On Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2010, Toyota sent a letter to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration amending Toyota's Defect Information Report of Oct. 5, 2009 regarding the potential risk for floor mat entrapment of accelerator pedals in certain Toyota and Lexus models. Toyota has decided to include certain other models in the campaign. This action is separate from the recall of select Toyota vehicles for sticking accelerator pedals.

The specific model names and years associated with the newly-expanded population of subject vehicles for the pedal entrapment recall include:

  • 2008-2010 Highlander
  • 2009-2010 Corolla
  • 2009-2010 Venza
  • 2009-2010 Matrix
  • 2009-2010 Pontiac Vibe

As of Jan. 26, 2010 the total vehicle population increased by approximately 1,093,000 vehicles.

Toyota's remedy plan is to modify or replace the accelerator pedals on the subject vehicles to address the risk of floor mat entrapment, even when an older-design all weather floor mat or other inappropriate mat is improperly attached, or is placed on top of another floor mat. Floor surface modifications are also being considered and will be included in the remedy plan for any model for which it is deemed appropriate.

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 the dealers for the repair. Customers who have had the pedal reshape remedy completed will have the opportunity to receive a new pedal if they desire, after replacement pedals become available.

In addition, Toyota will replace any Toyota all-weather floor mat in a subject vehicle with a newly designed mat, free of charge. For those customers who have the previous design all-weather floor mat but do not need or want the newly designed all-weather floor mat, Toyota will recover the previous design all-weather floor mat and reimburse its price.

 

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