Toyota Wraps Up Pedal Entrapment Issue With 2.17m Unit Recall

Edward Niedermeyer
by Edward Niedermeyer

Having been exonerated of any mysterious electronic causes of unintended acceleration, Toyota puts the issue behind it with a final recall of over 2m vehicles for issues related to gas pedal entrapment. At the same time, the NHTSA closes its investigation. According to an official release, Toyota

will conduct a voluntary safety recall of approximately 20,000 2006 and early 2007 Model Year GS 300 and GS 350 All-Wheel Drive vehicles to modify the shape of the plastic pad embedded in the driver’s side floor carpet. In the event that the floor carpet around the accelerator pedal is not properly replaced in the correct position after a service operation, there is a possibility that the plastic pad embedded into the floor carpet may interfere with the operation of the accelerator pedal. If this occurs, the accelerator pedal may become temporarily stuck in a partially depressed position rather than returning to the idle position.

And that’s not all…

The release continuesToyota will also voluntarily recall approximately 372,000 2004 through 2006 and early 2007 RX 330, RX 350, and RX 400h vehicles, and approximately 397,000 2004 through 2006 Highlander and Highlander HV vehicles to replace the driver’s side floor carpet cover and its two retention clips. If the forward retention clip used to secure the floor carpet cover, which is located in front of the center console, is not installed properly, the cover may lean toward the accelerator pedal and interfere with the accelerator pedal arm. If this occurs, the accelerator pedal may become temporarily stuck in a partially depressed position rather than returning to the idle position.Separately, Toyota has amended its recall from November 2009, adding three models to address the potential for unsecured or incompatible floor mat entrapment of the accelerator pedal. The models added include:• Approximately 603,000 2003 through 2009 4Runner


• Approximately 17,000 2008 through 2011 Lexus LX 570; and


• Approximately 761,000 2006 through 2010 RAV4Owners of the involved 4Runner, LX 570, and RAV4 vehicles will receive an interim notification by first class mail beginning in the near future, informing them of the condition. Owners will receive a second notification once the recall preparations are complete.According toe Reuters, this recall is part of a deal with the NHTSA to put the issue of unintended acceleration to rest.NHTSA’s chief, David Strickland, said in a statement that the agency reviewed more than 400,000 pages of documents to determine whether the scope of Toyota recalls was sufficient.

“As a result of the agency’s review, NHTSA asked Toyota to recall these additional vehicles, and now that the company has done so, our investigation is closed,” Strickland said.

Toyota has recalled some 19.2m vehicles since the fall of 2009.


Edward Niedermeyer
Edward Niedermeyer

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  • L'avventura L'avventura on Feb 24, 2011

    What interesting timing. Weeks after they are exonerated from electrical faults, the NHTSA makes Toyota recall another 2 million vehicles to "close the case" and end this investigation with seeds of fear, uncertainty, and doubt on Toyota's quality. Also, what wonderful timing that this also coincides with GM's announcement of $4.5B in profit on the same day (and $16B in taxes they are now exceptions from paying).

  • Cheezeweggie Cheezeweggie on Feb 25, 2011

    "Good sense" tells me factory floor mats should never "bunch up under their accelerator pedal".

  • MaintenanceCosts It's not a Benz or a Jag / it's a 5-0 with a rag /And I don't wanna brag / but I could never be stag
  • 3-On-The-Tree Son has a 2016 Mustang GT 5.0 and I have a 2009 C6 Corvette LS3 6spd. And on paper they are pretty close.
  • 3-On-The-Tree Same as the Land Cruiser, emissions. I have a 1985 FJ60 Land Cruiser and it’s a beast off-roading.
  • CanadaCraig I would like for this anniversary special to be a bare-bones Plain-Jane model offered in Dynasty Green and Vintage Burgundy.
  • ToolGuy Ford is good at drifting all right... 😉
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