Toyota Floor Mat Recall Still Uncertain

Automaker's President says Fatal Crash in U.S. "Extremely Regrettable," but Still Investigating the Cause

(AP)  Toyota's president said it was "extremely regrettable" an American family died in a crash in which a floor mat in one of the Japanese automaker's vehicles is suspected as the cause.

"Four precious lives have been lost," Toyota Motor Corp. President Akio Toyoda said Friday. "I offer my deepest condolences."

Without giving specifics, he said an investigation was underway into the problem which potentially affects 3.8 million Toyota vehicles in the U.S., and may cause the accelerator to get stuck. If Toyota decides on a recall, it would be Toyota's biggest ever in the U.S.

Toyoda, who took the helm at the world's top automaker in June, told reporters in Tokyo that Toyota was putting "customers first" in cooperating with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in the U.S. to investigate the cause of the August accident.

That crash killed California Highway Patrol Officer Mark Saylor, 45 - who was driving a Lexus, a Toyota luxury model - and three family members on State Route 125 outside San Diego.

The vehicle was traveling at more than 120 mph when it launched off an embankment, rolled several times and burst into flames.

Toyoda said the company was still deciding on what action it would take and did not acknowledge any vehicle problem during his appearance at the Japan Press Center.

He apologized for any worries customers may have.

"I feel sorry that people who are driving Toyota and Lexus cars believing in their safety are now feeling uncertainties," he said.

NHTSA investigators determined that a rubber all-weather floor mat found in the wreckage was slightly longer than the mat that belonged in the vehicle, something that could have snared or covered the accelerator pedal.

Toyota has issued a safety advisory urging owners of 3.8 million cars and trucks - including popular models like Camry, Prius and Tacoma - to remove driver-side mats. It wants drivers to watch out for loose or incorrect mats that could slide out of position and cover pedals.

NHTSA has said it had received reports of 102 incidents in which the accelerator may have become stuck in the Toyota vehicles involved. It was unclear how many led to crashes.

The warning affects 2007-2010 model year Toyota Camry, 2005-2010 Toyota Avalon, 2004-2009 Toyota Prius, 2005-2010 Tacoma, 2007-2010 Toyota Tundra, 2007-2010 Lexus ES350 and 2006-2010 Lexus IS250 and IS350.

[rainwater5]

I wonder if this is ongoing from 2004, when MSNBC had an article about runaway Camry 6 Cyl, Lexus E 300, and the Solara? I called Washingon, DC, found that it was throttle linkage problem and it affected the cruise control. I made a copy of the article, stopped payment on a check for a 2004 Camry, because if Toyota denied that there was a problem on the 2002 and 2003, I knew that they had not fixed anything on the 2004. It took several hours and a lot of arguing at Vancouver, WA Toyota, but I was out of that deal. No more Toyotas.

[scionadam]

Rainwater...you must be retarded. What vehicle did you end up purchasing? A Ford that catches fire? A Dodge that fails a crash test? Every manufacturer has had it's problems. Toyota has had the fewest by far. I hope you like it hot!

[whofan39]

I owned a 97 Corolla and I did have a problem. When I bought the vehical, the clips that hold the floor mat in place were not present and the mat would bunch up under the pedal. It was more of an inconvenience than anything but the clips must be in place for the floor mat to perform as designed. When the mat was wet and it was freezing outside, the whole floor mat would freeze and make it difficult to access the gas pedal. I cannot see how the floor mat would get the accelerator stuck in the hammer down position. Maybe I just don't understand.

[Newster1]

NHTSA investigators determined that a rubber all-weather floor mat found in the wreckage was slightly longer than the mat that belonged in the vehicle, something that could have snared or covered the accelerator pedal."


Sigh.. and the driver never heard of turning the ignition key one notch towards the freaking OFF position? never figured out that hey you put the shift lever into NEUTRAL!

[rational_1]

That's what I was also thinking when I read the article - why not put the car in neutral? He must have panicked but you'd think that one of the other passengers could have leaned over to work on the accelerator while he concentrated on steering. I wonder if there's more to this than just an improper floor mat.

[fer60us]

Hey rational_1, you honor your nickname; you bet there is something more than an improper floor mat but once again Toyota is trying to downplay the issue as with the damage to the driver and occupants during a rollover event. No Toyota for me...buy real American.

[docpeter1953]

RE: rational_1

Considering that the driver, evidently, was a CHIP; one would think he would have a little more snap during an emergency situation that led to this crash. Shifting to neutral, brakes, and ignition-off were good viable options. I would hope I would thing of these quickly, as I do when someone in front of me suddenly stops and I don't have time I look for an empty lane or shoulder, saved me from many crashes over the past 40 years.

As a last note, I must say I am pleased that Toyota isn't trying to hide and deny this like Ford (and GM) did with tires, Pinto fuel tank, F-150 fires, blaming everyone else for the problem, and not accepting responsibility for poor thought in design and build.

[anwaremadi]

My condolences to the family. I believe that such a mistake have happened because of improper installation and/or selection of the right mats. I have a corolla and never had such a problem eventhough i owned a civic before for which i have installed non-original mats and the mats were stucking with the paddels, i have discarded these mats... I do NOT think there is a manufacturing problem but selection, installation or usage problem.