subject: Toyota and Ford Recall Highlights Importance of Well Tailored Car Mats [print this page] Toyota and Ford Recall Highlights Importance of Well Tailored Car Mats
Ford and Toyota have both had to recall thousands of cars as a result of badly designed car mats which slide forward and trap accelerator and brake pedals. Both Toyota and Ford have felt the repercussions of supplying potentially dangerous car mats. However, there are still companies out there who are selling cheap, poorly fitted universal car mats that carry the same dangers. Unlike Ford and Toyota, these companies are not held accountable for selling products that could impede car safety.
If you are looking to buy new car mats to replace the ones supplied with your car, it is always advisable to choose tailored car mats designed to specifically fit the make and model of your car. Some tailored car mats are supplied with clips; these firmly secure the mats in place and are the ultimate in safety.
Car owners who purchase all weather car mats are advised not to place them on top of their carpet mats. When mats are stacked in this way the top mat has less support and is more likely to slide forward and trap pedals. Using rubber car mats during autumn and winter still has its benefits. If you do use rubber mats ensure that you remove your carpet mats first and preferably use clips to fit the rubber mats in place.
Properly fitted, tailored car mats are arguably as important to car safety as seat belts. If car mats slip forward on the driver's side the consequences are just as serious. The issue can be rectified very easily and relatively cheaply. The only thing that stands in the way of ensuring every driver have correctly fitted mats is public awareness of the dangers of car mat slippage. Hopefully Toyota and Ford's errors have brought to light this very serious issue of car safety.
