The Feds released a warning today for millions of Toyota and Lexus owners about dangerous floor mats which could get stuck on their car's gas pedal, causing the vehicle to accelerate out of control.
This in response to an investigation on the West Coast into what exactly caused the fatal crash that killed off-duty California Highway Patrol officer Mark Saylor and three members of his family. The 2009 Lexus ES they were riding in sped out of control, crashed into another car, flipped and burned.
Officials looking into the case are checking out the possibility that the Salor's car may have been the subject of a massive floor mat recall that affected 2007 and 2008 Lexus ES 350 vehicles and other Toyota models. Reports say someone from inside the car called 911 before it crashed saying it had no brakes and the accelerator was stuck.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says Toyota will issue another recall for these mats. In the meantime, to be safe, owners of several Toyota and Lexus models should remove the mats from their cars. Which vehicles are affected? Scroll down for today's official release and pictures, straight from the Feds.
(Below today's warning is the actual notice from the 2007 recall--take a close look if you have one of these vehicles and make sure your car does not have an open, unfixed recall.)
Note: This recall was also the result of other drivers reporting defects to NHTSA, click here for more information on how to report suspected safety problems in all cars to the Feds for investigation. If something just doesn't seem right or is downright scary, report it !
| NHTSA Consumer Safety Alert Tuesday, September 29, 2009 |
NHTSA Media Contact: Eric Bolton, 202-366-9550 NHTSA Consumer Hotline: 888-372-4236 |
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- 2007-2010 Camry
- 2005-2010 Avalon
- 2004-2009 Prius
- 2005-2010 Tacoma
- 2007-2010 Tundra
- 2007-2010 ES 350
- 2006-2010 IS 250 and IS350
Example of accelerator pedal interference caused by out-of-position all-weather floor mat.
Here is the actual recall notice from 2007:
NHTSA CONSUMER ADVISORY: Secure Floor Mats in 2007/2008 Lexus ES 350, Camry, Other Toyotas; Advisory Also Extended to Other VehiclesToyota to Conduct Floor Mat RecallOwners of 2007 and 2008 Lexus ES 350 models and certain other Toyota vehicles are being urged to make sure the driver-side, “All Weather” floor mats are properly secured before driving the vehicles, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Toyota Motor Company. Toyota announced it will conduct a recall of all the affected floor mats, which are used in the 2007/2008 Lexus ES 350 as well as the 2007/2008 Camry. NHTSA and Toyota noted that, if unsecured, the mats being recalled can slip forward and trap the accelerator pedal, causing the vehicle to accelerate uncontrollably. AAlthough not part of the recall, NHTSA urged drivers of other Toyota models, including Avalons and Prius hybrids, to check the driver-side floor mats to make sure they are properly installed. While the recall is underway, drivers of these Toyota vehicles are strongly urged to make sure the driver-side floor mat is properly secured to the retention hooks on the floorboard. Also, never overlay two mats on top of each other because the retention hooks cannot secure the top-most mat which can then can slip and trap the accelerator pedal. Of course, depending on vehicle design, it is possible for unsecured floor mats to interfere with accelerator or brake pedals in a wide range of vehicles. Therefore, NHTSA reminds all drivers of all makes and models to check the driver-side floor mats for secure installation and to follow manufacturer instructions for installing the mats. For more information, consumers can contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Hotline at 888-327-4236 or their Toyota or Lexus dealer.
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Comments
This happened to me where my car accelerated at a high rate of speed because of the floor mat and I could have been killed or someone else because of a flaw in how the floor mat was made.....just want anyone who has the cars listed in the recall to take it very seriously.....the design of a floor mat could cost you your life! I realize now how lucky I am that I got my car under control!
Renee--it's so important you report scary situations like this to the Feds, to NHTSA, here's details on how and why you should do it--it can save other's lives: www.examiner.com/x-1893-News-You-Can-Use-Examiner~y2009m2d4-How-to-do-your-own-detective-work-if-you-suspect-your-car-has-a-defect
I don't understand how this is still happening. It doesn't even sound like Lexus knows what's going on. My 2008 (i.e. fall 2007) ES350 has hooks for all the mats, not just the driver's, which in addition to making it a pain to vaccuum, also keep the mats securely in place. How would the 2009 that killed that family have the mats slide around? For that matter, Renee, did you participate in the 2007 recall, or is your car newer than that?
Readers: Be aware that the recall from this week advises to REMOVE the floor mats. [The 2007 recall (reprinted at the end of the article above) only advised to secure the driver's floor mat.]
Forget the floor mats. It's the keyless ignition system that is dangerous. This same thing happened to me in the 80s and we might have died if my passenger hadn't reached over and turned the key off.
Kathe from www.californiabusinessresource.com
Plz go thru this abt lexus
how lazy can people be, first of all this can only happen due to owner or operators fault, what ever happen to checking you mirror, seat position, and make sure that the pedal's are free of any abstruction, of all thing to recall...floor mats? bottom line you shouldn't operate anything you have no knowledge on...
I work for Lexus and I see this everyday. People should be smarter when it comes to driving. Instead of freaking out all they had to do was put the car in neutral or slam it into park. I'm pretty sure I would have to pay for a new transmission than die.
Bottom line this is a bad poor design! Funny, Consumers reports rates most of these vehicles as a recommended buy.
Any time an accelerator sticks put the car in neutral...automatic or a stick. Putting it in park will wreck your tranny & turning off the ignition also turns off your power steering, which is kinda important when trying to steer a car, especially if it's accelerating fast.
people are so gullable
If you do not stack the floor mats the winter mat would never become an issue. God forbid your floor mat gets dirty
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