Toyota Floormatgate: Autobox Burnouts Banned?

Edward Niedermeyer
by Edward Niedermeyer

Automotive News [sub] is reporting that Toyota will replace or reshape some 3.8m accelerator pedals to reduce the risk of them becoming lodged against floormats. Toyota will also be replacing some floormats as it battles a recent unintended acceleration scare. But far more interesting than the prosaic alterations to pedals and mats is Toyota’s decision to take modifications a step further on certain affected models. AN [sub] explains:

Toyota will install a brake override system on the involved Camry, Avalon, and Lexus ES 350, IS 350 and IS 250 models “as an extra measure of confidence.” The system will shut off engine power if drivers press the accelerator pedal and brake pedal simultaneously.

Oy. More proof that it only takes a few idiots thinking their car is possessed to ruin burnouts for everyone. Well, everyone who owns a slushbox Toyota or Lexus, anyway.


Edward Niedermeyer
Edward Niedermeyer

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  • Porschespeed Porschespeed on Nov 25, 2009

    @psarhjinian, Thanks for that bit of data. Didn't have time to do F=MA calcs and comparisons, actual tests on the ground is even better. (ie, stopping car in this time/dist requires "x" braking HP, so even if engine is outputting peak HP, it will require "y" extra distance to stop - more or less)

  • Ajla Ajla on Nov 25, 2009

    I wonder why the IS-F and the IS-C seem to be exempt from this.

  • PeteMoran PeteMoran on Nov 25, 2009

    Well, I have to say I'm staggered that the existing Toyota/Lexus ECU doesn't already have software that detects brake application AND accelerator application. The sensors are there already, and the logic is probably pretty simple to define.

    • See 2 previous
    • Criminalenterprise Criminalenterprise on Nov 26, 2009

      I can verify that even standard transmission VWs ECU's kill the accelerator when the brake pedal is applied. It ruins the rare times when spirited driving asks for heel-toe, but it's not intrusive. I think the newer models have a hill-hold feature as well if your footwork isn't fast enough and you don't do the old handbrake trick. Anyone who criticizes the drivers who experience this issue is failing as an empathetic human being. It's not always just the driver who gets killed or hurt, and to declare that they're incompetent for not figuring out what to do in time implies that the author assumes they are competent and would figure out what to do. Because we can't drop you into the exact situation a la Quantum Leap, you cannot make such an assertion. FWIW, I had a car where the vacuum-driven cruise control would run the throttle up (not WOT but steady) once in a great while when it was activated and I put in the clutch before braking or deactivating it with the coast button. I also remember a company car (a K-car) that would regularly cruise at exactly 25mph through town without cruise or touching any pedals. There was no tach.

  • Porschespeed Porschespeed on Nov 26, 2009
    Anyone who criticizes the drivers who experience this issue is failing as an empathetic human being. It’s not always just the driver who gets killed or hurt, and to declare that they’re incompetent for not figuring out what to do in time implies that the author assumes they are competent and would figure out what to do. Because we can’t drop you into the exact situation a la Quantum Leap, you cannot make such an assertion. I come from a different world. One where things can and do go wrong. I've dealt with stuck throttles before - once with floor mats, once with a sticky cable. It's no big deal.I am NOT saying that a mechanical failure can't happen. I'm NOT saying that if something breaks and it's outside the realm of human reaction times, that they're at fault. However, I AM saying that if your presence of mind is so far gone that you don't know how to react to a simple situation like a stuck accelerator in a reasonable amount of time, your head ain't in the game. At all. FWIW, I had a car where the vacuum-driven cruise control would run the throttle up (not WOT but steady) once in a great while when it was activated and I put in the clutch before braking or deactivating it with the coast button. I also remember a company car (a K-car) that would regularly cruise at exactly 25mph through town without cruise or touching any pedals. There was no tach. Both of the above-captioned failure conditions are easily seen, easily corrected mechanical issues. They do NOT floor the accelerator, turn it's brakes off, then magically repair themselves after the accident. Believe what you wish about the ability of the average driver to keep their cranium out of their rectum. I tend to believe that most people can, if they have just a little focus. But, if you punch the throttle and panic (which is EVERY standing-start 'unintended' acceleration incident) then man/woman up. Admit you screwed up and call your insurance agent. Once again, in a car that is 100% drive-by-wire, then maybe the computer goes HAL and tries to kill you and leaves no evidence of the failure. That IS possible. But until the last coupla years, that situation has not existed.
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