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
Categories: Auto Industry,Lexus,Toyota