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Toyota Announces Comprehensive Plan to Fix
Accelerator Pedals on Recalled
Vehicles and
Ensure Customer Safety
Rigorously Tested Reinforced Pedals Will Eliminate the Excess
Friction that Caused Sticking
Toyota Will Make Concerted Effort to Repair Recalled Vehicles as
Quickly and Conveniently as Possible
TORRANCE, Calif., February 1, 2010 – Toyota
Motor Sales (TMS) U.S.A.,
Inc., today announced it will begin fixing accelerator pedals in recalled
Toyota Division vehicles this week. Toyota’s
engineers have developed and rigorously tested a solution that involves
reinforcing the pedal assembly in a manner that eliminates the excess friction
that has caused the pedals to stick in rare instances. In addition, Toyota has developed an
effective solution for vehicles in production.
Parts to reinforce the pedals
are already being shipped for use by dealers, and dealer training is under
way. Many Toyota
dealers will work extended hours to complete the recall campaign as quickly and
conveniently as possible, some even staying open 24 hours a day. The company
has also taken the unprecedented action of stopping production of affected vehicles
for the week of February 1.
“Nothing is more important to
us than the safety and reliability of the vehicles our customers drive,” said
Jim Lentz, president and Chief Operating Officer, TMS. “We deeply regret
the concern that our recalls have caused for our customers and we are doing
everything we can – as fast as we can – to make things right. Stopping
production is never an easy decision, but we are 100% confident it was the
right decision. We know what’s causing the sticking accelerator pedals,
and we know what we have to do to fix it. We also know it is most
important to fix this problem in the cars on the road.”
Lentz added: “We are focused
on making this recall as simple and trouble-free as possible, and will work day
and night with our dealers to fix recalled vehicles quickly. We want to
demonstrate that our commitment to safety is as high as ever and that our
commitment to our customers is unwavering.”
On January 21, Toyota announced its
intention to recall approximately 2.3 million select Toyota Division vehicles
equipped with a specific pedal assembly and suspended sales of the eight models
involved in the recall on January 26.
Toyota vehicles affected by
the recall include:
• Certain 2009-2010 RAV4
• Certain 2009-2010 Corolla
• 2009-2010 Matrix
• 2005-2010 Avalon
• Certain 2007-2010 Camry
• Certain 2010 Highlander
• 2007-2010 Tundra
• 2008-2010 Sequoia
No Lexus Division or Scion
vehicles are affected by these actions. Also not affected are Toyota
Prius, Tacoma, Sienna, Venza, Solara, Yaris, 4Runner, FJ Cruiser, Land Cruiser,
Highlander hybrids and certain Camry models, including Camry hybrids, all of
which remain for sale.
Further, Camry, RAV4, Corolla
and Highlander vehicles with Vehicle Identification Numbers (VIN) that begin with
"J" are not affected by the accelerator pedal recall.
In the event that a driver
experiences an accelerator pedal that sticks in a partial open throttle
position or returns slowly to idle position, the vehicle can be controlled with
firm and steady application of the brakes. The brakes should not be
pumped repeatedly because it could deplete vacuum assist, requiring stronger
brake pedal pressure. The vehicle should be driven to the nearest safe
location, the engine shut off and a Toyota
dealer contacted for assistance.
Detailed information and
answers to questions about issues related to this recall are available to
customers at www.toyota.com/recall
and at the Toyota
Customer Experience
Center at 1-800-331-4331.
How
Toyota Will Fix
Recalled Vehicles
Toyota has pinpointed the
issue that could, on rare occasions, cause accelerator pedals in recalled
vehicles to stick in a partially open position. The issue involves a
friction device in the pedal designed to provide the proper “feel” by adding
resistance and making the pedal steady and stable. The device includes a
shoe that rubs against an adjoining surface during normal pedal
operation. Due to the materials used, wear and environmental conditions, these
surfaces may, over time, begin to stick and release instead of operating
smoothly. In some cases, friction could increase to a point that the
pedal is slow to return to the idle position or, in rare cases, the pedal
sticks, leaving the throttle partially open.
Toyota’s solution for current
owners is both effective and simple. A precision-cut steel reinforcement
bar will be installed into the assembly that will reduce the surface tension
between the friction shoe and the adjoining surface. With this
reinforcement in place, the excess friction that can cause the pedal to stick
is eliminated. The company has confirmed the effectiveness of the newly
reinforced pedals through rigorous testing on pedal assemblies that had
previously shown a tendency to stick.
Separately from the recall
for sticking accelerator pedals, Toyota is in the process of recalling vehicles
to address rare instances in which floor mats have trapped the accelerator
pedal in certain Toyota and Lexus models (announced November 25, 2009), and is
already notifying customers about how it will fix this issue. In the case
of vehicles covered by both recalls, it is Toyota’s intention to remedy both at the same
time.
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MEDIA CONTACTS:
Toyota Motor Sales, Corporate
Communications
(310) 468-5297
(310) 468-7359
Media Web site: http://www.toyotanewsroom.com
Public Web site: http://www.toyota.com
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