Toyota to recall 3.8M vehicles over floor mats

[Bram Turismo]

I remember the "unintended acceleration" thing from a while ago. Which I thought was funny because Toyotas aren't exactly known for their acceleration abilities to begin with...

I'm sorry, I didn't get the funny part.

A recall of 3.8 million vehicles is quite the rediculous thing to do. Our car has loose floormats in every place. As if your mat is so heavy that it'll push the throttle all the way down

To answer your question Philly, I've driven the latest Toyota Auris, and there is no way a floormat could push the throttle down. I mean, a floormat doesn't weigh anything, and if it's going to be on your throttle, it's only with one of the corners. The throttle is very light yes, but it is not any lighte than the throttle on our VW Caddy.

 

[Moglet]

Don't Volkswagens have a failsafe in that you can't use the brake and accelerator at the same time? I seem to remember reading somewhere that when you touch the brake with some throttle still on, it cuts the throttle completely (meaning left-foot braking is out of the question).

My car does this too. 👍

 

[McLaren]

I
Oh, yeah, there's brakes, too. There is no modern vehicle whose brakes are not stronger than the engine, even at full throttle. Just compare braking distances with acceleration distances in any road test. Brakes are stronger.

Just to note, the story so far has gone that the brakes had caught fire from being overheated.

 

[a6m5]

Hold your tongue good sir! This is America! If I was to do evasive maneuvers with the specific intent of rolling my Suzuki Samurai, and the result is a rollover, it is clearly Suzuki's fault.

I remember Toyota losing similar lawsuit against the 4Runner. Some lady(can't remember if it was the driver or the passenger) sued Toyota because the driver, in attempt to avoid a crash, cut hard to right or left at speed, and somehow this high ground clearance off-road SUV rolled over. Personally, I think she should be fined for: 1) Wasting everybody's time. 2) Buying vehicle she can't handle, then having the nerve to sue the manufacturer for building off-road vehicles with tendency to rollover. Next time, buy a stationwagon!

 

[opladener]

Well, thats america for you, right there

 

[yeti]

Just to note, the story so far has gone that the brakes had caught fire from being overheated.

This is a very real possibility...

Check this story...

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article4804007.ece

C.

 

[Jim Prower]

I recall my drivers' ed class instructing us to try and get your foot under the accelerator to pull it back up if it is safe to do so. I'm guessing a floor mat pressing the throttle down would be easily countered by doing this.

I was taught to put it in neutral and let the engine bang on the rev limiter, so as not to lose power steering. You lose that, you could get into trouble.

 

[nist7]

Toyota reliability.

Ummmmm, no. More like user stupidity.

The fatal crash that occured in the 2009 ES350 had TWO floormats doubled up on each other: an all-weather floormat on top of the regular carpet floormat.

http://www2.wsav.com/sav/news/consu...icles_due_to_concerns_about_floor_mats/52621/

Toyota says a problem developed when someon put the thick, rubber all-weather mat (on the right) on top of the carpet map (on the left.) It says owners should never double up and that the carpet mat should be removed before the all weather mat is installed.

And that results in something that looked like this:

The standard 2009 ES350 floor mats seems to have more than enough clearance. And a properly installed all-weather floormat shouldn't have any problems either.

 

[a6m5]

The fatal crash that occured in the 2009 ES350 had TWO floormats doubled up on each other: an all-weather floormat on top of the regular carpet floormat.

You. Must. Be. Joking.

As I stated earlier in this thread, most all-weather mats are designed to replace the carpet mats. Not to be stacked on top of the existing floor mats.

They should just start distributing white safety helmets and short busses to everyone now.

 

[buickgnx88]

Actually, they should just not offer carpet mats since they defeat the purpose of having a floor mat - to not get the carpet dirty!

 

[a6m5]

Actually, they should just not offer carpet mats since they defeat the purpose of having a floor mat - to not get the carpet dirty!

Don't go there. I am a carpet mat guy!

Easy to clean, easy to replace. It's just that factory one cost too much.

 

[buickgnx88]

Bah, I couldn't stand to have carpet mats because I would feel that I have to clean them every time I use them.

 

[Philly]

Alright, I've gotta give props to Toyota on this one.

The solution to the proplem: Zip Ties!

Yup, stupid people, stupid problem, stupidly obvious and easy solution.

