Toyota Says It Will Start Fixing Recalled Cars

[DainBramaged]

Toyota Motor on Monday said repairs to accelerator pedals in millions of recalled vehicles would begin later this week as it tried to reassure customers and show that it had the situation under control.

Toyota said many dealers had extended hours and some would stay open around the clock so that the pedals could be fixed as quickly as possible.

The president of Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A., James Lentz, maintained that the pedal repairs, along with modifications aimed at preventing the pedal from getting trapped under the floor mat, would resolve the problems with unintended acceleration that prompted the recalls.

“These two fixes solve the issues that we know of,” Mr. Lentz said on a conference call with reporters. “It is not an electronics issue.”

Mr. Lentz maintained that the vehicles under recall were safe to drive, even before the repairs were made, unless drivers experienced signs that the pedal had become worn and was more difficult to use.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/02/business/global/02toyota.html?hp

[flvegan]

1. I don't buy it.

I don't think floor mats had anything to do it, and I don't think it's a friction issue. I do think it's an electronics issue.

[DainBramaged]

2. You and I both, when the next 'fixed' car crashes, it's over for them....

[David Zephyr]

3. I have a new Hylander Hybrid and I'm not convinced by this news.

There is opposing data and information that suggests that the problem may be with the electronic aceleration system that includes microprocessors and electrical motors.

[Flubadubya]

4. I have a 2008 Prius and it is not even in the recall...

What gives with that? The Prius has been one of the models involved in the runaway accidents. So why would they exclude it from the recall?