Archive for the ‘Floor Mat’ Category

Toyota announced today that it would recall 3.8 million of its vehicles to replace the accelerator pedals, to alleviate once and for all any chance of uncontrolled acceleration from the pedal being trapped by ill-fitting floor mats.

While it develops new pedal designs, Toyota will have its dealers shorten the pedals on affected vehicles, starting in January.

The replacement pedals will start to reach dealers in April, and will ultimately be fitted to all vehicles, even those whose pedals have already been shortened.

Toyota also plans to install an override system on several models--including the Toyota Avalon and Camry, and the Lexus ES350,...

What do you do if your accelerator pedal does become stuck?

That's what a tragic California accident in August and the ensuing massive ongoing Toyota recall—of floor mats that can wedge the pedal at or near the floor—has people wondering. Enter Consumer Reports, which tested some potential exit strategies at the track and explained them today in a post.

On a number of models, several automakers are phasing in so-called smart-throttle technology, which allows the brake to take precedence over the throttle. CU tested a Mercedes-Benz E350 and Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen and found their smart-throttle technology, which automatically ignores the...

One week ago today, owners of eight Toyota and Lexus models got an urgent plea from the U.S. Department of Transportation, delivered via the media: Remove your driver's side floor mat immediately, and don't replace it until you've taken your car to the dealer.

With much of the coverage calling it a recall of 3.8 million vehicles,  Toyota issued a cautious statement the next day saying that it wasn't yet a recall but a "safety advisory."

Well, it's a recall now.

The company will send letters to customers before the end of the month--and it left open the possibility that the list vehicles being recalled might expand beyond those already...