Toyota Recalls Almost 4 Million Vehicles For Floor Mat Entrapment

NEW VIDEO: What Should You Do If You Experience Sudden Unintended Acceleration?

Toyota Motor Corp. will recall almost 4 million of its vehicles sold in the country, after concerns were raised that floor mats could cause gas pedals to become stuck, leading to uncontrollable acceleration.

The recall comes after four people were killed in a San Diego car accident on Aug. 28. Officials said that before the crash, the driver of the Lexus ES sedan called 911 to report that the gas pedal was stuck. Investigators said the car was going 120 mph when it crashed and that they were zeroing in on the role floor mats might have played in the car accident. Investigators also said the Lexus was a loaner received from a dealer and that all-weather floor mats had incorrectly been installed in the vehicle.

The recall is the largest ever in the U.S. for Toyota and covers eight models of Toyota and Lexus vehicles, including various years of Camrys, Priuses, and Tundra pickups.

The San Diego car accident is not the first time the Japanese carmaker has been faced with the problem. Toyota officials admitted that it had received complaints of uncontrollable acceleration due to floor mat entrapment since 2004.

The problem is caused when the mat slides over the gas pedal and keeps it from returning to the normal position when the driver's foot is removed.

Toyota said they were fixing the problem and would issue the recall notice once it was resolved. The carmaker also said it would cover any costs involved in repairs or the replacement of floor mats.

Safety Measures for Toyota Owners to Prevent Personal Injuries

In the meantime, safety officials urged Toyota owners to remove their vehicle's mats to prevent unintended acceleration.

Toyota safety experts also advised car owners to dislodge the mat from the gas pedal and then safely pull over if they experience unintended acceleration. If the driver cannot dislodge the floor mat, the driver is advised to shift the car into neutral and then press the brake pedal down with both feet.

The driver can also try shutting off the engine by turning the key to the "ACC" position. Drivers are warned though, not to remove the key because that will lock the steering wheel.

In vehicles such as the Prius which are equipped with an engine start-stop button instead of an ignition key, Toyota advised drivers to depress the button continuously for three seconds to turn off the engine. They warned drivers not to tap the button.

If that doesn't work, the driver should shut off the engine by turning the key to the "ACC" position. The driver shouldn't remove the key because that action will lock the steering wheel.

In vehicles such as the Prius that are equipped with an engine start-stop button instead of an ignition key, the driver must depress the button continuously for three seconds to turn off the engine. Toyota warned drivers against tapping the button.

See related articles:

Toyota Sudden Unintended Acceleration

Toyota Sudden Unintended Acceleration Problem is Reminiscent of Ford Explorer Defects

Sudden Unintended Acceleration Claims Lives

Consumer Complaints About Sudden Unintended Acceleration (SUA) in Toyotas

Be on the Hit-and-Run Lookout

BISNAR | CHASE, in conjunction with WeTip, a leading anonymous crime reporting service and law enforcement advocacy non-profit organization, is launching a program intended to wipe out hit-and-runs in the state of California by offering rewards for tips leading to the arrest and felony conviction of hit-and-run drivers. See Hit-and-Run Reward for more details.

BISNAR | CHASE 2006-2010 Super Lawyers names outstanding lawyers from more than 60 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. BISNAR | CHASE has received this award for five consecutive years. Brian Chase was named one of the 2010 Top 50 Orange County Lawyers.