On January 21, 2010, the Japanese car manufacturer, Toyota, announced the recall and stop of sale of several of its models, because of a safety concern where the gas pedal could be stuck in a depressed position and slow to return to normal. This recall is said to affect more than 2 million cars in the US. The recall has spread to Europe and China, as well.
The gas pedals are more likely to be faulty, if they are worn out. The recalled models had gas pedals that were manufactured at a plant in Ontario, according to a report submitted by Toyota to the National Highway Safety Administration.
What is the Gas Pedal Stickiness Issue with Toyota Cars?
There is a possibility that, very rarely, the gas pedal may stick in a partially depressed position and slowly return to idle position. Toyota mentions that the condition is rare and is likely to occur when the pedal mechanisms become worn.
Which Toyota Models are Affected by the Recall?
The following models are being recalled because of issues with stickiness of the gas pedal.
- 2009-2010 RAV4,
- 2009-2010 Corolla,
- 2009-2010 Matrix,
- 2005-2010 Avalon,
- 2007-2010 Camry (some of them),
- Non-hybrid 2010 Highlander,
- 2007-2010 Tundra, and;
- 2008-2010 Sequoia
No Lexus Division or Scion vehicles are affected. Also not affected by the recall are Tacoma, Sienna, Venza, Solara, Yaris, 4Runner, FJ Cruiser, Land Cruiser, Highlander hybrids and select Camry models, including all Camry hybrids.
Runaway Prius - Hoax or Truth?
According to an article on Businessweek.com, a Toyota Prius in California sped out of control, even when the driver attempted to brake the car. A patrol car “slowed in front of the vehicle and acted as a brake to bring it to a stop,” Toyota said, citing the police report. Brian Lyons, a spokesman for Toyota said that three Toyota technicians are prepared to inspect the vehicle once it is located.
However, the US safety regulators could not find anything wrong with the vehicle that was reported to have experienced unintended acceleration. "So far, we have not been able to find anything to explain the incident that Mr. Sikes reported," the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said in a statement.
What should you do if your Car is on the Recall List?
If you believe your car might have a problem, ie., the gas pedal is hard to push, slow to return and generally not operating smoothly, drive the vehicle to a safe location, shut off engine and call the dealer for assistance. Toyota says that the gas pedal stickiness tends to develop gradually over time, so customers should have sufficient warning before the problem is a serious one.
If you have a car on the affected list, but don't notice anything different, no action is required at this point, according to a press release on Toyota.com.
Toyota's recall issue has affected a number of US car rental companies who announced that they are pulling thousands of cars on the affected list. Car manufacturer General Motors is offering $1000 incentives and low financing rates for Toyota customers who are interested in switching to a GM vehicle.
The Toyota Customer Experience Center can be contacted at 1-800-331-4331. The hours of operation are Mon - Fri, 5:00 am - 6:00 pm PST and Sat, 7:00 am - 4:00 pm PST.
Sources
Toyota Pressroom
Cnnmoney.com
Usatoday.com
CTV News Article.
Businessweek.com article edited by Larry Liebert on March 9 2010.
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