Toyota recalls vehicles over acceleration problem

[Bozita]

Source: Detroit Free Press

POSTED: 3:58 P.M. SEPT. 29, 2009
Toyota recalls vehicles over acceleration problem
BY JUSTIN HYDE
FREE PRESS WASHINGTON STAFF

Toyota Motor Co. is launching a recall of thousands of Toyota and Lexus models to immediately remove driver's side floor mats that can stick under accelerator pedals, causing the vehicles to surge forward.

In an unusual step, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration warned drivers of the affected models to not replace the floor mats in the affected models. The affected models include:

• 2007-2010 Camry
• 2005-2010 Avalon
• 2004-2009 Prius
• 2005-2010 Tacoma
• 2007-2010 Tundra
• 2007-2010 ES 350
• 2006-2010 IS 250 and IS350

NHTSA could not immediately say how many vehicles in total are affected.

Read more: http://www.freep.com/article/20090929/BUSINESS01/90929057/1318/Toyota-recalls-vehicles-over-acceleration-problem

[Travis_0004]

1. I had this happen before

I had the same thing happen on my civic. First time it happened I thought it was an isolated case, but the second time it happened I threw the mat away.

[Abq_Sarah]

3. I had it happen

On a Subaru. I also tossed the mat and replaced it with something that wouldn't slide up as far.

[LisaL]

11. I had a problem with the mat. Only my car wouldn't accelerate well because of the mat.

It's removable so I put it away.

[Frank Cannon]

22. This happens with aftermarket floor mats all the time

I'm actually very surprised that this is just now being discovered as an issue.

[cal04]

2. Toyota recalls 3.8 million vehicles

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33077383/ns/business-autos/
Potentially dangerous floor mats the reason for company's largest recall

[MindPilot]

4. And here's why...

SAN DIEGO - Toyota USA is directing all its dealers to inspect their new, used and loaner vehicles in response to a Santee-area car crash that killed a California Highway Patrol officer and three members of his family, apparently after an improperly installed floor mat caused the vehicle's accelerator to become stuck.

http://www.sandiego6.com/mostpopular/story/Santee-CHP-officer-Saylor-killed-Lexus-accelerator/AzYjOhtvFE2mIuxTtxrK4Q.cspx

It still seems weird to me that someone with the driving skills of a veteran CHP officer would not have the presence of mind to reach down and pull the mat out of the way. I also wonder if this would have gotten nearly as much attention if the driver had been Joe Average Workingman. I mean how often does the NHTSA get involved in a crash investigation?

[frylock]

8. i wondered the same thing..

the floor mat in my old Toyota PU used to slide up under the brake pedal. I would just reach down and pull it out.

[LisaL]

12. Maybe he hasn't figured out what the reason was.

[tammywammy]

15. He may not have had time to figure it out before he crashed.

Apparently he was in a loaner car from the dealership and they also said to turn the car off you have to press a button for 3 seconds, which again he may not have been told when he was at the dealer.

Very sad all around.

[TrogL]

27. Why not just drop it into neutral, pull over and fix the mat

[triple point]

5. Do they mean the pedal got stuck under the mat instead of the other way 'round?

Something underneath the pedal would hinder acceleration, wouldn't it?
:shrug:

[LisaL]

13. That's what happened on my toyota because of the mat.

Acceleration was hindered. I am not sure how it would make the acceleration to be stuck the other way.

[triple point]

26. We have 3 Toyotas and after we heard this story we looked at the floor mats and couldn't

figure out how they could hold the gas pedal 'down' unless they had been ripped (or worn out) and ended up on the top side of the pedal. But I certainly admit Murphy's Law is alive and well...
:shrug:

[swilton]

6. I've been driving a 2004 Prius

Never had a problem??:wtf:

Any recommended guidance or would this just be one of those issues of over-reaction?

[blue_onyx]

7. Not overreaction

An accelerator getting stuck is a big deal. Just take your drive-side floor mat out.

[boppers]

9. #4 's link details reaction measures.

Also, take the damn mat out, the 911 phone call of the people speeding to their death isn't something you want to repeat.

[ecordy75]

10. Is this 911 call real and associated with the real, tragic crash?

In 2007 Ralph Nader gave me his personally autographed book, "Unsafe at Any Speed".
He proves that the American auto industry has deliberately shifted any blame and all burden of proof
for the cause of violent deadly accidents entirely upon the driver, even in situations when a driver
simply cannot control all the variables. Nader's book is an American classic.

So, in general, I do take accusations of poor workmanship by auto manufacturers very seriously.

