NEW YORK -- 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 2005-2010 Avalon, the 2007-2010 Camry and
the 2007-2010 Tundra, the 2010 Highlander, the 2008-2010 Sequoia,
the 2009-2010 RAV4, the 2009-2010 Corolla and the 2009-2010 Matrix.
The Avalon, Camry and Tundra models -- encompassing about 1.7
million vehicles -- also were included in the 4.2 million-vehicle
recall Toyota launched in late 2009 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 Thursday's recall is due to potential 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.
For the vehicles affected by both recalls, their accelerator
pedals could be at risk both of becoming trapped under floor mats
and becoming stuck due to mechanical problems.
Toyota spokesman John Hanson said the automaker does not yet
have a solution to the latest problem but is working to develop
one. Hanson said the company is unaware of any accidents or
injuries due to the gas pedal problems associated with Thursday's
recall, but could not rule it out for sure. He said the recall
"came together very quickly," and said Toyota will soon be
contacting owners directly about the matter.
Hanson added that all of the vehicles involved in the latest
recall contain a gas pedal system that comes from a single
supplier. He declined to identify the supplier or say whether
Toyota would continue doing business with the supplier.
"Responsibility for this in the end is ours," he said.
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."
Toyota recommends that drivers of the recalled vehicles should
firmly apply their brakes if the gas pedal becomes stuck -- not pump
the brakes -- and contact their nearest Toyota dealer after parking
in a safe location. 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.
Rob Ammons is Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, in addition to being Board Certified in Civil Law by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. Rob Ammons’ law practice, The Ammons Law Firm, is located in Houston, Texas. The Ammons Law Firm practice is exclusively personal injury law, handling such cases as: tire defects , oil rig explosions , truck accidents , plant explosions, refinery accidents, wrongful death , post-collision fires , seat belt defects, airbag defects , SUV rollovers and workplace accident injury.
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