Gas Pedal Glitch Prompts Toyota Recall

(AP)  Toyota said Thursday it is recalling 2.3 million vehicles in the U.S. to fix accelerator pedals that can become stuck, the latest in a string of quality problems that have bedeviled the Japanese automaker.

The recall affects the 2009-2010 RAV4, the 2009-2010 Corolla, the 2009-2010 Matrix, the 2005-2010 Avalon, the 2007-2010 Camry, the 2010 Highlander, the 2007-2010 Tundra and the 2008-2010 Sequoia.

The latest move comes just months after Toyota Motor Corp. recalled 4.2 million vehicles over concerns that accelerator pedals could become lodged under floor mats, causing sudden acceleration. That problem was blamed for several crashes, including an accident involving a Lexus that accelerated to more than 120 mph before crashing in San Diego, killing four people.

But Toyota said this recall is due to problems with the actual gas pedal mechanism, causing the accelerator to become stuck regardless of whether the vehicle contains a floor mat. Toyota said in certain rare cases, the gas pedal mechanism wears down, causing the accelerator to become harder to press, slower to return or, in some cases, stuck.

In a letter to federal safety officials dated Thursday, Toyota said the problem appeared to be related to the potential build-up of condensation on sliding surfaces in the accelerator system that helps drivers push down or release the gas pedal.

Toyota spokesman Brian Lyons said the automaker does not yet have a solution to the latest problem but is working to develop one.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said in a statement that the problem is "a serious safety issue and we are pleased Toyota is taking immediate action to address it."

The safety stumbles have dinged Toyota's reputation in the U.S. as a builder of dependable, high-quality cars. Last year's recall was the sixth-largest ever in the United States.

[henrywilkins]

Toyota 2006

NY TIMES :-----4.1 million cars recalled

Do we ever learn ?

Repairing Some Dents in an Image
NY TIMES August 5, 2006 By MICHELINE MAYNARD and MARTIN FACKLER

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/05/business/worldbusiness/05recall.html?fta=y

[billy3700]

Toyota issued recall for 2.3 million SUVs,
The NHTSA or national highway safety administration reported about
a hundred incidents of faulty accelerator pedals in Toyota trucks and cars.
These incidents involved seventeen crashes and five fatalities.
You have got to read this article!a real eye opener!
http://ketiva.com/Cars_and_Transportation/toyota_recall.html
ahref="http://ketiva.com/Cars_and_Transportation/toyota_recall.html">http://ketiva.com/Cars_and_Transportation/toyota_recall.html</a>

[eddierhonda]

WHAT A COVER-UP!!!Toyota was made well aware of this problem in Oct. 2006 when my wife's 2007 Lexus 350 ES had the accelerator stick totally open and take her to speeds in excess of 110 mph. They totally denied this happened or could happen. We have a file full of correspondence from them denying this problem. How come it takes the loss of human lives to bring them to terms with the actual problem. They should be held accountable, as this loss of lives was preventable had they only addressed this in 2006. We would be glad to share this with anyone interested. [e-mail]

Eddie G. Smith Sevierville, TN

[jean9458]

i own a 2004 toyota camary n i am still having trouble with my matts n pedal as well they need to check those out as well when i first bought my car i couldnt keep my fot from reaching the gas pedal right it would keep hanging up on me so i couldnt use my gas pedal properly n i was backing up n rug got caught under pedal n i hit the tongue of my trailer n then i removed matt out n my foot still has trouble with my gas pedal it sometimes gets hung under it ..... because of the hump next to gas pedal they need to investigate those models as well

[News2579]

My 2001 Toyota Celica had/has other quality problems.
Repeated fuel injector problems.
Oil Consumption 1000 miles per quart mostly in one cylinder, prboably due to piston ring gaps lines up instead of spaced apart from each other.
Automatic transmission / differental retaining pin broke causing differental stub shaft to walk out wearing a hole in the case causing a severe leak of transmission fluid.

[fer60us]

Wow, 6.5 million pieces of junk!! Time ago I posted a comment about their famous mat issue; only their "loyal" customers would believe that. Anybody else without a little bit of car knowledge would have figured that the issue was and has been the pedal/acceleration system.

I wonder how Toyota rates on real life accidents (not the controlled ones); it is my guess they don't do well and not better than others that get lower rates on this controlled ones.

For sure American manufacturers do manufacture equal or better quality cars but probably they do not spend that much on PR as Toyota does. I guess Toyota didn't copy these systems right; it is what a lot of Japanese firms have done in the past; copy and sometimes improve but just for a while.

Buy American!!

[tryhonesty]

So this explains why we would be down to Ford as the only American Automobile company left with out taxpayer bailout money?

[steeepe]

Now that the Court has decided that corporations are people, maybe Toyota could be prosecuted for negligent homicide. But if convicted, how do you stuff the corporation in prison?

[keyswitch]

Why not just turn off the key?

[P0ST1ING_AWAY]

Going 50 MPH ???????

[1American]

Lexus that accelerated to more than 120 mph before crashing,,,,
Again we have a driver who knew NOTHING about the vehicle.
Solution for a "runaway": First: brake hard, this will slow the acceleration buying you a few more seconds in which you, Second: Turn off the ignition! Remember, turn the ignition switch off only to the first "click" this will disable the engine without locking the steering allowing you to steer the vehicle while stopping.
Be familiar with the vehicle you drive.

[P0ST1ING_AWAY]

Hey! Both of you MORONS!
What powers the power steering???
50 MPH .... Ever tried to steer a car WITHOUT power steering???
Put it in neutral .... Bring car to a safe stop ....
THEN TURN IT OFF.

[book_of_wally]

Imported cars are overrated junks. People buy them because they want to be trendy. I'll keep my Detroit iron.

[amerilatino]

Good for you, I'll keep my 178,000 mile Benz that corners on a dime, cranks right up on frozen mornings and still outruns Mustang GT's. Had three Fords when I was young & dumb, much wiser now.

[book_of_wally]

Good for you, I'll keep my 178,000 mile Benz that corners on a dime, cranks right up on frozen mornings and still outruns Mustang GT's. Had three Fords when I was young & dumb, much wiser now.
===================================
If you were wiser, you would be driving a Caddy like me.