Toyota issues major recall over floor mat accelerator risk
Toyota announced a recall affecting 3.8 million vehicles in the US after finding that unsecured or incompatible floor mats could trap the accelerator pedal, raising the risk of unintended acceleration.
Toyota has launched a recall campaign covering 3.8 million vehicles in the United States after identifying a risk that unsecured or incompatible driver’s floor mats could interfere with the accelerator pedal. The company warned that this could cause the pedal to become stuck in the open position, potentially resulting in unintended acceleration and making it difficult to stop the vehicle.
The recall, announced on 29 September 2009, is the largest in Toyota’s US history at the time. The company said the campaign covers several popular models, including the 2007–2010 Camry, 2005–2010 Avalon, 2004–2009 Prius, 2005–2010 Tacoma, 2007–2010 Tundra, 2007–2010 Lexus ES350, and 2006–2010 Lexus IS250 and IS350. The announcement followed reports of incidents in which accelerator pedals became trapped by floor mats, leading in some cases to crashes and fatalities.
Which Toyota and Lexus models are affected?
- Toyota Camry (model years 2007–2010)
- Toyota Avalon (2005–2010)
- Toyota Prius (2004–2009)
- Toyota Tacoma (2005–2010)
- Toyota Tundra (2007–2010)
- Lexus ES350 (2007–2010)
- Lexus IS250 and IS350 (2006–2010)
Toyota has asked owners of these vehicles to remove any driver’s floor mat immediately and not to replace it with any other mat until a permanent remedy is available. The company stressed the risk is greatest when mats are unsecured, stacked, or not designed for the specific model. Toyota also advised owners to ensure correct installation if they choose not to remove the mat, including checking that it is properly secured and not flipped or stacked.
What should drivers do if the accelerator sticks?
If a vehicle continues to accelerate after the driver releases the pedal, Toyota recommends pulling back the floor mat to free the pedal if it is safe to do so. If this is not possible, drivers should press firmly on the brake with both feet, avoid pumping the pedal, shift the transmission into neutral, and bring the vehicle to a controlled stop at the roadside before switching off the engine. For vehicles with a start/stop button, the button must be pressed and held for at least three seconds to shut off the engine. Turning the ignition key to the ACC position will also stop the engine, but removing the key could lock the steering.
Toyota said it is working with the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to develop a permanent fix for the affected vehicles. Until then, the company has published detailed instructions for owners and dealers on its websites. Toyota’s handling of the recall, and the scale of the safety risk, drew scrutiny from regulators and the public in the months that followed. The company later announced additional measures and technical remedies as investigations continued.
For further details on Toyota’s technical response and subsequent remedies, seeToyota Announces Details of Accelerator Pedal Entrapment Remedy.
