Archive for the ‘Toyota floor mat recall’ Category

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...

In a move almost too strange to be fiction, Toyota is apparently advising its Toyota and Lexus brand dealers to zip tie loose floor mats to the seats in the 3.8 million vehicles affected by the recent safety recall. Of course, it's phrased much more eloquently than that.

"We have reviewed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration what we’re calling a semipermanent floor mat installation process, and we’re providing these instructions to our dealers," Toyota spokesman Brian Lyons told Automotive News.

The "plastic wire ties" obviate the need to turn out a whole new fastening system for the mats and vehicles, allowing Toyota and...

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...