February 09, 2010

Toyota Dealers Begin Fixing Accelerator Pedals

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TORRANCE, CA - Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. Inc. said Feb. 5 Toyota dealers nationwide have received the parts, information and training they need to fix accelerator pedals in recalled Toyota Division vehicles, and that repairs on involved vehicles have begun.  

The actual repair requires about 30 minutes of work, the company said. 

Toyota also announced that it has begun mailing letters to owners of recalled vehicles to let them know when to bring their vehicles into a dealership. Owners will receive a letter only if their vehicle is involved in the recall. Upon receipt of a notification letter, owners are advised to contact a local Toyota dealership to schedule an appointment to have their vehicle fixed. 

"The parts have been shipped, the dealers are trained, and they are already making the repairs," said Jim Lentz, president and chief operating officer of Toyota Motors Sales. "Many of our dealers are working extended hours -- some 24/7 -- and adding service technicians and other staff to complete the recall campaign as conveniently as possible." 

A precision-cut steel reinforcement bar will be installed into the accelerator pedal assembly on affected vehicles, thereby eliminating the excess friction that has caused pedals to stick in rare instances, Toyota said. 

On Jan. 21, Toyota announced plans to recall approximately 2.3 million Toyota vehicles equipped with certain accelerator pedal mechanisms that may, in rare instances, mechanically stick in a partially depressed position or return slowly to the idle position. Toyota vehicles affected by the recall include: 

• Certain 2009-2010 RAV4
• Certain 2009-2010 Corolla
• 2009-2010 Matrix
• 2005-2010 Avalon
• Certain 2007-2010 Camry
• Certain 2010 Highlander
• 2007-2010 Tundra
• 2008-2010 Sequoia

 
Separately from the recall for sticking accelerator pedals, Toyota is also in the process of recalling vehicles to address rare instances in which floor mats have trapped the accelerator pedal in certain Toyota and Lexus models (announced Nov. 25, 2009), and is notifying customers about how it will fix this issue.  

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