Toyota's Statement Regarding NHTSA News Release

I've had this happen to me a few times now and it is NOT the floor mat. The car acceleration has a mind of its own and takes over the acceleration. I had both feet on the break and the car did not stop. They don't know what the problem is so they are blaming the mats. I think that is prety lame.

Though Toyota has a fairly good reputation, that doesn't mean that they can't have a problem now. The claims that are being made about acceleration problems have nothing to do with the floormats. It sounds like the computer electronics are failing. It is a serious problem that needs to be addressed and for those who say it's driver error, you have your heads in the sand. This involves the newer Toyotas from the mid 2000's til now. I guess you won't understand the problem unless it happens to you. God forbid!!

Could you please site the study about electonic failure and where you are getting your information. It sounds like from your comment that it happened to you. God forbid!!

GM or Ford Would never confirm it at all? At least Toyota Has the guts to. No offense to your comment, however if this is all, they are working around the clock to find out what's causing it, unlike our own domestic manufacturers who have covered up automotive defects for decades. In the meantime if it happens slam it into park, better a damaged transmission than a head on fatal collision?

OH Don't be ridiculous! UNDERSTAND what problem? NO AFTER MARKET MATS... That's it, period!

Honestly, people who blame Toyota for hiding the truth from us needs to get their facts straight. Toyota is not the only one that is investigating this issue and all that tried to seek out a solution found no fault so far. There is nothing else to say as of this point but as Toyota said they will continue to test and seek for a solution.

Read the extensive article in today's (11/08/09) L.A. Times! Clearly NOT just a floor mat issue. If you think it is, please explain why it is happening FAR more often on certain Toyota models than on other makes. There is something else going on and Toyota better own up to it or it will become a public relations disaster for them. Also, The NHTSA clearly bungling and/or ignoring the problem as well. In the meantime, innocent people will die...

I purchased my 1st Toyota('09 Tacoma access cab 4x4)recently.People need to assume some responsibility with these issues. If you are worried ,take the damn mats out until there is a solution. I bought plastic gutter type for my truck . They hold about a gallon of snow & junk. They fit perfect in the locking hooks. No probs! What a great vehicle.

I have looked in many cars and have seen floor mats pushed up in a ball by the accelerator pedal. Common sense would tell me that is not good. Look further and you will see that the anchors are not being used. If the mat is anchored properly it will not move. Check your mats after you have been to a car wash. Most or the people that remove your mats to clean them do not reinstall them correctly. Also Toyota has no control over people that put after-market mats in their cars and certainly should not be blamed when those items cause problems.

The problem is not with the floor mat. As one person even tried lifting the paddle up with his foot but it was stuck there. For people who have been using Toyota's for the past 12 years, this problem is with the new Lexus and Toyota models. I hope they get this fixed soon and stop blaming the mats for the problem.

That is not true, you should learn the facts, and read, its that thing with lines, that doesnt come out of a box.

I've owned Toyota's for the last 12 years and have sold them for the past 7.5 years and have well over 1000 different customers with numerous vehicles and not one has had any issues. I have seen many potential problems though. For example, "I don't want to pay $99 or whatever for Toyota's all weather mats so I'll just go to WalMart and buy their cheapo rubber ones and slap them on top of my normal floor mats". Common sense will tell you that they are not secure and could slide around and possibly under the pedals. Just look at all the NHTSA data from the testing that they have done. In the past 6 years, a number of Toyota & Lexus vehicles have been test not once, not twice, not three times, nor 4 or 5 times, but SIX times and every time they have found "the only defect trend related to vehicles peed control in the subject vehicles involved the potential for accelerator pedals to become trapped near the floor by out-of-position or inappropriate floor mat installations." To me, it sounds like Toyota is taking the rap and trying to protect people from themselves. My opinion is to spend the money on the proper floor mats or risk the possibility of the pedal getting stuck by your $10 WalMart jobs. If you want to complain about spending $99 for proper floor mats & you can't afford it, or it's going to "break" you, now is probably not the time to be buying a new car. Just my $0.02.....flame away if you like.....

I now have 165,000 miles on my 2003 Camry....my Father 185,000 on his 2004...his third one..my wife 77,000 on her 2004 Rav4....my Mom 35,000 on her 2008 Corolla....Sister 25,000 on her 2008 Corolla....Fater-in-law 56,000 on his Tundra...his third one....Mother-in-law 45,000 2007 Corolla..her 4the one..not one freeking floormat issue...not one....over 1,000,000 miles in my famly and not one issue with a floor mat. Clip the mats...stop trying to get paid by Toyota. Cant wait till we all replace our Toyotas with new ones...will never buy anything else....