In particular, no one should ever be allowed to buy or sell a car made by Ford.
They are the worst cars imaginable. One car that we bought barely used from a friend
we had for only 12 years (1998-2006). This car was on its 3rd engine by 80,000 miles.
Repair bills over the same period of time were something like $14,000 for the Ford
vs $5000 for our infinitely superior Toyota Camry.

However, a friend and I are very skeptical of these reports of mats in Toyota cars -
which have proven personally and statistically to be the finest machines on earth -
causing these accidents.

However, I certainly feel great sympathy for the victims of this crash.
And, I am open to the possibility that the mat DID cause this crash.
However, we really cannot figure out HOW that is possible.

Can't someone just pull over and adjust the mat if it bunches up under the accelerator?

The OTHER issue is: this 911 call sounds very fake to us.
The callers do not sound like they are really terrified in a crash.
How long can it take for them, going 120mph as they claim, to come to an intersection
that they seem to be able to see from way back?

So, I question whether this 911 call was a prank call made AFTER the real crash.

[Psephos]

16. odd...for a moment there the odor of rattus rattus was quite strong n/t

[MindPilot]

19. Yes, the 911 call was very real.

Pretty shitty comments for your first post there bucko. Nice to meet you too.

[tammywammy]

14. That's very scary to think of your accelerater getting stuck down

The mats on my Volkswagen are clipped down at the end near the seat, I'd have to pull it up to move.

And that's a lot of cars to be recalled too.

[1gobluedem]

17. Interesting at the lack of response to this thread

If 3.8 million US cars were recalled people would be baying for blood revenge.

[WriteDown]

24. Want to speculate on the reasons?

:)

[vadawg]

29. probuably cause most people can see its an easy fix, its not something that they have come across

or if they have they responded well and then fixed it, this is totally different from having bad experiences with vehicle maintenance etc etc.

[WriteDown]

32. I think Toyotas currently are the most recalled cars in the

world. I'm sure they are "easy fixes" though.

[blue_onyx]

25. Yes

It's what I've come to expect on DU. Not only are there not a lot of replies but the people that did respond are criticizing the consumers for being stupid rather than the company. If this had been GM, it would been a completely different thread.

[Xithras]

18. It was an instruction error, and only impacts a tiny percentage of those cars.

The problem is limited to cars where buyers purchased the rubber all-weather mat package. Apparently Toyota didn't provide any instructions for installing them (it's a friggin floormat, who'da thunk that they need instructions), and standard practice was to simply place the all-weather mats in the trunk so that the buyer could put them in the car whenever they wanted. The cars would be delivered to the buyer with carpeted mats in the cabin, and rubber mats in the trunk.

Many buyers simply tossed the rubber mats into the car over the top of the original carpeted mats, preventing the mat hook from holding it into place. The carpeted mats also don't provide enough grip for the rubber mats on top of them, permitting them to slide.

If you have one of these cars, the dealership "recall" involves a couple simple steps. 1. They'll hand you a sheet of floormat instructions. 2. If you only have carpeted mats, they'll tell you to go home. 3. If you only have rubber floormats installed, they'll verify that the hook is properly fastened, and tell you to go home. 4. If you have both in at the same time, they'll pull the carpeted mats out, toss them in the trunk, and tell you to use one or the other, but not both. And then they'll send you home.

It's a failure to think problem.

[MindPilot]

20. True, and in this particular case there were some reports

That it was not the correct floor mats for that model installed. Add that to unfamiliar vehicle and it equals disaster.

[Nihil]

30. Ding! Ding! Ding! Winner!

> It's a failure to think problem.

> Toyota didn't provide any instructions for installing them
> (it's a friggin floormat, who'da thunk that they need instructions)

:applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause:

[MindPilot]

21. What really needs to be fixed.

What really needs to be fixed is that three-second engine cut-off delay. Turning off the engine is something that has to work with what everybody has pre-programed into muscle memory: To stop the engine, turn the key counter-clockwise. Who in a moment of panic is going to think to hold hold down a button for three seconds to stop an out-of-control car? At 125 mph you're covering almost two football fields in those three seconds. I say that's not a good design.

[Paulie]

28. There is the shifter below the button, quick flip to left and it's in neutral

There is also that pedal to the left of the accelerator that works wonders. Taking right foot off right pedal and placing it on the other one helps too, even if right is stuck.

:)

[Nihil]

31. Self-delete

Having seen how lacking in humour some people can be ...
(Not Paulie btw)

[yellowcanine]

23. "One driver told the agency the vehicle had hit speeds of 100 m.p.h. over a 6-mile stretch of

freeway because of the problem."

I am sorry but someone who can't figure out how to stop a car with a floor mat stuck on the accelerator over a 6 mile stretch of highway should not be driving.