued: “In the meantime, you must advise any customers who take delivery of an impacted vehicle that they should refrain from using the Valet Mode until the update takes place. If they do use the Valet Mode, they should (i) notify any occupants of the vehicle that they will be recorded while in the vehicle, and (ii) obtain their consent to this recording. It is very important that you explain this to each customer at the time of delivery.”

The legal issues with Valet Mode reportedly vary from state to state, but GM is issuing the blanket warning just to cover itself. GM hasn’t detail the update it is working on for Valet Mode, but disabling in-car audio recordings is likely the system’s only fix.