You guys have been using antique older Toyotas that's why you haven't experienced with the deadly problem yet. In fact problems on newer Lexus and Toyotas and real root cause is not due to the floor mats, it must be due to an electronics.

What is taking you so long with this recall. Some one may die before you fix the problem. Lets get this going. ASAP

People have already died and toyota knew there was a problem!

There is nothing to recall-all you have to do is make sure the floormats are hooked to the clips!!!!

Seriously why is it taking so long to get this recall going.

"Nightline" did an investigation on this problem that aired this past week. Several people have been killed when their Toyota/ Lexus cars accelerated and the owners could not stop the vehicles by braking. Some even knew of the supposed problem with the floor pads and checked that while attempting to stop their car- the floor mats were not causing the acceleration! Nightline had a test driver show what to do if this happens to you. He recommended- 1) Step on the brake- HARD! 2) Shift the car into Neutral 3) Turn off the engine. The word is out TOYOTA- Do something NOW before more people are killed or injured!

I AM GLAD TO SEE THAT TOYOTA IS HANDLING THE ISSUE. I HAVE ALWAYS ENJOYED YOUR PRODUCT AND GREAT SERVICE. THANK YOU

Toyota is doing something? Yes, nothing but making excuses and hiding the truth from us! The cars are not safe and we are still getting the story line of how "unapproved" floor mats were used. So Toyota makes it a consumer problem. Enough is enough. Recall all the cars, fix them and stop selling the same models until a fix is developed. Reasonable considering peoples lives are at stake, and a practical approach to this mess. NO more BS

your nswer is typical of Detroit 3 crying losser supporter...well ..what else can we expect...

My daughter drives our toyota and we dont even have those mats and we have experienced some acceleration problems

THAT IT IS JUST IN HER MINE THAT THE CAR HAS ACCELERATION PROBLEM. :)) HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE DRIVING A TOYOTA AND FOR HOW MANY YEARS NEVER HAD A PROBLEM ! JUST TINK ABOUT IT !!!!

Nice english. Keep on fighting the good fight.

so what in the meantime?

Read the Toyota Newsletter dated November 2 and go to the section that says What should you do if you experience accelerator pedal interference

use the existing clips in the floor to hold the mat and add additional "safety clamps" which are basically cables that attach to the seat rail area and have a clamp with teeth to grab and hold the back end of the mat in the event it pops out of the normal clips in the floor. The clamps would be very easy to install and very cheap to make. retro fitting vehicles with this would be very cheap and very quick. You can still use your existing mats without any modifications, and it can be unclamped to be cleaned. Just something for you to think about.

This is fine and dandy with the possible exception that my Toyota dealer told me that leaving the well-fastened mat in the car was no problem. I think all Toyota people should be on the same page when it comes to dealing with customers. Ie. What should I do with the mat? sincerely, Richard Charm

I think it is a SHAME ON YOU for not having your dealers up to date on the issue of safety with regards to the ACCELERATOR PROBLEM or Computer problem which affects the accelerator on your Toyota automobiles. We have family with children driving these cars and they are getting the old FLOOR MAT run arround from the dealers when they call to find what needs to be fixed to assure their safety. If more accidents occure from this problem your company should be held responsible. Any lawsuits that may happen would certainly be more expensive to you than NOTIFYING YOUR DEALER NOW AS TO HOW TO GET THESE CARS UP TO STANDARD SAFETY with regard to the problems involved.

What model Toyota do you have? From my own personal experience with an 11-year-old Avalon, the mats (properly installed - that's what the hooks are for on the floor, by the way), have never moved forward and will NEVER move. I really don't think there is an accelerator problem at all. Mats that become entangled with the accelerator pedal on ANY car can lead to this effect. If you doubt Toyota's sincerity, you should simply buy an American car and hope for the best. Hint - their track record is not that favorable.

We were considering buy a Toyota for the first time. However until this problem is resolved and Toyota is more forthcoming, the statistics say there is something more than the floor mat causing this throtle body problem. Having dealt with Japaneese business for years I know the the last social thing they want to do is say NO or admit and error for lose of honor. Toytoa had best get out in front on ths or it will be another Firestone/Bridgestone tire, or Ford Pinto nightmare.

I think it is difficult for Toyota to have a recall or campaign that will solve lack of common sense or stupidity. In my opinion that is all that is at issue in this case.

The NHTSA has not found any problems at this time.

check to see how old radar detectors or microwaves or even cell phones effect the computers in the runnaway vehicles. it should help to re-create the problem in the lab that no-one can seem to figure out. and consider even fault line magnetic effect on a non shielded computer. it will keep a car from running at all. we need to look outside the box on this and quick. everyone is at risk if this is the case.