2008 model Toyota Prius is part of 3.8 million vehicle recall by Toyota and Lexus
Toyota is recalling 3.8 million Toyota and Lexus models for a simple but critical safety problem that could cause the car to accelerate uncontrolably and kill you, your passengers or those in another vehicle.
Simple because the safety problem is the floor mat. Critical because the floor mat defect already has caused serious accidents. Like the one that killed four people riding in a 2009 Lexus ES 350 in California recently.
My sources at Toyota-Lexus tell me it is not a recall -- yet -- just what's being called a "safety advisory to owners of affected models. Our engineers are working with NHTSA on a potential fix beyond the retention hooks that are already in the vehicles."
Even though it is a legal distinction, to those of us who own and drive the affected Toyota and Lexus models, there is no difference between the words 'safety advisory' and 'recall'. Whatever you call it, Toyota and NHTSA say it's a bad enough problem that could kill you. Get it fixed.
What is not being said is that this is not a new problem. Toyota and Lexus have known about this problem for two years. Consumer Reports reported In October 2007 -- two years ago -- that Toyota recalled 55,000 floor mats for the same problem of unintended acceleration. That recall was under the wire. This one is front page news. And it already is damaging Toyota's reputation for building quality, problem-free vehicles.
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It is the largest recall in Toyota history, ordered by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. It covers these Toyota and Lexus models from 2004 to 2010 --
Toyota cars and trucks -- Toyota Prius, Toyota Camry, Toyota Avalon, Toyota Tacoma
Lexus cars -- Lexus ES 350, Lexus IS 250, Lexus IS 350
If you own one of these models, remove the driver side floor mat immediately, because it could stick under the accelerator and cause what is being called very diplomatically and very legally "unintended speed". Then, drive to the nearest Toyota or Lexus dealer for a quick fix.
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My buddies at the auto blog RPMGO report the California accident involved an off-duty state trooper and three of his family members, which crashed when the 2009 Lexus ES 350 reached the 'unintended speed' of 120mph, the vehicle's max.
And earlier this year, Toyota recalled nearly 3/4 million cars made in China for a problem with car windows that could cause the vehicle to catch fire.
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Loose car mats and over-lubricated windows. Both minor problems. But a major problem for the image and reputation of Toyota and Lexus for producing high-quality, problem-free vehicles. And it could not come at a worse time for the auto industry.
If any of you reading this have a similar problem with Toyota or Lexus vehicles not on the current list -- please let me know. I promise to share it with Toyota-Lexus.
Comments
Hello Evelyn,
Can you please update your email address in the bio section? I tried to email you some information, but it bounced back. Thanks.
Jim Dudra
Eco Touch, Inc.
www.ecotouch.net
This is the most ridiculous and unnecessary recall I have ever heard of. The floor mats are not defective, they are just a pain in the rear like they always have been in any car. I have always opted out of floor mats on the driver side of my vehicles because they bunch up under (or over) the pedals and generally just get in the way. To an extent, it is the responsibility of the driver of the car to look out for certain safety hazards like under-inflated tires, burnt out headlights, and items in the interior of the car that might cause difficulty in controlling the car like loose items in the interior or, lets say, floor mats. The media blew this one way out of proportion and forced Toyota into the recall, all because people refuse to pay attention to anything that is going on with their cars. Remember folks, if you pay attention to your car and do regular safety checks you don't have to worry about your "floor mats killing you."
Owen, I agree with your comment that "if you pay attention to your car and do regular safety checks, you don't have to worry about your floor mats killing you."
But your statement that the media prompted this recall is totally and completely incorrect. The recall was ordered by the Naitonal Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), not the media. The media -- including me -- simply reported the facts of this largest recall in Toyota history, for a very simple problem that could be deadly. There had been many reports of defective floor mat hooks in recent years, several serious accidents -- including the one that killed a family of four.
If my reporting about this potentially deadly hazard caused just one person to look under the seat and test the security of the floor mat, then my article has served its purpose and I will sleep well tonight
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