The latest recall from the Japanese automaker warns the owners of seven Lexus and Toyota models to immediately remove the driver side floor mat
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2008 Toyota Prius
We get recalls
At LotPro.com, we normally don’t get involved with vehicle recalls. Due to the vigilance of the auto manufacturers as well as the NHTSA, we see recall notices nearly every week, and reporting on each one would take up most of our time.
But some are bigger than others, at the latest one, issued by Toyota, is so large and, potentially, so dangerous, that we had to comment on it here.
2008 Lexus ES350
3.8 million vehicles involved
Late yesterday, Toyota issued a press release regarding driver’s side floor mats on 7 of its models:
“Recent events have prompted Toyota to take a closer look at the potential for an accelerator pedal to get stuck in the full open position due to an unsecured or incompatible driver’s floor mat. A stuck open accelerator pedal may result in very high vehicle speeds and make it difficult to stop the vehicle, which could cause a crash, serious injury or death.
Toyota considers this a critical matter and will soon launch a safety campaign on specific Toyota and Lexus vehicles. Throughout the process of developing the details of the action plan, it will advise the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).”
Toyota considers the risk so serious, that until it comes up with a fix, the company is urging drivers of some of its most popular vehicles to immediately remove the driver’s floor mat.
2008 Lexus IS350
The following Toyota models are affected:
2007 – 2010 Toyota Camry
2005 – 2010 Toyota Avalon
2004 – 2009 Toyota Prius
2005 – 2010 Toyota Tacoma
2007 – 2010 Toyota Tundra
The following Lexus models are affected:
2007 – 2010 Lexus ES350
2006 – 2010 Lexus IS250 and Lexus IS350
correct floor mat installation per Toyota
Toyota has also issued a series of recommended steps that owners should take if they experience “unintended acceleration” (there are still those of us that can remember when we first heard that phrase) due to floor mat interference:
• 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.
Since this is a free country and Toyota recognizes the fact that there may be a few idiots owners out there who will choose not to remove the aforementioned floor mat, the company “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.”
Tags: Lexus, lexus es350, lexus is250, lexus is350, national highway traffic safety administration, NHTSA, Toyota, toyota avalon, Toyota Camry, toyota floor mat recall, Toyota Prius, toyota recall, toyota tacoma, toyota tundra
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