New Toyota Accelerator Mechanism Recall A Bad Sign

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For the last few months, Toyota has led the public to believe that any incidents of unintended acceleration were caused by out-of-position floor mats. While this was most likely the cause of a fatal Lexus crash in California last August, many investigations failed to prove that floor mats were the root cause of unintended acceleration complaints. Today, Toyota has announced yet another recall (on top of the original floor mat recall) to repair or replace approximately 2.3 million throttle mechanisms. From Toyota’s press release:

Filed Under: Tundra Recalls

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  1. J. D. says:

    (Groan) Troll Bait

  2. Mickey says:

    Jason to me it sounds like they are still covering the bottom in case. Still looks to me that they haven’t found the cause yet and felt compelled to cover thy butt.

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  4. Winghunter says:

    My entire family is Toyota drivers and I’m about to buy my fourth but, knee-jerking mindless decisions is what these clowns do…Their history is full of examples, especially current history.

    So, who else sees a short re-run of Gung Ho in their mind when they hear of another Toyota moment?? ;- )

  5. mk says:

    The first accelerator recall is different from this recall I think. The first recall was lame and involved doubling up of floor mats which was stupid not needed recall. This 2nd one involved I think NO floor mats and could become serious since I think the pedal is controlled with electronics. But, they say wear and tear which to me seems like it is hardware related, not electronical. Boy, this sucks since I have a 2010 tundra and 2009 corolla both involved in this recall. Makes me wonder what the heck Toyota is doing nowadays with their quality control slipping and sad to say, Kia and Hyundai and others coming along stealing sales from Toyota.

  6. Silver Rifle says:

    I recentlly bought my first Toyota, a 5.7 L Tundra. Now beginning to question integrity of their feed and am wondering when and if we will be offered a fix. I will try to continue looking at the half full glass for now.

  7. thunder road says:

    i drove my 07 tundra in december 09 from utah to texas. had no problem. ran great. that over 2000 mile both way. when they give me the recall i go see them to be safe and let them know about the trip too

  8. Justin says:

    Not to toot my own horn, but I (as well as many media sites) told ya! From many reports, people never had floormats or doubled up on floormats, but experienced this issue. Personally the mat was simply a cover-up and Yota truly didn’t know what was happening and why. Kind of like a double wammy for Yota in my eyes. Sending out a recall for the mats, then another basically stating “oops, we now think…”, kind of makes you think “Does Toyota really know what’s going on in their vehicles?”
    *****
    Either way, I’m glad to see Toyota is investigating this issue, even if the NHTSA kind of forced their hand initially. All for the safety of the public in general, whether they own/drive a Toyota or not. Can tell you I keep an eye on my rearview mirror and intersections much more now when I see a Toyota around me.
    *****
    Yes there is still fault to be put on the driver, as they should know how to drop their vehicle into neutral or shut it down if this were to occur. But for those here and other Toyota sites, that were (some still are) adamant this was all the driver, not a problem associated with the vehicle, what’s you’re excuse now? Too many wanted to play this off as a non-issue. I’m going to bet that they will faze in other models (Lexus and maybe Scion) to this recall over time. Toyota has had so many recalls or investigations within the last year from frame rust, to braking issues to this acceleration issue, I don’t know how they’d afford or control the bad pulicity if they recalled all potentially impacted vehicles at one.
    *****
    I look forward to all the posts by the nay-sayers and those that disagree with me.

  9. mk says:

    Justin, I’m pretty sure the floormat issue and the new current stuck accelerator are 2 separate recalls. The floormat issue should not be a recall and as far as I am concerned, a total crock of B.S., since it is not Toyota’s fault the double stacked floormats killed the people in the Lexus. This 2nd issue could be serious though since affects tons of vehicles and if found to be due to wearing of the linkage or electronic issues, could cost Toyota millions and more importantly, millions in potential sales – hope not. Toyota along with Kia, Hyundai, GM, Ford, Honda, and Chrysler all need competition to make them more affordable to the general public.

