Here’s the latest on three recalls involving about 6 million vehicles in the U.S. The views expressed below are those of the National Highway Traffic safety Administration, and not those of the TheDetroitBureau.com. – Ken Zino, editor-in-chief.
Gas Pedal Entrapment by Floor Mats
Drivers should immediately take out the driver-side floor mat of the following Toyota, Lexus, and Pontiac vehicles:
- 2007-2010 Camry
- 2005-2010 Avalon
- 2004-2009 Prius
- 2005-2010 Tacoma
- 2007-2010 Tundra
- 2007-2010 ES 350
- 2006-2010 IS 250 and IS350
- 2008-2010 Highlander
- 2009-2010 Corolla
- 2009-2010 Venza
- 2009-2010 Matrix
- 2009-2010 Pontiac Vibe
After removing the driver-side floor mats, consumers should wait for a letter from Toyota instructing them to go to their dealers for the remedy. More than four million vehicles have been recalled for this safety issue.
Sticky Gas Pedals
Some 2.3 million Toyota vehicles are being recalled for problems involving gas pedals that are hard to depress, slow to return to the closed position or remain partially depressed. Toyota, Lexus, and Pontiac vehicles affected by the sticky pedal recall are:
- 2007-2008 Tundra
- 2008-2010 Sequoia
- 2005-2010 Avalon
- 2007-2010 Camry
- 2009-2010 Corolla
- 2009-2010 Matrix
- 2009-2010 RAV4
- 2010 Highlander
- 2009-2010 Pontiac Vibe
If drivers are experiencing any unusual issues involving the gas pedals in the above-identified vehicles, drivers should immediately park these vehicles and notify their dealers immediately. Should a pedal become stuck in a partially depressed condition while driving, owners should put their car in neutral, bring it to a stop and call their dealer.
Brake Issues involving Prius and Camry Vehicles
Toyota is also recalling 2010 Prius Hybrids and Lexus HS 250h vehicles for braking safety issues involving momentary loss of braking power. Some 2010 Camrys prone to steering fluid leaks have also been recalled. Drivers of these vehicles experiencing any braking problems should park their cars and contact their their local Toyota dealer or Toyota’s North American headquarters at 1-800-331-4331.
Actions Consumers Can Take If They Cannot Stop Their Vehicles
Regardless of the cause, if a consumer is experiencing unintended acceleration in their vehicle, they should take the following steps:
- Brake firmly and steadily – do not pump the brake pedal.
- Shift the transmission into Neutral (for vehicles with automatic transmissions and the sport option, familiarize yourself with where Neutral is – the diagram may be misleading).
- Steer to a safe location.
- Shut the engine off (for vehicles with keyless ignition, familiarize yourself with how to turn the vehicle off when it is moving – this may be a different action than turning the vehicle off when it is stationary).
- Call your dealer or repair shop to pick up the vehicle. Do not drive it.
For more information, consumers can contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Hotline at 888-327-4236 or the Toyota Experience Center at 1-800-331-4331 or the Lexus Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-255-3987. Information from Toyota is also posted at http://www.toyota.com and http://www.lexus.com.