subject: Toyota And Lexus Dealers Recall 3.8 Million Cars Over Mat Issue [print this page] Toyota, who owns the company Lexus is currently in the process of issuing one of the biggest recalls of vehicles in US history. Estimates currently state that over 3.8 million vehicles may be recalled to Toyota and Lexus dealers due to a faulty floor mat which has caused the accelerator pedal to stick.
Toyota and Lexus dealers have been forced to act after four people were killed whilst driving a Lexus demonstrator that had been fitted with the wrong mats. The accelerator jammed wide open and after attempting to slow the car down the brakes failed.
After initially denying that the incident was in any way linked to a problem with the mats, the largest car manufacturer was forced to make a shocking recall to Toyota and Lexus dealers stating "Recent events have prompted Toyota to take a closer look at the potential for an accelerator pedal to get stuck in the full open position due to an unsecured or incompatible driver's floor mat. A stuck open accelerator pedal may result in very high vehicle speeds and make it difficult to stop the vehicle, which could cause a crash, serious injury or death,"
The accident occurred when a California Highway Patrol officer named Mark Saylor and three members of his family were test driving a Lexus ES350 loaned to them by the local Lexus dealers. Before the accident officer Saylor was able to contact the emergency services to explain the issues that they were having, at the time of impact the car was adjudged to be travelling at 120mph.
It appears that for some reason the car had left the Lexus dealers with an incorrect mat fitted for the ES350 model, the mat was in fact an all weather mat and it is believed that this is part of the reason for the accelerator malfunction.
Toyota and Lexus dealers have been forced to make this kind of recall before. Back in 2007 Lexus recalled a number of ES350 cars because of all weather floor mats causing accelerator problems; it seems slightly strange that the same issue has happened again just a few years on.
Lexus and Toyota have impeccable service records and it speaks volumes about their reputation that they have initiated a recall in such a short space of time. Obviously that might not provide much comfort for the family of patrol officer Mark Saylor who now have to deal with the fact that four members of their family have been lost in an avoidable incident.
In the last few years Toyota have made several recalls over various different issues including braking issues, problems with window controls, steering issues and more importantly issues with seat belts. The company will be hoping that the resolution of the car mats issue will be their last for the foreseeable future.
