Toyota issues massive recall
The Associate Press is reporting that Toyota Motor Corp. will replace gas pedals on about 4 million recalled cars in the U.S. because the accelerator pedals get stuck to the floor mats and can be a danger to drivers and other motorists and pedestrians.
Toyota issued a consumer safety notice in this issue on Sept. 29, 2009 and told owners to remove the driver’s side floor mats to keep the gas pedal from becoming jammed. Toyota mailed notices to owners of certain Toyota and Lexus models on Oct. 30.
Toyota has issued “vehicle-based remedy” and it is as follows:
1. The shape of the accelerator pedal will be reconfigured to address the risk of floor mat entrapment, even when an older-design all-weather floor mat or other inappropriate floor mat is improperly attached, or is placed on top of another floor mat. For the ES350, Camry, and Avalon models involved, the shape of the floor surface underneath will also be reconfigured to increase the space between the accelerator pedal and the floor.
2. Vehicles with any genuine Toyota or Lexus accessory all-weather floor mat will be provided with newly designed replacement driver- and front passenger-side all-weather floor mats.
Toyota is in the process of completing development of these actions and for the ES350, Camry, and Avalon will start notifying owners of the involved vehicles via first-class mail by the end of this year. The remedy process regarding the other five models will occur on a rolling schedule during 2010, according to a press release.
“The safety of our owners and the public is our utmost concern and Toyota has and will continue to thoroughly investigate and take appropriate measures to address any defect trends that are identified,” the Japanese automaker said in a statement.