Toyota Begins Interim Notification to Owners Regarding Future Voluntary Safety Recall
09-29-09, 04:56 PM
#61
Pic
We've all likely dealt with a floor mat that doesn't want to stay put at one time or another, but few pose a serious danger to occupants. That's apparently not the case with a range of Toyota and Lexus floor mats, however, as the Department of Transportation (DOT) has issued a warning to owners of affected vehicles to immediately remove their driver's-side floor mats and not replace them due to a possible interference with the accelerator pedal. Toyota is expected to issue a large-scale recall later today.
The Lexus vehicles affected include the 2007-2010 Lexus ES 350 and the 2006-2010 Lexus IS 250 and 350. Other Toyota vehicles within the scope of the warning include: the 2007-2010 Camry, 2005-2010 Avalon, 2004-2009 Prius, 2005-2010 Tacoma, and the 2007-2010 Tundra, according to an AP report. As many as 3.8 million vehicles may be affected.
Toyota's diagram showing how to properly install floor mats
The floor mat issue appears to have been fairly long-standing for Toyota, with a previous recall of floor mats that could trap the gas pedal in 2007. A fatal crash involving a family of four in a 2009 Lexus ES 350 last month near Los Angeles is believed to have been the impetus for the latest recall.
As Toyota put it in its official statement, "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."
It's not clear if the floor mats now at issue are the same or similar to those recalled in 2007, but the latest warning from the DOT overlaps the models recalled in 2007, which covered 2007 and 2008 model-year Lexus ES 350s and Toyota Camrys.
Toyota advises the following course of action if you think your car may have the problem:
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.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.
Owners with questions or concerns, are asked to please contact the Toyota Customer Experience Center (1 800 331-4331) or consult the information posted at http://www.toyota.com
For more on this story, check out John Voelcker's article on the recall at TheCarConnection.
09-29-09, 05:04 PM
#62
Lexus Test Driver
This whole thing is rediculous. The statment is not clear and does not clarify it's only for the all-weather mats or mats that are stacked. So now every stock carpetted Lexus in this timeframe is affected? I don't think so. There is nothing wrong with the stock carpet set-up when using the hook.
Also, any dealer putting a mat ontop of another mat is pretty careless. That is just not common sense at all.
Sorry to hear about the CHP family. I don't think any jokes should be cracked over this matter- people lost their lives. Check that 911 link on page 1.
Also, any dealer putting a mat ontop of another mat is pretty careless. That is just not common sense at all.
Sorry to hear about the CHP family. I don't think any jokes should be cracked over this matter- people lost their lives. Check that 911 link on page 1.
09-29-09, 06:37 PM
#64
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I just spent a good 15 minutes messing with the mats with my friend. We for the life of us can't figure out how the carpet mats would cause the pedal to be pushed down, even if we intentionally unhooked it and placed the mat over the pedal. Everything we tried didn't work.
The article is too vague, but I'm thinking it's only for the all-weather floor mats.
The article is too vague, but I'm thinking it's only for the all-weather floor mats.
09-29-09, 07:22 PM
#66
Pole Position
They don't mention the LS, but if I didn't clip my all-weather mats, they'd creep forward until they block the accelerator. That applies to almost any car (it happened in my Acura when I negligently omitted clipping the all-weather mats); unfortunately common sense is a quality they can't build in a car, owners are suppose to provide that...
09-29-09, 07:36 PM
#67
Pole Position
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wth aren't you suppose to remove your carpet when putting in all weather floor mats? i dont' see how your floor mat would get stuck over/under your accelerator... is the weight of the floor mat alone without your foot able to keep you accelerating? so the brakes AND the emergency brake is useless? wtf lol
so are they going to take the all weather mats and leave you with nothing?
my drivers mat has a hole in it i was hoping to get a new one free
09-29-09, 07:57 PM
#68
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don't know if neone put it up yet but heres a good pic of how the pedal can get stuck on the floor mat.
http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/29/t...-largest-ever/
http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/29/t...-largest-ever/
09-29-09, 08:08 PM
#69
Lexus Fanatic
The sky is falling, the sky is falling... the funny part (thou sad) about that es350 crash in socal, it was a loaner car from the dealer and not a POV... i'm leaving my 'carpet' mats in, for those of you who are worried, goto the dealer for 'piece of mind' cuz the dealerships ALWAYS know what their doing/talking about...
09-29-09, 08:13 PM
#70
Lexus Fanatic
Mods: I think these two threads can be combned:
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/is-...lion-cars.html
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/is-...lion-cars.html
09-29-09, 08:19 PM
#71
Pole Position
The best thing Toyota/Lexus should do is get rid of this plastic clip design, and go with steel pins/pegs welded to the floor like Euro cars, Acura & others. Those silly plastic clips break or fall off easily, and they are a PITA to attach to the thick all-weather rubber mats. No wonder some give up on them and just let the mats float.
Last edited by Johnny; 09-30-09 at 12:57 AM.
09-29-09, 08:43 PM
#72
Lexus Champion
^This is exactly why there is a recall. The recall is designed to save someone's life. If you don't want to have your life saved, don't do anything. This is not mandatory. Let Toyota do what they feel they have to do to prevent a death, don't be selfish just because your hooks are good and you're too smart to let a mat get in the way and you're quick enough to figure out how to stop a runaway car. People make mistakes, they shouldn't have to pay for a mistake with their life or their family's life and Toyota is going to try to see to that if you let them. If you don't need help fine, but get out of the way and let Toyota help others.
09-29-09, 08:45 PM
#73
I still don't understand how a loose mat, lodges a gas pedal down and causes sudden acceleration? If the mat were to lodge under anything, wouldn't it lodge under the brakes and cause it to not engage properly causing retarded stopping, rather than lodge on the gas and cause excessive acceleration?
Just looking at the picture of the mat and clip, I just don't see it. Do people just let the mats continue to wedge up the pedals like a wedgie up your underwear and not pull back?
We had the biggest POS floor mats that ran all over the place on our '84 Plymouth Voyager and we just adjusted it back ever so often.... is common sense not at play here, or just plain laziness. I just don't see it...
Just looking at the picture of the mat and clip, I just don't see it. Do people just let the mats continue to wedge up the pedals like a wedgie up your underwear and not pull back?
We had the biggest POS floor mats that ran all over the place on our '84 Plymouth Voyager and we just adjusted it back ever so often.... is common sense not at play here, or just plain laziness. I just don't see it...
09-29-09, 08:47 PM
#74
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don't know if neone put it up yet but heres a good pic of how the pedal can get stuck on the floor mat.
http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/29/t...-largest-ever/
http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/29/t...-largest-ever/
09-29-09, 08:49 PM
#75
Lexus Champion
wth aren't you suppose to remove your carpet when putting in all weather floor mats? i dont' see how your floor mat would get stuck over/under your accelerator... is the weight of the floor mat alone without your foot able to keep you accelerating? so the brakes AND the emergency brake is useless? wtf lol