Another Toyota Recall Issued Due to Sticking Gas Pedal Risk
Toyota is once again issuing a massive recall due to problems that may cause some of their vehicles to accelerate out of control. This time the Japanese automaker is recalling about 2.2 million vehicles to replace the floor mats, which may get caught on the accelerator and cause gas pedals to stick.
This latest Toyota recall was announced on February 24, affecting certain model years for the Toyota Highlander, Lexus RX 330, Lexus RX 350, Lexus RX 400h, Lexus GS 300 and Lexus GS 350 vehicles. In addition, Toyota is amending a November 2009 recall to add nearly an additional 1.4 million vehicles. In all of the recalls, the driver’s side floor carpeting and pads are being replaced or reshaped to prevent sudden, unintended acceleration.
Similar problems led to the recall of millions of Toyota and Lexus vehicles in 2009 and early 2010. Those Toyota recalls were issued in waves, starting with 3.8 million vehicles recalled for floor mat problems in September 2009, followed by other recalls that eventually affected about 11 million vehicles by Spring of 2010. This week’s recall is the first issued by Toyota for acceleration problems in nearly a year.
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Learn MoreThe recall affects about 372,000 2004 through early 2007 RX 330, RX 350 and RX 400h vehicles, as well as 397,000 2004 through 2006 Highlander and Highlander HV vehicles that will have the driver’s side floor carpet cover and two retention clips replaced. There are also about 20,000 2006 and early 2007 model year GS 300 and GS 350 All-Wheel Drive vehicles being recalled in order to modify the shape of the plastic pad under the driver’s side floor carpet.
The majority of vehicles being recalled are actually part of what Toyota is calling an “amendment” to a November 2009 recall. Toyota has now announced that it is adding an additional 603,000 2003 through 2009 4Runners, 761,000 2006 through 2010 RAV4s and 17,000 2008 through 2011 Lexus LX 570s to that recall. All of the vehicles affected by that recall are having gas pedals reshaped or floor surfaces reconfigured to prevent sticking gas pedals and SUA.
The recalls come about two weeks after federal regulators determined that the Toyota accelerator problems were not due to defective electronic throttles. Investigators from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) conducted a 10-month study into allegations that it was actually an electronics defect causing SUA problems.
In December, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced that Toyota was being fined $32.4 million as the result of two federal investigations into how it handled unintended acceleration recalls and steering rod defects. Government investigators say the company stalled on the recalls and failed to notify federal safety officials about the problems in a timely manner. The fines are the maximum allowed by law.
About 400 Toyota personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits have been centralized and consolidated under Judge James V. Selna for pretrial proceedings in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California in Santa Ana as part of a multidistrict litigation (MDL). All of the lawsuits contain allegations that drivers or passengers experienced an injury or death after their Toyota vehicles accelerated unexpectedly out of control. The first trial is not expected to begin until early 2013.
