Unintended Acceleration: Toyota Addresses the Issues

Campaign remedy? Campaign? Why is a campaign necessary to fix the problem? Just fix it.

The fix is achieved through a "campaign." Campaign: a systematic course of aggressive activities for some specific purpose. See?

If you research, you will find comments from people who experienced the accelaration problem while they had NO floormats. Many of these incidents did not end up in an accident situation, but were reported anyway. Toyota is lying. Better if they admit that there is an electrical or mechanical malfunction than lie and possibly cause more deaths. Not to mention loss of confidence in their company and their products.

I first wanted to express my admiration for Toyota for immediately expressing their sorrow in that fatal collision involving the Lexus with the incorrect floor mats. Instead of hedging their bets and denying responsibility, as many companies do in our extremely litigious society, Toyota promptly accepted responsibility and instigated immediate action. This quite possibly has saved other lives, as Toyota owners are now aware of this issue and what to do if something similar happens to them. However, I am concerned at the letter I received, because it says "Toyota has determined that this defect does not exist in vehicles in which the driver side floor mat is compatible with the vehicle and properly secured." It is extremely important for Toyota to note, in their investigation, that even correctly installed compatible floor mats can cause a lethal collision due to their current design. Because there are only two retaining hooks (clips), and because they are "removable", the floor mat can and does still become dislodged and move forward under the pedals. I regularly check my mat because the hooks constantly turn and the mat then slips off the hooks. I once found myself unable to brake, and fortunately was able to discover that my floor mat had bunched itself up under my brake pedal, making it so the pedal could not be depressed. I was able to pull the mat out in time, narrowly avoiding a collision. I strongly recommend that Toyota look into this related issue, and perhaps install the retaining hooks (clips) permanently in their vehicles, so that they do not move (spin), or install four hooks instead of the current two, thus minimizing the chance of slippage.

I live in the snowbelt of northern NY, are you going to replace my carpeting if I don't use my all weather rubber floor mats to catch the snow and salt? I've own my Camry for a year and am disappointed. My father has owned nothing but Toyota and I thought I would trade in the Honda for a Camry. I think the quality on the interior is extremely poor and can only hope the lack of quality doesn't affect anything but cosmetic stuff. I've also had to have my brakes services because poor design allows grit in the sliders and shims, not because they're worn. Unless there are drastic improvements I will go back to honda's.

My wife and I have two Lexus RX's (2005 and 2010) and it is extremely important to us that you answer, point by point, the allegations and contentions appearing in the L.A. Times (Sunday edition, 11/8/09). For your information, our 2010 RX350 is the ninth Lexus we have owned or leased. Until now we have loved driving your cars, but, after reading the L.A. Times 11/08/09, we are now seriously alarmed and concerned about the safety and reliability of our Lexus vehicles.

Does this apply to UK Lexus cars? I've not heard anything of this over here, been driving an IS250 over the past year. It is a manual, though; a stick-shift. Don't know if that makes a difference, seeing that the pedal arrangement would be different. I shall ring Lexus Liverpool today!

I'm very interested in buying a SCION which I viewed and drove at the Toyota dealership. But I'm very concerned with the surge problem. Has there been a solution to it?

It's an interim measure because people still want their floor mats. The NHTSA wants to see a modification that changes the design of the vehicle to prevent the issue from occuring, which removing the floor mats does not do. The Lexus LS400 had a gas pedal hinged from the floor which prevents this type of thing from happending - implementing such a system would be the type of fix the NHTSA is looking for.

The Los Angeles Times reported on Nov 08, 2009 that it is most likely that the problem is not only floor mat related, but more of an electronic malfunction. I have been a vivid fan of Lexus. How can Toyota convince me to buy my third Lexus ?

Your already have convince yourself. You have bought two already! Have you had a problem? Bet Not.

"But it is simply an interim measure.” If the floor mat is the only problem, then why would this be just an "interim measure"? Seems like it would be a permanent solution, UNLESS there is more to the problem! Hard to understand how a floor mat could suddenly cause the accelerator pedal to go full throttle...maybe not release it completely if the edge got pushed up on the pedal, but to suddenly slam the pedal to the floor? In the meantime, PLAN AHEAD...just put the gear shift in neutral IMMEDIATELY and then stop normally and turn off the engine. DON'T PANIC!!

That makes a lot of sense to me...wonder why the people affected didn't try that?

Let's get responsible media!!!! Check It Out, Investigate before you report. We are starting to not trust anything you report. We have put you in a position of important news reporting. Do you MEDIA folks want to keep your jobs or what? Where is the Integrity? The recalll issue with Toyota Prius driver side floor mat does NOT include the floor mats that were in the vehicle when we purchased our Prius. They are talking about "after market" mud mats. Call your local Toyota dealerships service depart- ments and talk with them about this issue. Thank you