Hopped in the long-term Civic GX this morning and noticed that the floormat was scooched up over the base of the pedal.
I wouldn't normally have noticed - it wasn't much of a scooch - but I'd just written a piece about that massive Toyota safety campaign and pending recall for scrunched-up floor mats that were jamming gas pedals, so the subject was on my mind.
The Honda's mat has a fairly elaborate securing system under the front edge of the driver's seat, and best I can figure it wasn't fastened after being cleaned at the car wash.
Fortunately, the Civic GX's pedal is floor mounted, so there's no gap between pedal and floor for the mat to slip into and cause a jam - the problem, apparently, with those 3.8 million Toyotas and Lexuses with pedals that hang down from the firewall and don't touch the floor.
Way to go, Honda!
An yeah, I drove all the way to the office - 54 miles on the freeway - before unscooching the mat and resecuring it.
John O'Dell, Senior Editor, Green Car Advisor @ 34,377 miles
subaru123 says:
03:52 PM, 10/ 2/09
I own a Prius and am affected by the floor mat recall but what is the fun of owning a Toyota without a major recall. Every Toyota I've owned has been recalled. It's amazing how do they do it?
subaru123 says:
03:55 PM, 10/ 2/09
And good job to Honda for having a safe floormat.
And before everyone says well 2008-2009 Tribecas were recalled let me just say it only affected 5,130 vehicles (not all U.S.) and my Tribeca was NOT affected.
subaru123 says:
03:57 PM, 10/ 2/09
BTW Inside Line can you please add paragraph spacing to comments and when you click on an archive for a long term car there is NO next page arrow to read all of the blogs.
bodyblue says:
03:58 PM, 10/ 2/09
Floor mounted units are so '60s station wagon.
sylvia says:
04:04 PM, 10/ 2/09
@subaru123 - already noted and being addressed. Please see http://blogs.insideline.com/straightline/2009/10/welcome-to-the-new-inside-line.html
kingkhalas says:
04:10 PM, 10/ 2/09
Can Edmunds get an official update on Phill for home natural gas refueling?
Without Phill, it's hard to own a natural gas civic in certain areas of Los Angeles.
compliance says:
04:56 PM, 10/ 2/09
You drove to work with the floor mats like that? Easy there Evel Knievel! ;)
vt8919 says:
07:32 PM, 10/ 2/09
If Phill breaks, do you have to buy a Dr. Phill for it?
drhorrible says:
06:51 AM, 10/ 3/09
I found that after driving Honda's and Acura's it took time to adjust to the way gas pedal is attached to the floor which is not the way it is in most cars I have driven. My right foot didn't feel comfortable at first.