  10. Mickey says:

    You don’t have to look far Justin…. That was uncalled for your statement about looking in the mirror around a Toyota. You want us to tell you I hate living next to a Ford because my house can catch fire? Totally overboard. I thought better of you. My mistake. You know just as well as other about how MIT people and NHTSA couldn’t find one accelerator sticking. This again is another cover thy butt by Toyota. To soothe those who’s concerned. Yes I agree with your first paragragh about the floormats which were a joke for a recall. BTW Mk both of these recalls go together for the same purpose.

  11. Jason says:

    Justin – I think you’re 90% right. Toyota definitely made a dumb decision in announcing the floor mat recall when they didn’t have any hard evidence that floor mats were the issue. I’d like to believe that this is a situation where Toyota was trying to do the right thing and cover all the bases, but the cynic in me wonders if the floormat recall was a smokescreen. In any case, it’s a great demonstration of poor management and the negative effects of corporate bureaucracy.

    I’d bet a dollar that some engineer at Toyota discovered this problem 2 or 3 years ago (the press release says it was under investigation in 07′), but for some reason or another no one said anything…or no one thought it was worth taking care of. For that, Toyota deserves all the negative publicity they get.

    My only issue with your comments is that, despite the fact that these vehicles have a throttle problem, this is still very much a driver issue. A run-away car is easy to prevent by shifting into neutral, removing the keys, and applying the brakes. I wouldn’t call it a non-issue, but like a lot of other vehicle quality problems, this has been blown out of proportion.

  12. Jason says:

    Mickey – I think Toyota is definitely trying to protect their liability here, but I’m confused by their methods. It would have been wiser to sit on the floor mat recall until they had completed all their investigations. As for Justin’s comments about keeping an eye on his rearview, I’m thinking he was joking.

  13. Jason says:

    JD – Sorry bro. I thought the same thing, but such is the beast.

    Winghunter – Good way to put it. They do this type of thing every once in a while, and it’s always disappointing.

    mk – Good point about Hyundai/Kia. Hopefully Toyota uses this embarrassment to improve.

    Silver Rifle – Like the name, and I’m going to do the same and look at this as a half-full situation. As far as the fix, I would expect something to happen in a few months. Nothing moves fast at Toyota lately it seems.

  14. vic says:

    JD- you see it isn’t the post that attracts the troll. Its the ignorant posts. I really don’t understand the thought process of some of these comments. “this is still very much a driver issue. A run-away car is easy to prevent by shifting into neutral, removing the keys, and applying the brakes. I wouldn

  15. Jason says:

    vic – You disagree? Seems sort of self-evident that a stuck throttle can be overcome by smart thinking.

    Of course, it’s obvious you’ve got an axe to grind here, as you seem to have brought up a lot of other Toyota quality issues. So be it – I have a feeling you’re not a fan of Toyota, so I would expect nothing less.

    There’s a simple corollary that might help you and anyone else who wants to make this thing bigger than it is. Ford had their Firestone tire problem about 10 years ago, and they very much got a bad rap. The vast majority of the tire blowouts resulted in nothing more than inconvenience, yet some people died as a result of a blowout on statistically rare occasions. Despite the fact that this problem was over-blown, Ford lost billions, and Firestone almost went out of business.

    The true story is that a *lot* of the people who died in a tire-related roll-overs weren’t buckled in, weren’t checking their tire pressure, and weren’t driving safely in the first place. Ford and Firestone took the blame for drivers who had bad habits combined with bad luck.

    I’m not saying that Ford and Firestone didn’t deserve some scrutiny, but it’s never as simple as some people would like to think. They certainly didn’t deserve the media firestorm that they got.

    When it comes to Toyota, please don’t get me wrong – sticking accelerators are a PROBLEM and they need fixed ASAP. However, I’d like to think that a stuck accelerator is a problem most drivers can handle simply by shifting into neutral, taking the key out of the ignition, and/or applying the brakes.

