Recall Alert: 3.8 Million Toyota and Lexus Vehicles
Sep 29 2009 by Jennifer Newman
Toyota will recall 3.8 million Toyota and Lexus vehicles because of a problem with a removable floormat that could cause the gas pedal to stick and cause a crash, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. This is the largest recall in the automaker’s history.
Toyota plans to alert owners next week. In the meantime, Toyota and Lexus owners should immediately remove the driver-side floormat from their cars and not replace them, according to NHTSA.
The following models are affected by the recall:
• 2007-2010 Toyota Camry
• 2005-2010 Toyota Avalon
• 2004-2009 Toyota Prius
• 2005-2010 Toyota Tacoma
• 2007-2010 Toyota Tundra
• 2007-2010 Lexus ES 350
• 2006-2010 Lexus IS 250 and IS 350
Four people died last month when the accelerator in the 2009 Lexus ES 350 they were riding in apparently got hung up on the floormat. The vehicle, which was on loan from a car dealership, was reportedly going 120 mph when it hit an SUV, flew off an embankment, rolled and burst into flames.
Toyota has released instructions on what to do if your car’s gas pedal gets hung up on the floormat (below).
Toyota’s Notice
Should the vehicle continue to accelerate rapidly after releasing the accelerator pedal, this could be an indication of floor mat interference. If this occurs, Toyota recommends the driver take the following actions:
First, if it is possible and safe to do so, pull back the floor mat and dislodge it from the accelerator pedal; then pull over and stop the vehicle.
If the floor mat cannot be dislodged, then firmly and steadily step on the brake pedal with both feet. Do NOT pump the brake pedal repeatedly as this will increase the effort required to slow the vehicle.
Shift the transmission gear selector to the Neutral (N) position and use the brakes to make a controlled stop at the side of the road and turn off the engine.
If unable to put the vehicle in Neutral, turn the engine OFF, or to ACC. This will not cause loss of steering or braking control, but the power assist to these systems will be lost.
• If the vehicle is equipped with an Engine Start/Stop button, firmly and steadily push the button for at least three seconds to turn off the engine. Do NOT tap the Engine Start/Stop button.
• If the vehicle is equipped with a conventional key-ignition, turn the ignition key to the ACC position to turn off the engine. Do NOT remove the key from the ignition as this will lock the steering wheel.
In the event owners choose not to remove their floor mat, Toyota strongly recommends that they ensure that the correct floor mat is being used, that it is properly installed and secured, that it is not flipped over with bottom-side up, and that one floor mat is not stacked over another. Information on proper floor mat installation can be found on http://www.toyota.com and http://www.lexus.com.
Owners with questions or concerns, are asked to please contact the Toyota Customer Experience Center (800-331-4331) or Lexus Customer Assistance Center (800-255¬3987), or consult the information posted at http://www.toyota.com and http://www.lexus.com.
User Comments
All of the above models have the same hooks to hold the mats in place. Thing is…people are not using them causing the mat to slip. It’s not rocket science on why those hooks are there.
The same accelleration has happened to me twice in my Toyota Avalon. No vehicle should be designed to accellerate by itself from the slipping of a floor mat. They don’t have recalls for driver errors. Shame on anyone for blaming the drivers.
it’s BULL…no way can the floormat accelerate the car..you would have to roll it into a ball…
Interesting that my 2008 Scion xD has better floormats than Toyota’s pricier models. My floormat had two grommets that fit over plastic hooks on the floor to prevent it from slipping.