Toyota to Fix Gas Pedals on 4.26M Vehicles

TORRANCE, CA --- Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. revealed details Nov. 25 of its remedy to address the sudden acceleration issues that have prompted a safety recall of 4.26 million Toyota and Lexus vehicles. 

In the recalled vehicles, Toyota will reconfigure the shape of the accelerator pedal to address the risk of floor mat entrapment. For the ES350, Camry and Avalon models involved, the shape of the floor surface underneath will also be reconfigured to increase the space between the accelerator pedal and the floor. 

Vehicles with any Toyota or Lexus accessory all-weather floor mat will be provided with newly designed replacement driver- and front passenger-side all-weather floor mats. 

In addition, Toyota will install a brake override system onto the involved Camry, Avalon and Lexus ES 350, IS350 and IS 250 models as an extra measure. This system cuts engine power in case of simultaneous application of both the accelerator and brake pedals. 

Toyota said it is now completing development of these actions. ES350, Camry and Avalon owners will be notified via first-class mail by the end of this year. The remedy process regarding the other five models will occur on a rolling schedule during 2010. 

The models involved are: 2007 to 2010 MY Camry, 2005 to 2010 MY Avalon, 2004 to 2009 MY Prius, 2005 to 2010 MY Tacoma, 2007 to 2010 MY Tundra, 2007 to 2010 MY ES350, 2006 to 2010 MY IS250, and 2006 to 2010 MY IS 350.

Dealers will be trained and equipped to make the necessary modifications to these models starting at the beginning of 2010. Initially, dealers will be instructed on how to reshape the accelerator pedal for the repair. As replacement parts with the same shape as the modified pedal become available, they will be made available to dealers for the repair, beginning around April 2010, Toyota said. Customers who have had the remedy completed will have the opportunity to receive a new pedal if they desire. 

In the meantime, owners of the involved vehicles are asked to take out any removable driver's floor mat and not replace it with any other floor mat until they are notified of the vehicle-based remedy, as notified in the consumer safety advisory and the interim notice. 

The brake override system will be made standard equipment throughout the Toyota and Lexus product lines starting with January 2010 production of ES350 and Camry and is scheduled to be incorporated into new production of most models by the end of 2010. 

Owners who have further questions can reach Toyota at (800) 331-4331 or Lexus at (800) 255-3987.