Toyota Recalls 4 Million Vehicles to re-design gas pedal

[blondboinsd]

Toyota has expanded its initial floormat recall to 4 million vehicles. It will now reconfigure the accelerator pedal to prevent it from getting caught in the floormat, causing unintended acceleration, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
The automaker also plans to install a brake-override system on some models; if the brake and accelerator are depressed at the same time, the brake will take precedence.

The recall initially covered the 2007-10 model year Camry, 2005-10 Avalon, 2004-09 Prius cars as well as 2005-10 Tacoma and 2007-10 Tundra trucks. It is also recalling 2007-10 Lexus ES 350, 2006-10 IS 250, and 2006-10 IS 350 models. The increase to 4 million recalled vehicles is to account for those sold since October when the recall was first announced.

Toyota will still replace the floormats, but dealers will also shave three-quarters of an inch from accelerator pedals. By April, Toyota will have replacement pedals of that length.

The automaker will install the break override system on the Camry, Avalon and Lexus ES 350, IS 350 and IS 250 models, calling it “an extra measure of confidence.”

Toyota said it will begin fixing the recalled vehicles in early 2010, starting by notifying Camry, Avalon, and ES 350 owners. The Japanese press is speculating that this recall will cost Toyota around $5 billion. There’s no official word on the cost from Toyota at this point.

[E61Silver]

Toyota has gotten big and lost some quality and attention to detail. The make so many SUV models you think that are a US company. That said my Japan made Rav 4 is a nice car that has been totally trouble free for over two years and 30,000 miles. The seat are actual more comfortable that my my E61.

[Wagner]

Originally Posted by blondboinsd

Toyota has expanded its initial floormat recall to 4 million vehicles. It will now reconfigure the accelerator pedal to prevent it from getting caught in the floormat, causing unintended acceleration, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
The automaker also plans to install a brake-override system on some models; if the brake and accelerator are depressed at the same time, the brake will take precedence.

The recall initially covered the 2007-10 model year Camry, 2005-10 Avalon, 2004-09 Prius cars as well as 2005-10 Tacoma and 2007-10 Tundra trucks. It is also recalling 2007-10 Lexus ES 350, 2006-10 IS 250, and 2006-10 IS 350 models. The increase to 4 million recalled vehicles is to account for those sold since October when the recall was first announced.

Toyota will still replace the floormats, but dealers will also shave three-quarters of an inch from accelerator pedals. By April, Toyota will have replacement pedals of that length.

The automaker will install the break override system on the Camry, Avalon and Lexus ES 350, IS 350 and IS 250 models, calling it “an extra measure of confidence.”

Toyota said it will begin fixing the recalled vehicles in early 2010, starting by notifying Camry, Avalon, and ES 350 owners. The Japanese press is speculating that this recall will cost Toyota around $5 billion. There’s no official word on the cost from Toyota at this point.

Just heard the CEO of Edmunds.com talking about this...

makes you wonder if it is really a design flaw or "user" error......

[Thunder22]

They're also recalling a lot of Tundra's for the rear frame cross member rusting off.

[MrLabGuy]

Originally Posted by Wagner

Just heard the CEO of Edmunds.com talking about this...

makes you wonder if it is really a design flaw or "user" error......

Unfortunately, automakers need to design for a wide range of users from enthusiast to imbecile. Remember that when BMW first introduced the i-Drive intended to simplify tasks. In doing so they took the rather simple procedure of changing the time and turned it into a complex series of turns, clicks and menus which was impossible to navigate.

The idea was wonderful and though I've not used the newest incarnation I understand it has improved. So from a design standpoint finding that happy medium that stimulates the enthusiasts and yet still functions for the dysfunctional is not an easy task. Imagine trying to anticipate the design flaw of a typical gas petal and floor mat which has been around for years.

I can't fault the Automaker in this case.

[MrLabGuy]

Originally Posted by Thunder22

They're also recalling a lot of Tundra's for the rear frame cross member rusting off.

Now that IS a design flaw.

[chilliwilli]

Saw this coming after reading about the high-speed crash back in August involving a Lexus ES350 that killed a California Highway Patrol officer and three members of his family near San Diego.

[blondboinsd]

Originally Posted by chilliwilli

Saw this coming after reading about the high-speed crash back in August involving a Lexus ES350 that killed a California Highway Patrol officer and three members of his family near San Diego.

Yes, that was terribly sad