Indeed, there is more to the Toyota floor mat debacle than floor mats. Toyota announced today it will modify the gas pedal in 3.8 million vehicles. Modifications will typically involved shortening the pedal to move it farther away from the mat. However, in the Lexus ES 350, and Toyota Avalon and Camry, Toyota will also remove foam material from the floor to allow more clearance.
As those three models are deemed most susceptible to having the floor mat jam under the accelerator, owners will be notified by the end of 2009. Lexus IS and Toyota Prius, Tacoma and Tundra owners will get notices in early 2010. In addition, the ES 350, IS 250/350, Avalon and Camry will be fitted with a brake override feature that cuts power if simultaneous brake/throttle application is detected.
Toyota is also working on a new accelerator pedal design, and by April 2010, new pedals will be ready to install in vehicles covered by the recall. Owners who want one will likely need to ask for it specifically when they go to the dealer.
Our own testing team has examined various Toyotas and reports that this is a legitimate problem that should be taken seriously.
"Our tests confirmed that an out-of-position floor mat can, indeed, cause the throttle to stick because of the shape and geometry of the current gas pedal," Technical Director Dan Edmunds says. Edmunds was the engineering manager of the chassis and brake development group at Hyundai America Technical Center and senior chassis development engineer for Toyota's Technical Center before joining Edmunds.com in April 2006.
"Temporarily shortening and replacing the accelerator pedals are viable solutions to alleviate the problem," he added.
Toyota: Details of Remedy to Address Potential Accelerator Pedal Entrapment
alman08 says:
08:58 AM, 11/25/09
Terrible! Toyota needs to bring the R&D team back to Japan.
compliance says:
09:47 AM, 11/25/09
You interviewed your own staff? hahah
dg0472 says:
09:52 AM, 11/25/09
Well gee it's not like he's the security guard. He does have experience. Toytota, while to be certainly faulted for how they've reacted so far, deserves credit for stepping up and doing the right thing now.
bodyblue says:
10:08 AM, 11/25/09
Now along with the millions of rusty trucks being recalled..........Finally the truth of the so called Toyota quality myth is being shown for what it really is.....a myth. This is for 1487....if this was GM there would be a ton more news and outrage over this......is there anybody that can deny that?
firstwagon says:
01:54 PM, 11/25/09
"Our own testing team has examined various Toyotas and reports that this is a legitimate problem that should be taken seriously."
I'll bet this wasn't the 1st draft of the statement. It likely went more like this...
"While our testing team thought they had made our cars as idiot proof as possible, we have found out there are even bigger idiots out there. In order to appear as responsible as possible we will now modify our cars so even a complete moron will not not have to think at all if something unexpected occurs."
But they couldn't release that one.
dg0472 says:
04:24 PM, 11/25/09
firstwagon,
that was Edmunds' statement, not Toyota's.
bodyblue,
I have to say the coverage I've seen has been quite extensive and none too flattering. It was the lead story on the NBC Nightly News tonight and even our local affiliate covered it on each of their 3 segments of local news. NBC went to great pains to point out how many of these cars would be on the highways this high-travel weekend. They, like most other outlets, are hammering home what a blow to Toyota's reputation this is. I'm not seeing anything but Toyota's getting the drubbing they deserve. However, since they appear to addressing this head-on, finally, I don't think this is going to be an Audiesque moment for them.
That said, I'm sure some people in Dearborn are mighty happy this coincides with their winning Motor Trend's COTY. About as happy as some folks in Seoul are to be introducing a new 198-200HP GDI Four in their new midsize car with a floor-mounted gas pedal in a week or so.
120mmgun says:
05:59 PM, 11/25/09
I can't imagine how a floor mat can cause the accelerator pedal to be floored. It was funny on the NBC coverage tonight when they showed someone pressing down on the accelerator with the floor mat between the pedal and their shoe. When they let up, the pedal came right back up, the floor mat having no effect.
If Edmunds has experienced this, maybe they could post a video showing how it happens
inlinesix says:
06:44 PM, 11/25/09
Bodyblue: I think these are two different issues, "quality" and "engineering".
brn says:
10:11 PM, 11/25/09
"I can't imagine how a floor mat can cause the accelerator pedal to be floored."
As much as I think this isn't the real problem, it's extremely possible for a floormat to catch an accelerator pedal. I've had it happen to me twice. It was an aftermarket floormat. It was -30F, so the floormat was frozen out of position, due to sliding. Both times, I was able to regain control.