    Of course, some people react better to emergencies than others, so maybe YOU should be extra careful, Vic.

  16. Domenic says:

    Guys.. Thanks.. What should I do. We ordered a 2010 Highlander that will take another week to come in. We ordered this before the latest recall and called the dealer and explained that we might cancel the order. Of course they still want us to buy the car so my question is would you cancel the order or buy it and wait for a fix. My problem is the car is new so I don’t want a dealer putting their hands on it because they always brake something else and do a half a** job. Sound to me like the fix which might be a new brake module req’s work and removing parts..

    Let me know thanks

  17. vic says:

    You can bash Ford all you want, I can even help! What’s with the PCM going out for a leaking windshield seal costing over a thousand dollars that was a known issue. They knew about it but because I had forty two thousand miles one it I got to pay for it. Had a 99 ext cab Ranger that the area behind the jump seats would fill with water every time it rained. No one could figure it out. How about GM, had a 04 Z71 that the front transmission pump failed twice before thirteen thousand miles. A 06 Pontiac that would have voltage spikes that would flicker all the lights randomly. It was very annoying to have dashboard lights strobe. I thank you for your site, it contributed in making a forty thousand dollar decision that I’m very happy with. If the accelerator issue is caused by doubling up floormats then it can be compared to the Ford/Firestone issue. The reason is that it is consumer induced. The consumer induced the Ford issue by letting air out of the tire to achieve a smoother ride. Also the Goverment saw a issue of how the tire inflation data was located and modified it. If the accelerator issue is due to wear and tear of parts it can NOT be compared to the Ford/Firestone issue due to the fact the consumer has no way to affect the original design of the parts (unless tuners affect the programming of the computer module that controls the throttle by wire system which adds a new arena to this issue). You can NOT expect every consumer to be able to react and have the knowledge to correct a sticking accelerator, if everyone could react it would not be a issue! Manual transmissions are a thing of the past so fewer people know how to drive them, so you think the average driver today will know how to correct a accelerator issue? If it does not involve a IPOD then they don’t know anything about it. So in closing would you put your daughter behind the wheel to go 600 miles with the known issue of a sticking accelerator?

  18. vic says:

    Domenic, that is your decision to make.

  19. Bob G says:

    Does it matter really? Either way, the Tundra 5.7 is better than all the crap North American builders have been forcing down our throats for decades.

    Yea,,, chevy gets better fuel economy than a Toyota suposedly on paper,,, but pushing it down a hill with a 4 cylinder Vs. an actual six is not a fair comparisson. Not to mention,, in 10 years, I will have a vehicle with NO rust.

    It’s funny how America builds inferior everything for years / decades and then when a Japanese company drops the ball a bit once,, you’re all over them. It’s sad.

  20. Bob Edward Roberts says:

    I have a 07 Tundra with a 5.7 and my accelerator went wide open on me about 6 months ago. Ihad time to to look at the pedal and it was clear. I floored it twice and it didn’t clear. Turned the engine off and then restarted it and it hasn’t done it since. Never thought much about it until I saw news reports and got my floor mat recall. Thanks for the new mats Toyota! Good to see Toyota finally go thru with a real recall. I had time to react but what if it had been my wife or daughter driving?

  21. Jason says:

    vic – I think the answer to the “what if your daughter is driving” question is that I can’t worry about the things I can’t control. I would hope that most people don’t automatically panic when something doesn’t work the way it supposed to, but obviously that’s not the case. If I had a child of the driving age (I don’t), I would probably go through a couple of scenarios with them so that they would know what to do.

    However, let’s put this thing in perspective. The chances of an unintended acceleration incident are incredibly rare. When Consumer Reports did their “study,” they found 158 complaints on all of the vehicles Toyota made in 2008 (about 2.2 million). That’s about a 1-in-13,000 chance of having a problem, and most of these problems didn’t result in an accident.

