Toyota Announces Accelerator Pedal Recall Repair

UPDATED: We have more details on today’s announcement.

Sources at Toyota’s sales division have told us to expect a major announcement from Toyota today that details the official unintended acceleration recall repair. As we reported last week (a full two days before the Automotive News made a similar report), the fix will be a type of shim that will prevent the pedal mechanism from getting hung up on the friction pad inside the accelerator assembly.

Accelerator pedal recall repair diagram

This shim will be a quick, easy fix, and according to Toyota dealers we’ve spoken with, parts will begin arriving as soon as the middle of the week. While Toyota has yet to detail the order that vehicles will be repaired in, here’s what we’ve learned so far: Read more…

Tundra Owner Crashes Truck Into Dealer Showroom, Claims Unintended Acceleration

Here’s an odd note from the weekend reported by Baton Rouge, LA TV station WAFB:

A Toyota Tundra crashed into the showroom at All Star Toyota in Baton Rouge on Saturday morning. Officers said a customer tried to return his truck following a recent recall on the accelerator. According to the Baton Rouge Police Department, the general manager offered to fix the truck and repeatedly offered to give the customer a loaner in the meantime, but the customer declined and left the building. Police reported the man then drove his Toyota into the side of the dealership, causing major damage to the truck and the building. The customer claimed his accelerator became stuck, causing the crash. All Star said the truck was purchased last March [emphasis added] and did not have any records of mechanical problems.

Police added the accelerator was not stuck when they examined the truck after the crash, but they could not find any evidence that the crash was intentional. The driver was not ticketed.

Here’s a picture of the showroom at All Star Toyota:

Tundra crashes into showroom, driver claims "unintended acceleration."

Anyone else’s BS meter going off here? Here’s why this crash looks intentional: Read more…

Toyota Places Sunday Newspaper Ad Regarding Accelerator Recall

Toyota has placed a full-page newspaper ad in about 20 major markets that says the following:

As you may have heard, in rare cases, sticking accelerator pedals have occurred in some of our vehicles. We believe we are close to announcing an effective remedy. And we’ve temporarily halted production at some of our North American plants to focus on vehicles we’ve recalled. Why have we taken this unprecedented action? Because it’s the right thing to do for our customers.

To find out if your Toyota is affected and to get the very latest information about the recall, please visit toyota.com

This ad is meant to alleviate consumer concerns and to shape the conversation around the accelerator recall issue. However, this ad falls short. Here’s why: Read more…

Bushwacker Pocket Fender Flares

If you run larger than stock tires on your pickup, then it’s likely that you’ve considered adding fender flares to your truck. Maybe it’s because fender flares are mandated by law in your area, or maybe you’re concerned about rocks and other debris getting kicked up and possibly damaging your truck’s finish on the trail, or maybe you just like the look. Whatever it is, fender flares are often a vital accessory for truck owners with aggressive offset wheels or knobby tires.

Close-up of Bushwacker's pocket fender flares painted-to-match.

Bushwacker is a company which makes pocket style fender flares for 2007 – 2010 Toyota Tundra trucks. These flares bulge out about two inches over the top of each wheel, and then they progressively get closer to the body at each end. This helps to protect the vehicle from kicked-up debris, but not so much that the fender flares stick out too far. The pocket fender flares feature the “bolted” look that some people feel adds a degree of ruggedness to their vehicle – each pocket contains a real Torx-head screw…but the screws don’t actually do anything (they’re just for show). Read more…

GM’s Toyota Recall Incentive Could Backfire Badly

In case you missed it, yesterday GM’s crack marketing team announced a series of extra incentives on new GM products for anyone that owns a Toyota. This announcement is in direct response to Toyota’s accelerator mechanism recall and subsequent sales freeze on 8 models. According to GM’s announcement, they “decided to make this offer after receiving many emails and calls from our dealers, who have been approached by Toyota customers asking for help. We want to be able to provide peace of mind to customers and all of our vehicles are safe.”

Isn’t that nice – GM wants to help Toyota owners in the name of safety.

GM's offer to Toyota owners - clever marketing or unseemly sales gimmick?

GM will be offering anyone who brings in a Toyota an extra $1,000 cash rebate and/or zero percent financing on a new GM product. While this incentive might seem shrewd to some, the full analysis shows that this could be a very dumb move. Here’s why: Read more…