9 Votes

Boost it!

Did Toyota Knew Of Floor Mat Problem Years Before Recall?

1UAW submitted on 10/1/2009 Official Bell & Ross Timestamp: 7:27:25 PM

6 user comments | Category: Spy Shots | Source: | SOURCE: wheels.blogs.nytimes.com

Toyota Floor-Mat Problem Was Known Two Years Ago
By Christopher Jensen
Update | 4:05 p.

m.

Toyota and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration issued a warning on Tuesday about floor mats possibly jamming accelerators on 3.8 million Toyotas. But the company and the agency have known about the problem for more than two years.

In March 2007, the agency began an investigation after receiving five complaints from owners of the 2007 Lexus ES 350 about unintended acceleration. That would lead to a recall that fall of all-weather floor mats on 2007 and some 2008 ES 350s as well as their sibling, the Toyota Camry. The automaker also warned those owners to be careful that the mats were properly anchored.


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kpaxx

yup

— kpaxx (View Profile)

Posted on 10/2/2009 10:54:59 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

Badgewhore

Yes Toyota knew, for years it's been part of their master plan to design and build vehicles too smart so DUMB americans can kill themselves easier. Just like Ferraris and Lambos of the past, one needs a mechanic to ride along for trips that was longer than 2 hours. Today, Toyota vehicles need lawyers to ride along to read the fine prints in the manual and tell people how to drive.

— Badgewhore (View Profile)

Posted on 10/3/2009 3:06:19 PM | | Votes: -1   

1BadMan

This "problem" started with the 2004 MY Prius. So they did know. And the NHTSA got complaints starting 2004 as well from Toyota customers.

— 1BadMan (View Profile)

Posted on 10/2/2009 11:22:50 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

BSBB

This is just another case of people (particularly most Lexus drivers) not knowing anything about fixing/maintaining their vehicles (can't wait to see what the Lexus fans say about that). I have had floormats interfere in one way or another in my previous vehicles, and guess what...I adjusted (or trimmed) the mats so that the problem wouldn't occur again.

According to the article:
"What they did find was that the design of the accelerator pedal (“one-piece, nonarticulating”) allowed it to become easily entrapped in the groove of the rubber all-weather floor mat if the rubber mat was not properly secured with at least one of the two retaining hooks.”
"If the rubber mats were placed on top of the standard carpet mats, the retaining hooks could not be used, the report said. It noted that the rubber mats had a warning about not placing them on top of other mats, but the writing was small and might not be seen."

So if you choose not to read the fine print, Toyota should be held responsible?

— BSBB (View Profile)

Posted on 10/2/2009 11:51:06 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

huu76

I've noticed the NHTSA has bascally forgotten about this so called recall. I heard it on the radio once and CNN reported on it once. The NHTSA has all but washed their hands of this issue because they know is complete nonsense.
The NHTSA should start doing recalls on seatbelts for every car because people have the potential of not wearing them.

1uaw,
Congratulations, did you find this out all by yourself? 2007 sounds really familiar. Try digging up something new instead of regurgitating the same stuff from a different source.

1Badman,
And nobody thought to take out the extra floormats? Toyota should start including a nanny with every car sale to ensure their customers don't do stupid things with their cars.

— huu76 (View Profile)

Posted on 10/3/2009 12:37:42 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1   

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