    Compare 1-in-13,000 to this little nugget – 1-in-3700 drivers will be involved in a fatal accident:

    http://www.bookofodds.com/Acci.....90-US-2007

    I understand the fear that some people have, but put it in perspective. Drunk drivers are far more likely to kill or injure us than an accelerator ever could be. What’s more, we can overcome a stuck accelerator if we react smartly. We can’t say the same about random deaths caused by drunk drivers.

    This issue is, like most vehicle safety issues, overblown. If you want to worry about something, give rides to friends and family when they’re too drunk to drive.

  22. Jason says:

    Bob G – Good point. All the safety mistakes of the past are forgotten when the newest mistake happens. It’s as if the American public only has enough room in their minds to remember *one* fact…

  23. Jason says:

    Bob Roberts – Good to hear that it wasn’t an issue for you. As for what to do when others are driving, maybe it makes sense to conduct a little family driving safety training session. Couldn’t hurt.

  24. Justin says:

    MK: If I remember correctly, yes some of the issues were due to the double stacked floor mats, the all weather mats in particular. But many were not double stacked. Why else would Toyota implement the recall to remove the floor mats completely or use the tie down method to the original floor mats? Yes they are two different recalls, but are very much related.
    ****
    Jason: I do agree. This is a well deserved black eye to Toyota (the floor mat cover up that is), but a lot of responsibility still falls on the driver. You know how society is today though, we

  25. Jason says:

    Justin – Good points, as usual. I think that we don’t give people enough credit sometimes. I realize that some people are going to panic if their accelerator sticks, but I think 99% of panicked drivers still find ways to escape from danger. Call me an optimist, but I think people figure it out.

    The stats on Ford rollovers were miniscule (just as you say), but I think that Ford and Toyota both suffered from the same hysteria. Unintended acceleration and exploding tires are a lot less likely to kill people than drunk drivers and saturated fats, but for some reason or another people choose to focus on product safety rather than the more important risks. As to whether or not Ford’s issue was more over-blown than Toyota’s, you’ll get no argument from me. The Firestone tire fiasco was a complete and total media over-reaction.

  26. Justin says:

    Jason: Thanks for the reply. I was simply trying to make the point to people that like to harp on the Ford CC or Firestone recall as being a huge issue, but then call a problem such as this a non-issue. Facts and figures provide a much better analysis, than simply relying on how many times the media can report said problem or saying it’s an issue because they are a “XYZ brand”. Now I can’t say either of those Ford recalls were more or less over-blown than this one from Toyota. Just would like people so see them in the same light and not classify them in different categories. They both impacted many millions of vehicles, and impacted hundreds of people lives (for those that were directly injured or killed). Both companies are doing what is right (even if it takes longer than expected), by trying to resolve the problems. It’s just like recalls on baby strollers or window blinds, where kids are being injured and/or killed. But we don’t see mass hysteria over those now do we?
    *****
    And regarding the hysteria, it’s simply the media frenzy needing something negative to report about. If people knew how to react when a tire blew, or when their accelerator stuck, this would be less news worthy. But because we have such bad drivers on the roads these days, and because society is brainwashing everyone to be sue happy and blame someone else, this is why it’s such a big story. To me, it’s all common sense. Then again, common sense is lacking in today

  27. Wendy says:

    I’ve had a Toyota for over ten years and been very happy with it (just replaced it with another Toyota), but I have to say that this recall, or rather, how Toyota has handled it, makes me disappointed at best, and pretty nervous, at worst. I just spoke with a local dealer’s service department and they had NO idea what they were supposed to be doing in regard to this recall. They claimed the media got this info before them and they are still waiting for direction from Toyota on what to do. How is that good customer service methodology?

  28. Mickey says:

    Went and got an oil change over the weekend at the dealership and the service advisers there state the parts will be coming in this week and next but they have no clue on how many they need but do know it will have the truck down for several hours so everyone in this recall will need to make an appointment to have it done. They also sdtated they are to start working on the recall vehicle’s in March-April time frame. I guess once everyone gets their notice and sets an appointment.
    ######
    Justin I used the house deal as a parody to your statement about watching the mirror for Toyota owners. It’s up to the individuals to take a pro-active stand and get the recalls fix. Failing to do this would be negligence on their part.

