Toyota Motor Sales recalled 3,800,000 autos in Nov. 09 in order to modify accelerator pedals, floor mats plus software to handle what has been described as sudden speedup problems. Dealers were making changes to the gasoline pedals by taking off inches from the underside so the throttle pedal would not be constrained by the floor mattes.
Toyota Motor Sales has now followed up that recall with an additional recall encompassing sudden and unstoppable acceleration on January 21, 2010. That day Toyota Motor Sales proclaimed a recall of 2,300,000 vehicles which involved
2005-2010 Avalon
‘07-’10 Camry
‘09-’10 Corolla
2010 Highlander
‘09-’10 Matrix
2009-2010 RAV4
‘08-’10 Sequoia
‘07-’10 Tundra
According to a USA item titled “100 Toyota drivers filed complaints before recall”, “she would become one of more than 100 drivers, according to a USA TODAY search of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration complaints database, who over the past few years have had their Toyota vehicles take off when they weren’t expected to.”
If people think this accleration problem is solitary to Toyota automobiles, they are wrong. Reported by the USA article, “Jake Fisher, senior engineer at Consumer Reports’ Auto Test Center, says unintended acceleration is not a problem unique to Toyota. He pored through NHTSA’s database of complaints for 2008 and noted that every manufacturer faced similar complaints. Sometimes, the issue is driver error, he says. But sometimes, there are defects. Toyota accounted for about 40% of the 2008 unintended acceleration complaints, Fisher says. “This could happen to anybody, but Toyota was over-represented,” he says. “But the underlying message of this whole thing is that, while there are instances of this in Toyotas, it’s still very rare.” The sudden acceleration issues are not solely a Toyota problem, but Toyota Motor Sales does suffer the most significant portion.
Toyota Motor Sales has issued a brief issuance, “Our investigation indicates that there is a possibility that certain accelerator pedal mechanisms may, in rare instances, mechanically stick in a partially depressed position or return slowly to the idle position. They also provided instructions on how to handle the situation if the acceleration issue occurs If your car begins to accelerate uncontrollably, immediately move the shift lever to neutral and firmly apply the brakes. Do not pump the brakes. And dont worry about the engine on modern vehicles, they have rev limiters to prevent damage. Once you have brought the car to a safe stop, turn off the engine.”
Toyota doesnt have a fix to deploy, and more notifications are awaited. Toyota and the maker of the gas pedal, CTS, have been working on a resolution, but nothing of substance has been provided yet.
For more information a detailed article on this state of affairs from a outside agency see Consumer Reports report on the Toyota Motor Sales recall.
You can also stay knowing on Toyota Motor Sales declarations at Toyotas recall page.
To find new cars check out CarLocate.com.
