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Toyota Suspends Sales of 8 Models After Accelerator Pedals Keep Sticking

Isn't the Toyota problem with the gas pedal getting stuck in the carpet or floormat?
I -believe- that was their initial diagnosis, which was then put aside when it happened to a car that had its floor mats in the trunk.
 
I -believe- that was their initial diagnosis, which was then put aside when it happened to a car that had its floor mats in the trunk.

Toyota recall: 2.3 million more cars to fix gas pedals - Jan. 21, 2010

Yeah, you are right. Now it looks like a mechanical problem when the parts get worn.


Our investigation indicates that there is a possibility that certain accelerator pedal mechanisms may, in rare instances, mechanically stick in a partially depressed position or return slowly to the idle position," Toyota USA group vice president Irv Miller said in a statement.

The situation is rare, according to Toyota, but can occur when accelerator pedal mechanisms become worn. The problem will usually develop gradually, Toyota spokesman Brian Lyons said. The pedal may become harder to press and may become slower to return when released. In the worst cases, it may become stuck in a partially depressed position.
 
Our investigation indicates that there is a possibility that certain accelerator pedal mechanisms may, in rare instances, mechanically stick in a partially depressed position or return slowly to the idle position," Toyota USA group vice president Irv Miller said in a statement.

The situation is rare, according to Toyota, but can occur when accelerator pedal mechanisms become worn. The problem will usually develop gradually, Toyota spokesman Brian Lyons said. The pedal may become harder to press and may become slower to return when released. In the worst cases, it may become stuck in a partially depressed position.
Simply amazing.
 
At least they're being responsible about the whole thing!
Only because the portential loss from lawsuits exceeds the profit from not doing anything.
 
so much for that quality thingy, huh?

Yes, Toyota is the only auto company ever to have to do a recall or have safety issues....

Do people ever think before posting?
 
Well, common sense tells you when you have a vehicle with a high ground clearance, that will happen. Oh wait. We're dealing with the idiot generation that has no common sense. Common sense has to be put in the instruction manual under Duh.

Well people expect them to have been rigorously tested and such by the relevant authorities. Vehicles are supposed to be safe to drive.
 
Yea but people seem to be getting some kind of last hurrah with trashing Toyota.
Lets face it the Japanese design way better cars.

To expect perfection is a bit weak in my opinion.

I think some of it is a holdover from the 70's and 80's, when Japanese cars really where Japanese. Now, Japanese cars are more American made and big 3 cars.

Also, it's not just design, it's quality standards. GM specs compared to Toyota specs are a world difference in the parts we make where I work, and despite our closer watch to fit standards, we still get about 5 times the rejections from Toyota as we do GM and Chrysler. They are fussy about their cars. This is an example that you simply cannot make something as complex as a car without some design flaws creeping in on occasion, and it happens to every car maker.
 
I think some of it is a holdover from the 70's and 80's, when Japanese cars really where Japanese. Now, Japanese cars are more American made and big 3 cars.

Also, it's not just design, it's quality standards. GM specs compared to Toyota specs are a world difference in the parts we make where I work, and despite our closer watch to fit standards, we still get about 5 times the rejections from Toyota as we do GM and Chrysler. They are fussy about their cars. This is an example that you simply cannot make something as complex as a car without some design flaws creeping in on occasion, and it happens to every car maker.

I knew you were the person to go to about Toyota. :D

We have minimum specs and have had to shut down twice in 2 months over machines being of out spec and product rejections.
It's a pain in the ass as you know.

I like Japanese cars better because I have gotten a better built, longer lasting vehicle, the 2 Fords I had were absolute crap.
 
yep, sure did. they tried all kinds of ways to not do a full recall. and people died.

People who were too stupid to put the transmission in neutral.....
What have we come to?
 
I think people panic when they are confronted with a unexpected full acceleration, with no warning. I can see that getting my attention for sure. :shock:

Not how it happens, they press down on the pedal and it sticks, the pedal does not go down on its own. There seems to be 2 issues, with floor mats being only one part of the problem..
 
Once upon a time, I drove a Toyota. It was the crappiest piece of crap vehicle I ever owned. You couldn't pay me enough to own another.

This little escapade merely solidifies my feelings. Floor mats, my ass. :roll:

Did you buy it new or used? I imagine that whoever got my old 94 thought it was crappy, too, but it got me to work every morning for 14 years. It earned its right to be crappy with as much as I drove it.
 
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Odd that this is not a problem in Europe or elsewhere.
 
I have never had any problems with American Cars since I started driving in 1969. Never been stranded and never been towed. My brother who owns a Toyota can not make that claim.
Fords quality and technology have surpassed Toyotas.

My father could claim that as well, since he normally traded in his vehicles after 8 years. Now, I kept my first Toyota for 8 years. The fuel pump went out after 40,000 miles, but that was my fault. I discovered how many mpg I got during the week, and how many gallons I needed to fill it up. With that in mind, I never worried about the tank being on empty because I could drive it another week. The only problem is that the fuel pump, like most modern vehicles today, is inside the gas tank, and the only means of cooling that pump is the gas it is submerged in. The fuel pump burned up. It was only after reading a page in "Click and Clack" that I discovered who was at fault.

