Toyota Pedal Problems Leads to Sales Halt for Camry, Corolla, Other Models
Toyota has halted both sales and production on eight different models of vehicles, including the popular Toyota Corolla and Toyota Camry lines, due to continuing problems with gas pedals that stick, causing vehicles to accelerate out of control.
The stoppage was issued in the wake of two massive Toyota and Lexus recalls due to the gas pedal problems. According to a report in the New York Times, Toyota has halted the sales and production until a fix for the defect is finalized. Vehicles impacted include the Avalon, Camry and Corolla sedans, the Matrix wagon, the Tundra pick-up truck, the RAV4 crossover and the Highlander and Sequoia sports utility vehicles (SUVs).
Earlier this month, a Toyota recall was issued for 2.3 million of those same vehicles. That recall came after a similar recall of Toyota and Lexus floor mats was issued for 4.2 million vehicles, after the company said that the acceleration problems were caused by the gas pedal getting stuck under thick all-weather floor mats.
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Learn MoreToyota officials have said the production and sales suspension is meant to restore consumer confidence in the company, which has taken a hit as a result of the recalls. However, some automotive industry analysts say that the unusual move may indicate that the recalls are symptoms of a more serious, widespread problem with Toyota vehicles, and even if that is not true, it may cause consumers to believe there is an issue.
Problems with Toyota and Lexus vehicles accelerating out of control gained national attention following a fatal accident in California in August, where an off-duty state trooper and three family members were killed while driving a Lexus ES 350 on loan from a San Diego dealership. Minutes before the fatal Lexus crash, passengers called police and reported that the Lexus had accelerated to 120 m.p.h. Witnesses reported that the car’s tires were on fire, which was likely due to the driver slamming on the brakes before slamming into an SUV, falling off an embankment, rolling over multiple times and bursting into flames.
Federal regulators have received more than 100 incident reports from Toyota owners regarding their vehicles accelerating out of control.
3 Comments
gloriaFebruary 6, 2010 at 1:42 pm
I HAD AN ACCIDENT ON A TOYOTA COROLLA I WAS IN SHOPPING CENTER AND WHEN I WAS GOING TO PARK MY CAR IT DID NOT STOP JUMP OVER AND HIT THE VEHICLE THAT WAS ON THE OTHER SIDE
MattJanuary 28, 2010 at 1:42 am
Toyota Camry 2003- Blown head gasket due to 3 loose bolts that stripped out of the engine block. First sign is leaking coolant which is somtimes hard to detect. Then overheating accurs. Major problem. We need to take action now!
Robert & BrendaJanuary 28, 2010 at 12:55 am
My wife was driving our 2004 Toyota Sienna van on a 24 mile bridge when sudden acceleration happened. She tried push the brake pedal and that didn't work. She pressed the emergency parking brake to the floor and that didn't work. She tried downshifting and that didn't work. After hitting two different vehicles and almost going over the railing the vehicle finally stopped when she hit the guard rai[Show More]My wife was driving our 2004 Toyota Sienna van on a 24 mile bridge when sudden acceleration happened. She tried push the brake pedal and that didn't work. She pressed the emergency parking brake to the floor and that didn't work. She tried downshifting and that didn't work. After hitting two different vehicles and almost going over the railing the vehicle finally stopped when she hit the guard rail and caused the right front tire to turn inward. I was in front of her driving another vehicle and she came by me doing at least 70 plus mph. Whwn I caught up to her where the vehicle had stopped she was frantically saying she couldn't stop the vehicle. She knew that the gas pedal was not stuck because she tried several times to tap on it with her foot to no avail. I know that the floor mats had nothing to do with the sudden acceleration. There had to be a malfunction of the drive by wire system that is used. This happened on June 17,2009. There have been many issue like this that I have come accross on various internet web sites. I can only hope and pray that something is found in time to save lives. My wife came close to loosing her life that day. I also have a 2003 Camry that we are afraid to drive now.