"It is unacceptable that New York consumers should face additional burdens when dealing with a safety problem that is Toyota’s responsibility.”

Andrew Cuomo, attorney general of  New York State, has just announced that Toyota has agreed to provide additional services for New York Toyota and Lexus customers who are affected by Toyota’s recent recalls.

“It is unacceptable that New York consumers should face additional burdens when dealing with a safety problem that is Toyota’s responsibility,” Cuomo said in a statement.

“The agreement we have obtained from Toyota will help ease the fears of Toyota owners and protect their families at no cost to them.”

The recalls at issue affect more than 500,000 Toyota and Lexis vehicles in New York.

The concessions will clearly put pressure on other attorneys general to institute similar procedures.

It appears likely in my view that Akio Toyoda will announce a national program along similar lines during his testimony this afternoon in front of a House Oversight Committee.

How could he do otherwise?

Toyota and Lexus owners in New York covered by current recalls covering sticking accelerator pedals, floor mat pedal “entrapment,” anti-lock brake system software updates, and Tacoma front drive shaft inspections are offered the following:

• Expediting scheduling of the repair.
• Pick up and return of the vehicle by a dealership representative.
• Driving the customer to the dealership or to his or her place of work
• Where necessary, providing other alternate transportation for the customer, such as a rental car, loaner vehicle, or taxi reimbursement for the reasonable period that the customer is unable or unwilling to use his or her car.

These services will be provided by Toyota through the dealers at no cost to either the owners of affected vehicles or the dealer.   

Reimbursement of these expenses is separate from the stipends of $7,500 to $75,000 that the company already has provided to dealers in connection with the recalls.

Cuomo said that the majority of affected Toyota vehicles in New York still require repairs, and most vehicle owners have not even received notification letters advising them to schedule repairs with their local dealers.

The following recalls recently announced by Toyota are covered by the agreement:

• September 29, 2009 for faulty floor mats;
• January 21, 2010 for sticky gas pedals;
• February 8, 2010 for brake failure in 2010 Prius and Lexus 250h hybrid vehicles;
• February 12, 2010 for drive shaft failure involving 2010 Tacoma 4WD trucks.

The Attorney General’s investigation related to the Toyota recall is ongoing.