I kept my next Toyota for 14 years. After 12 years of owning it, my head gasket blew, which is fairly normal depending on the miles I put on it. I normally averaged 20,000 miles per year. Proper maintenance is also important on all vehicles, no matter the make and model. I made regular oil changes, changed the air filter every year and tuned it up using Japanese gold-tipped spark plugs.

I am happy with Toyotas, but in light of this most recent occurrence, I hope my present vehicle is not the last Toyota. I would be hard-pressed to replace it. There is nothing out there of comparable quality. I have only owned one Ford, a Ranger, and that was truly a piece of crap.

The one thing I have going for me now, is that my dealership gives me lifetime free oil changes and free inspections. All I have to do is show up so that's one less vehicle I have to maintain. Another thing is that my 4 cylinder engine is guaranteed for the life of the vehicle. If it dies, it is replaced free of charge. Does Ford and GMC guarantee their engines?
 
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Odd that this is not a problem in Europe or elsewhere.

You guys probably don't drive as much as we Americans do, either, since fuel is much more expensive in Europe. American are constantly on the go.
 
You guys probably don't drive as much as we Americans do, either, since fuel is much more expensive in Europe. American are constantly on the go.

:rofl best ignorant joke of the day.
 
Not how it happens, they press down on the pedal and it sticks, the pedal does not go down on its own. There seems to be 2 issues, with floor mats being only one part of the problem..

I don't know that the floor mats were ever a problem. That may have been Toyota grabbing at straws. It sounded too far fetched to me. The carpeted mats that came with my vehicle were secured via snaps, which made it impossible for them to move. I just removed them because I would have trashed them soon since I live in a rural area and track in lots of mud. My present rubber mats move around all the time, but even if they got caught under the accelerator, they wouldn't cause it to stick.
 
I don't know that the floor mats were ever a problem. That may have been Toyota grabbing at straws. It sounded too far fetched to me. The carpeted mats that came with my vehicle were secured via snaps, which made it impossible for them to move. I just removed them because I would have trashed them soon since I live in a rural area and track in lots of mud. My present rubber mats move around all the time, but even if they got caught under the accelerator, they wouldn't cause it to stick.

My neighbors Toyota had the floor mat issue, and the oversized mat did actually make contact with the oversized gas pedal, which is hinged at the top, so it was possible for the bottom of the pedal to get hung up under the front of the mat. He took it it for a recall on that issue.
 
Well people expect them to have been rigorously tested and such by the relevant authorities. Vehicles are supposed to be safe to drive.

That's very true, but there is the common sense factor in that equation, something that seems to be lacking in young people, today. In 1985, when I purchased my first and only 4 wheel drive Toyota, warning signs were placed on the sun visors, cautioning the driver to avoid making sudden sharp turns because the vehicle would become unstable and possibly flip over. Why do you think fast cars are built close to the ground? That's not just for aerodynamics, but for safety and handling purposes as well to take tight corners if need be. All three of my vehicles are trucks, and I know that I just can't drive fast in a pickup truck built for hauling heavy loads. My 09 Tacoma is much lower on the ground, and I know that I can take turns faster, but still within reason. My other 2 pickups, both 3/4 ton Dodges are hauling trucks, and they don't corner well. You drive according to their limits, and you stay alive.
 
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You guys probably don't drive as much as we Americans do, either, since fuel is much more expensive in Europe. American are constantly on the go.
So are Europeans. But that wouldn't matter in this instance. You don't have to be doing a 500 mile drive in order to put your foot to the floor and have the pedal stick on the mat. That can happen reversing out of your driveway.
 
My neighbors Toyota had the floor mat issue, and the oversized mat did actually make contact with the oversized gas pedal, which is hinged at the top, so it was possible for the bottom of the pedal to get hung up under the front of the mat. He took it it for a recall on that issue.

Talking about pedal size, I bought my first Toyota and got the new electronically controlled automatic transmission (new in 1985, at least), all because of the tiny clutch pedals. I was doing a lot of backpacking then and knew I'd be driving with hiking boots. I was concerned I either wouldn't be able to find the clutch or my foot would overlap and hit the brake, which it did on occasion when I drove a friend's Nissan pickup. That was the worst mistake because that transmission was trash. That is why today, I buy only vehicles with manual transmissions.
 
So are Europeans. But that wouldn't matter in this instance. You don't have to be doing a 500 mile drive in order to put your foot to the floor and have the pedal stick on the mat. That can happen reversing out of your driveway.

Yeah, and I think Americans and Europeans would all have the same accelerator problems, but I was merely conjecturing to Pete's post of claiming Europeans don't have that problem.
 
So why don't you Europeans have the same problem? Enlighten me.:)

have no idea, but claiming that we dont drive as much as an excuse is lame. Far from every Euopean lives in big cities, and far from every European lives within walking distance of their work (that is rare as hell). And what does the amount of time spent in a car have to do with the problem at hand? Nothing.

Now could it be a design difference or something .. maybe... but the fact is that it is only in the US/Canada this recall has been made and that is only about 28% of Toyota sales world wide... what about the 72% outside North America?
 
Yeah, and I think Americans and Europeans would all have the same accelerator problems, but I was merely conjecturing to Pete's post of claiming Europeans don't have that problem.

Most likely it's an issue with automatic models. Most Europeans drive stick. Wouldn't have it any other way.
 
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