 

[JCE]

Now that's a very hillbilly thing to do.

 

[Jim Prower]

Just remember to clip the ends, or PB (or whoever gets all up ons about that) will be pissed.

 

[Joey D]

Your New Lexus Floor Mats Will Look Like Crap

Wow, that's awful.

 

[Jim Prower]

Cheapest...dealer...fix...ever.

Has Toyota been cooking the books? First those Health-class photos of the Tundra undercarriage, now this...I wonder why they're working so hard to cut costs...

 

[Adamgp]

I guess Toyota may have gotten it wrong. Floormats do not seem to be the cause of the stuck throttles. Evidence is showing it is a computer glitch or the Drive by Wire system.

http://www.comcast.net/video/out-of-control/1318526377/Comcast/popular/

But Toyota is still insisting its floormats and driver error.

 

[Jim Prower]

I KNEW drive-by-wire was a bad idea. This could be Toyota's "Corvair."

 

[Adamgp]

Bringing this back instead of creating a new thread.

So mabe it wasn't floormats, 2.3 million more vehicles recalled to fix gas pedals:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100121/ap_on_bi_ge/us_toyota_recall

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.

 

[Tornado]

I've actually seen those silly class action suits commercials on Ion already. I though it was pretty funny to see one of those about something that I actually had prior knowledge of.

 

[Adamgp]

Now Toyota is suspending production and sales of eight models.

Vehicles that will not be for sale temporarily are the: 2009-'10 RAV4; 2009-'10 Corolla; 2009-'10 Matrix; 2005-'10 Avalon; certain 2007-'10 Camrys; 2010 Highlander; 2007-'10 Tundra; and 2008-'10 Sequoia.

Isn't that 7/8 of the Toyota lineup?

http://www.insideline.com/toyota/toyota-suspends-sales-production-of-eight-vehicles.html

 

[Jim Prower]

Oh, wow. This is huge...and, furthermore, doesn't cover the Hybrid models that many people say are the problem.

 

[Northstar]

How does Toyota still have the best image?

If it wasn't for the "green" Prius they would be screwed.

 

[ANFD]

2000 documented accidents and 16 deaths is no laughing matter. It wouldn't surprise me at all to know that Toyota knew all along that floor mats were not the actual culprit. I know that the Toyota fans here are loyal to their brand, but I personally hate Toyota (for previously stated reasons) and have to assume that their cars are just possessed

If the problem was caused by faulty parts or mismanufactured parts, then that would be relatively easy to pin point thru testing. If the problem was caused by a design flaw, then it's strange that the problem is spread across so many different models.

I know it does look like an ECU (computer) glitch but I find it hard to believe that all those very different models use the same programming for throttle control. If, in fact they do, then why is Toyota having such a hard time replicating and defining the problem ? I also find it hard to believe that 2000 people didn't simply put the car in Neutral and brake. Toyota's official comment that I saw on the news last night was that (should this happen to you) you should put the car into Neutral and NOT pump the brake ...... that confused me a bit ..... why not brake ? How else are you supposd to slow down ??

I think Toyota ought to replace all customer cars for them with a Honda

 

[Philly]

How does Toyota still have the best image?

It's probably the same reason that GM, Ford and Chrysler didn't go out of business years ago. People start buying them and blindly go back to the same dealer when it comes time to buy a new car without really considering other options. Their '93 Camry is still running like new and Toyota still advertises reliability so they must be the most reliable cars on the road.

When in reality Toyota is making backwards progress to remain the top company in the world and the rest of the world is making gains. Less quality control at a company known for quality has to mean that there isn't much reason to buy a Toyota anymore other than people just don't think about it...

I can't seem to find the source though.

 

[Bram Turismo]

I think Toyota ought to replace all customer cars for them with a Honda

 

[CodeRedR51]

Starting today, GM is offering incentives to Toyota owners if they switch to a GM vehicle.

http://www.autoblog.com/2010/01/27/new-gm-incentives-aimed-at-stealing-irked-toyota-owners-rental/

(This is a Honda dealer. I lol'd)

 

[Jim Prower]

XD

Should have seen that one coming. :3

 

[Perfect Balance]

Just remember to clip the ends, or PB (or whoever gets all up ons about that) will be pissed.

Hadn't looked in this thread until now.

It was Daan though, I was the one who didn't mind them being unclipped.