Photo Courtesy of: http://www.flickr.com/photos/danielctw/ / CC BY 2.0
4 Comments
TrotskyJanuary 24, 2021 at 2:03 am
My father experience a similar issue last month. He has 2007 Lexus RX 350. He going into my sister parking garage whe suddenly the car accelerate itself. The download the EDR which according to them show that the acceleration never happen. Also my dad bought the car with a Airbag light that Toyota would not fix but however at the time of the crash the computer shows that the Airbag was working p[Show More]My father experience a similar issue last month. He has 2007 Lexus RX 350. He going into my sister parking garage whe suddenly the car accelerate itself. The download the EDR which according to them show that the acceleration never happen. Also my dad bought the car with a Airbag light that Toyota would not fix but however at the time of the crash the computer shows that the Airbag was working properly. The vehicle currently has suffer from damage and my father rather junk it or fixed it before He drive it. I have the EDR download and have the letter send by Toyota. The damage to my sister house was about 4 to 6 grand. My dad did not sustain any injury but I will never buy a Toyota. Their responds to this matter has been very negligent. Hope that I can find some relief by posting this but I'm really hoping to help my dad with this issue with any legal suggestion. Thanks
DonaldOctober 12, 2011 at 6:11 pm
August 2009, while parking my 2004 Toyota Solara at my workplace, I heard my engine rev up my foot was on the brake pedal. I felt a lurch forward and I tried to put the tranny into park at the same time I hit the parking abutment and was headed towards a wall I veered right to avoid the wall while stomping on brake with both feet, It felt like mush, no brakes at all brakes I careened right towar[Show More]August 2009, while parking my 2004 Toyota Solara at my workplace, I heard my engine rev up my foot was on the brake pedal. I felt a lurch forward and I tried to put the tranny into park at the same time I hit the parking abutment and was headed towards a wall I veered right to avoid the wall while stomping on brake with both feet, It felt like mush, no brakes at all brakes I careened right towards the only other car in the lot. I veered back to the left to avoid t-boning the other vehicle bounced off his front bumper and came to an abrupt stop (thankfully) pinned atop our stairwell. Toyota claims investigator found no problem codes therefore, however could have been floor mats. Insurance investigator say's no crimping in floor mats. Insurance company did not ding me. I have pictures taken immediately after accident which shows skid or acceleration mark from parking area down sidewalk to stopping area. The Auto was totaled out. My attorney dumped me two months prior to statue of limitations running out not enough damages? I didn't die or I am not a cripple all that happened was I lost my job and only injured my foot and ankle and lost my job. The Toyota Camry Solara's have never been recalled or added to the brake override recall why?
SharronMarch 6, 2011 at 11:53 am
I own a 2008 Toyota Rav 4. Last October while pulling into a parking space ( I know how lucky I am) the accerlator stuck. I heard the car rev and the car lungered forward and smashed right into the car facing me. I can tell you that I am certain that the pedal stuck, however after 6 weeks of time at the body shop ( $ 4,000) worth of damage, while renting a rental car which cost me $ 600 and ope[Show More]I own a 2008 Toyota Rav 4. Last October while pulling into a parking space ( I know how lucky I am) the accerlator stuck. I heard the car rev and the car lungered forward and smashed right into the car facing me. I can tell you that I am certain that the pedal stuck, however after 6 weeks of time at the body shop ( $ 4,000) worth of damage, while renting a rental car which cost me $ 600 and opening a case with Toyota, my accident was deemed my fault by the insurance company. I am now paying over $ 500 a year in extra premiums and have an accident on my record. Now the Toyota company has changed their collective minds and decided to extend the recall to include my 2008 Rave 4. I have no doubt that I was extremly lucky that day but now how safe is my Toyota? And how do I set the record straight.
acceleratedFebruary 26, 2011 at 3:09 pm
Anyone who has not experienced sudden unintended acceleration is not qualified to render a valid judgment on this tecnologically complicated conundrum. My 2007 Toyota 4Runner (not a recall vehicle) suddenly lurched into an intersection with oncoming cars with my foot firmly on the brake--period. I was very lucky there was no collision and I instantly pushed the gear shift forward, it then actually[Show More]Anyone who has not experienced sudden unintended acceleration is not qualified to render a valid judgment on this tecnologically complicated conundrum. My 2007 Toyota 4Runner (not a recall vehicle) suddenly lurched into an intersection with oncoming cars with my foot firmly on the brake--period. I was very lucky there was no collision and I instantly pushed the gear shift forward, it then actually moved through neutral into reverse and the wheels spun backwards--but I was already in the intersection. No problem showed up in the onboard computer. Continuing to try to identify the problem by looking at onboard computers expecting to find the problem is insanity as NASA proved. Uncontrolled cars are lethal weapons despite the financial liability of the car maker. Denial of the problem and blame of drivers (documented experiences are numerous) or of carpet or sticky pedals is unethical and many lives continue to be endangered by this "proven nonproblem." Beware, be safe.