According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Toyota has identified a vehicle-based remedy for the problem with accelerator pedal entrapment. The government agency says Toyota plans to reconfigure the pedal.
But what about all the media hype regarding other potential causes (faulty electronic computer systems among the most popular)? Perhaps the carmaker will soon squash the rumors once it gets a handle on fixing the four-million-vehicle flub. First things first.
If you own one of the following, Toyota will notify you on a rolling basis—starting with those driving ES 350, Camry, and Avalon models.
• 2007-2010 Camry
• 2005-2010 Avalon
• 2004-2009 Prius
• 2005-2010 Tacoma
• 2007-2010 Tundra
• 2007-2010 ES 350
• 2006-2010 IS 250
• 2006-2010 IS 350
Until Toyota contacts you, remove the driver-side floor mats on the above vehicles. Particularly, if the car is yours. And don’t replace them until Toyota has fixed your vehicle. The fix will include:
1) A reconfiguration of the accelerator pedal, and possibly the shape of the floor surface underneath the pedal. You could get a replacement pedal as soon as April 2010, even if your vehicle already received a modified pedal under the recall.
2) An installation of a brake override system as an “extra measure of confidence” for the following recalled models: Camry, Avalon and Lexus ES 350, IS 350 and IS 250. With this new system, the vehicle will still stop even if you apply the brake and accelerator pedals simultaneously. A note on the government agency’s site reads, “NHTSA is particularly pleased that Toyota is taking this additional step.” Um, yay?
3) Newly designed replacement driver- and front-passenger side all-weather mats for those vehicles formerly dressed in any genuine Toyota or Lexus accessory all-weather floor mats.
As early as January 2010, Toyota will get to work on the recalled vehicles. It will start by first instructing dealers on how to reshape existing accelerator pedals. Then it will distribute replacement accelerator pedals for installation on vehicles not yet worked on. Even if you have your existing pedal modified, you are still eligible to receive a shiny, new one when Toyota doles them out.
If you have questions, contact Toyota directly at (800) 331-4331. Or access the NHTSA hotline at (888) 327-4236.
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