Toyota recalling millions of vehicles due to concerns about floor mats

If you drive a Toyota, you might be wondering if you should be concerned about your safety. And you may be surprised to learn that your floor mats might be the reason.  Toyota says there is the potential for the accelerator pedal to get stuck in the full open position due to unsecured or incompatible driver’s side floor mats.

Tuesday, the company announced a “Consumer Safety Advisory” involving almost four million vehicles (five Toyota models and two models of Lexus.)  That’s after an accident last month in California that killed four family members. A Lexus, which had been loaned to the family, had an all-weather floor mat (from a different model Lexus) placed on top of the carpet mat. 

“This is something you should never do,“ says Mike Valentine from Chatham Parkway Toyota.  “The all weather mat is supposed to be used only if the carpet mat is taken out first. They should not be used at the same time.“

Valentine says local Toyota and Lexus drivers should do the following:

1) Remove floor mats until Toyota examines the issue.

2)  If you don’t remove the carpet mat, make sure it’s installed with the clip that comes from Toyota.  One end of the clip fits into an opening in the floor and then the other end fits into a hole in the floor mat, securing the mat snugly to the floor.

3) If you don’t have the clip, take out the floor mat until you get a clip from Toyota.

4) Never place the thicker, all weather mat on top of the carpet mat.  (The all weather map is made of heavy rubber and if installed improperly, has the potential to move and then be pushed up underneath the accelerator.)

Valentine believes drivers are not in danger as long as they make sure they have their mats installed correctly.  “I think this advisory is just an example of how seriously Toyota takes safety,“ he tells me. “The company wants to make sure it does everything possible to let owners know of even a potential danger.“

Valentine says dealerships are still gathering information on the advisory, which some are terming a recall.  It affects the Toyota Camry (2007-2010), Toyota Avalon (2005-2010), Toyota Prius (2004-2009), Toyota Tacoma (2005-2010) and Toyota Tundra (2007-2010).  It also affects Lexus (2007-2010 ES350)  and IS250 and IS350 (2006-2010)>

“Again, people who don’t have the clips from Toyota should come in and get them.  And take out the carpet mat until they get the proper clip,“ says Valentine. 

Toyota also advises owners never to flip the carpet map and put the rubberized bottom of the map face up.  The company says check with your local dealer about any questions you may have.

Toyota officials are saying at least at this point that it appears to be a “mat” issue, not an “accelerator” issue.  Advisory information does offer the following advice however to a motorist, should that person experience accelerator pedal interverence.

1) If possible and safe to do so, pull back the floor map and dislodge it from the accelerator pedal and then pull over and stop.
2) If the carpet mat cannot be dislodged, firmly and steadily step on the brake with both feet. (Don’t pump the brakes)
3) If you still can’t stop, shift to neutral, use the brakes to make a controlled stop and pull off to the side of the road.
4) If the vehicle has an Engine Start/Engine Stop button, firmly and steadily push the butotn for at least three seconds to turn off the engine.  Do not tap this button.
5) If the vehicle has a conventional key-igniton, turn the igniton key to the ACC position to turn of the engine.  Do NOT remove the key from the igntion as this will lock the steering wheel.