Toyota Motor Sales recalled almost 4,000,000 cars in Nov. 2009 to modify accelerator pedals, mats and software to handle what has been reported as sudden acceleration troubles. Auto dealers were affecting adjustments on the gasoline pedals by getting rid of inches from the underside so the gas pedals would not get trapped under the floor matts.
Toyota has now accompanied that recall with a different one surrounding explosive and unbeatable acceleration on January 21, 2010. That day Toyota Motor Sales proclaimed a recall of 2,300,000 cars that included
2005-2010 Avalon
‘07-’10 Camry
‘09-’10 Corolla
‘10 Highlander
‘09-’10 Matrix
2009-2010 RAV4
‘08-’10 Sequoia
‘07-’10 Tundra
According to a USA item with the title “100 Toyota drivers filed complaints before recall”, “she would become one of more than 100 drivers, according to a USA TODAY search of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration complaints database, who over the past few years have had their Toyota vehicles take off when they weren’t expected to.”
If car owners think that this type of acceleration issue is solitary to Toyota Motor Sales, they are mistaken. Reported by the USA piece, “Jake Fisher, senior engineer at Consumer Reports’ Auto Test Center, says unintended acceleration is not a problem unique to Toyota. He pored through NHTSA’s database of complaints for 2008 and noted that every manufacturer faced similar complaints. Sometimes, the issue is driver error, he says. But sometimes, there are defects. Toyota accounted for about 40% of the 2008 unintended acceleration complaints, Fisher says. “This could happen to anybody, but Toyota was over-represented,” he says. “But the underlying message of this whole thing is that, while there are instances of this in Toyotas, it’s still very rare.” The sudden acceleration issues are not exclusively a Toyota worry, but Toyota does suffer the heaviest part.
Toyota has published a brief issuance, “Our investigation indicates that there is a possibility that certain accelerator pedal mechanisms may, in rare instances, mechanically stick in a partially depressed position or return slowly to the idle position. They also provided instructions on how to handle the situation if the acceleration issue occurs If your car begins to accelerate uncontrollably, immediately move the shift lever to neutral and firmly apply the brakes. Do not pump the brakes. And dont worry about the engine on modern vehicles, they have rev limiters to prevent damage. Once you have brought the car to a safe stop, turn off the engine.”
Toyota Motor Sales doesnt have a fix to deploy, and further notifications are expected. It has been reported that Toyota and the producer of the gas pedal, CTS, are working on a resolution, but nothing of substance has been provided as yet.
For more information an in-depth piece on this state of affairs by a outside agency read Consumer Reports notice on the Toyota Motor Sales recall.
You can also remain abreast on Toyota declarations at Toyotas recall page.
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