  29. Jason says:

    Wendy – That’s crazy isn’t it – Toyota announces a recall without announcing a fix…why? I guess so we can all drive around in fear.

    Mickey – Good info – thanks for sharing.

  30. Justin says:

    Jason: Well, Ford did something similar with the Ford CC switch back in 2002 or so on announcing a recall without a fix. They had a fix, but it wasn’t an immediate resolution. Ford sent out the recall to take the vehicle to the dealer to have the CC disconnected, then the dealership was to contact you when the new bypass switches were delivered for installation. Little different scenerio, but still kind of the same. If that makes sense.

  31. Mickey says:

    Jason the news just stated Toyota will stop production until a find the fix on all models affected.

  32. Jason says:

    Justin – I meant to respond to your earlier comment and forgot. As is often the case, we’re on the same page. Good call on the CC switch too.

    Mickey – Got it – thanks for the hot tip. My phone blew up right about the same time.

  33. mr. Mark scroggins says:

    Hello, I Purchased a 2007 tacoma from eric doriti @ riverside toyota, I thought there was something up with accelerator pedal mechanisms ? What or how do i get a new truck from your company ? B/Regrds….Mark Scroggins.

  34. Mickey says:

    Mark I hate to tell you but the Tacoma isn’t on the list of the accelerator issues.

  35. Justin says:

    I applaud Toyota for suspending production and sales on these models. To me, this shows a true concern for the general public, not just owners. Then again, I believe some of the recall/suspension has to deal with them trying to keep their quality reputation, and possibly to satisfy the NHTSA. Now of course to most the general public (mostly domestic owners who hate imports), and the media especially, this will be a big black eye and just another item to knock Toyota down. But for me (and I’m a domestic owner), Totyota is stepping up to the plate, admitting there is an issue (even if it took longer than I would like), and are willing to sacrifice sales and some reputation to ensure they protect their customers (and others on the road). Now my big questions are:
    ****
    1) When will they have a solution to this issue?
    ****
    2) How will dealers be advised of this fix and procedures to remedy this problem?
    ****
    3) What confirmation will owners or new car buyers receive that ensures their vehicle was fixed properly? Not just some band-aid.
    ****
    4) Will this recall be extended into other Toyota models, including some Lexus & Scion models?
    ****
    5) The Tacoma was one of the first vehicles I have found reported to have said issue. Why wasn’t it part of the recall? What makes it exempt?
    ****
    Now of course will this make me more likely to purchase a Toyota in the future, most likely not, never been a fan of Toyota products, at least not since the mid 90s models on. But of course it would all depend on my next vehicle and what Toyota has to offer.
    ****
    Mr Mark Scroggins: As Mickey stated, the Tacoma wasn’t part of the recall. But do keep your eye on the news and your mailbox. You never know if the Tacoma may be added to the list of recalled vehicles. Now if it is ever added to the list, don’t expect to receive a new truck, that isn’t practical. Simply expect to schedule a service call with your dealer for them to install whatever the fix for your truck is determined to be.

  36. Jason says:

    Justin – Great questions. It’s refreshing to see that someone is viewing this move as a positive.

  37. Justin says:

    Jason: Thanks Jason. Of course none of us feel any sort of recall is a good thing. But you have to give credit where credit is due when a manufacturer steps up to the plate; is willing to accept fault, and could potentially take a huge sales & reputation hit in the name of consumer safety and confidence.

  38. terri says:

    Why isn’t the Tacoma part of the recall?? My father in law has a 2009 Tacoma, and had an accident because of the accelerator stuck. We’ve been driving Toyota’s for years! Love the dependability etc.

  39. Jason says:

    Terri – Toyota says it’s not effected by this problem. Hopefully Toyota has found the real issue here…

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