BROWSE CAR REVIEWS BY:
MAKE
MODEL
Click on a car body type for search results.
 |
 |
| SUVs (two rows) | SUVs (three rows) |
 |
 |
| Crossover | Minivans |
 |
 |
| Sedan | Hybrids |
 |
 |
| Wagons/Hatchbacks | Just for Fun |
Toyota Uses Zip Ties as Temporary Fix for Floormats
Oct 08 2009 by Jennifer Newman
Toyota told its dealers today to use a heavy-duty self-locking plastic tie — or zip ties — as a temporary fix to keep floormats in place in the 3.8 million Toyota and Lexus vehicles the company recalled last week. I’m a big fan of zip ties; I’m planning on using some to secure my Halloween decorations to my house, but I’m not sure how I feel about using them on problematic floormats.
Toyota recalled the cars because the removable floormat could move forward and cause the gas pedal to stick and cause a crash. These zip ties can hold up to 50 pounds and are attached to the driver’s seat frame, said Brian Lyons, Toyota spokesman. Using the zip ties allows the floormats to be flipped up onto the seat if they need to be moved or cleaned.
This is a temporary fix, Lyons said. Toyota is working toward adding a component change to the recalled vehicles. This would likely include advanced braking software as well as mechanical changes.
The following cars have been recalled:
• 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
If you own one of these cars, remove the driver-side floormat from the car immediately. Do not replace it with another floormat.
For more information, owners can call Toyota at 800-331-4331 or Lexus at 800-255-3987.
What a stupid reason for a recall. Just buy new mats.