Toyota Motor Sales seems to have been too enthusiastic in its response to a recent National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) report when it issued a press release Monday stating “No defect exists in vehicles with properly installed floor mats.” Toyota had claimed that NHTSA had completed its investigation into unintended acceleration with certain models, finding that " ... the only defect trend related to vehicle speed control in the subject vehicles involved the potential for accelerator pedals to become trapped near the floor by out-of-position or inappropriate floor mat installations." (See our post “NHTSA Says No Defect In Recalled Toyota, Lexus Vehicles.”)
NHTSA has come out with a strong rebuke, calling the Toyota release “inaccurate and misleading.”
In its own statement, the government safety organization said:
“NHTSA has told Toyota and consumers that removing the recalled floor mats is the most immediate way to address the safety risk and avoid the possibility of the accelerator becoming stuck. But it is simply an interim measure. This remedy does not correct the underlying defect in the vehicles involving the potential for entrapment of the accelerator by floor mats, which is related to accelerator and floor pan design.”
With all the back and forth, it the real message for drivers can be lost. The issue regarding Lexus and Toyota models remains unresolved. NHTSA has committed to working with Toyota on a vehicle-based solution, and it will continue to investigate any possible defect trends. Toyota is working on corrective measures, such as offering to zip-tie mats now and explore potential mat redesigns for replacing under a recall.
Let this serve as a warning for all drivers about the risks of an ill-fitting floor mat, or on that is not secure. With the approach of winter, extra care should be taken in selecting and installing all-weather mats. And they should never be placed atop an existing mat.
The floor mat advisory involves: 2007 to 2010 Toyota Camry, 2005 to 2010 Toyota
Avalon, 2004 to 2009 Toyota Prius, 2005 to 2010 Toyota Tacoma, 2007 to 2010
Toyota Tundra, 2007 to Lexus ES350, and 2006 to 2010 Lexus IS250 and
IS350.
Owners who have further questions are directed to visit toyota.com/floormats or lexus.com/floormats.
See our previous report: "Toyota,
Lexus Floor Mat Saga Continues with NHTSA Insights."