By James Limbach
ConsumerAffairs.com
February 4, 2010
Although media and public attention is largely focused this week on Toyota's accelerator pedal problem, an earlier issue also poses a serious safety risk to consumers.
Floor mat entrapment of accelerator pedals, which was identified in a 2009 Toyota recall and affects some 4.8 million cars, has been connected to several acceleration-related injuries and deaths.
Thus, Consumer Reports is advising consumers to remove unsafe floor mats immediately and take their cars to a dealer for further work if needed.
As previously reported, Toyota's floor mat recall was expanded in December 2009 and January 2010, and currently covers all the models below:
• 2007-2010 Lexus ES 350
• 2006-2010 Lexus IS 250 and IS350
• 2005-2010 Toyota Avalon
• 2009-2010 Toyota Corolla
• 2007-2010 Toyota Camry
• 2008-2010 Toyota Highlander
• 2009-2010 Toyota Matrix
• 2004-2009 Toyota Prius
• 2005-2010 Toyota Tacoma
• 2007-2010 Toyota Tundra
• 2009-2010 Toyota Venza
• 2009-2010 Pontiac Vibe
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has confirmed that five people, in two separate incidents, have died as a result of pedal entrapment in the recalled vehicles above. If you have one of these vehicles, CR advises you to remove the floor mat immediately and not drive your car with it. "This is something you can do yourself," notes David Champion, Deputy Director of Consumer Reports' Auto Test Division. "Get rid of all the floor mats in the driver's foot well area and that will eliminate the risk to your family."
Vehicle owners also must take their cars into dealers for a fix. Dealers have been instructed on how to reshape the pedal to reduce the risk of entrapment. For some models, Toyota may also modify the floor surface to create more clearance under the pedal. Starting in April, replacement pedals will become available to all owners of these models, including those who have already had the modification performed.
It's important to note that instances of floor mat entrapment extend beyond the Toyota 2009 recall. In 2007 Lexus and Toyota also issued a floor mat recall due to a problem with the mats potentially getting stuck under the accelerator pedal in certain cars, including the Lexus ES 350.
Consumer Reports urges all drivers to check their floor mats to make sure they are safely installed. Floor mats should not in any way obstruct or interfere with the operation of your accelerator pedal.
If your car has stock floor mats, make sure they are securely installed and, if applicable, hooked to the restraint fixtures. If you have aftermarket or accessory floor mats, make sure they can't move around in such a way as to interfere with pedal travel. Never stack floor mats. And always keep travel trash clear of the driver's foot area.
