Toyota and Lexus Stuck Accelerator Recall Lawsuits:
Toyota Motor Corporation made headlines several times in late 2009 and early 2010 as the car manufacturer recalled millions of vehicles, first for safety concern involving the floor mat, then for a safety concern involving the gas pedal getting “entrapped” by the floor mat, and in a separate recall involving different vehicles, for the gas pedal getting stuck while depressed. Toyota owners are understandably confused. The fact that a recall was announced while Toyota still has not found a solution has Toyota owners even more concerned. Meanwhile, accidents involving “runaway Toyotas” continue to happen across the country. On January 21, 2010, ABC news reported more than 60 new “runaway Toyota” accidents had been reported since the recall was announced on September 30, 2009.
An accident that killed four people in San Diego County on August 25, 2009 made national headlines and prompted the NHTSA to launch an investigation of a potential defect with Toyota floor mats and accelerator pedals. In the August 25 crash, investigators said that one of the passengers in the car called 911 moments before the crash to report the gas pedal was stuck. The Lexus ES 350 was going an estimated 120 mph when it crashed. The vehicle was a loaner vehicle from a San Diego County Lexus dealership and was driven by an off-duty veteran CHP officer. The floor mats had been incorrectly installed and caused the gas pedal to become stuck.
September 2009 Floor Mat/Accelerator Pedal Entrapment Safety Advisory – 3.8 million cars.
In September 2009, Toyota announced its largest recall to date of 3.8 million vehicles, advising drivers to remove their floor mats on the driver’s side. That number was later expanded to 4.2 million vehicles. At the time of the recall announcement on September 30, the NHTSA said that it had received 102 complaints involving stuck Toyota or Lexus accelerator pedals. The 2009 recall included the following vehicles:
2007 to 2010 Toyota Camry
2005 to 2010 Toyota Avalon
2004 to 2009 Toyota Prius
2005 to 1010 Toyota Tacoma
2007 to 2010 Toyota Tundra
2007 to 2010 Lexus ES 350
2006 to 2010 Lexus IS 250
2006 to 2010 Lexus IS 350
In a press release on November 25, 2009, Toyota announced that a remedy had been found for the September recall. The accelerator pedal would be reconfigured to reduce the risk of accelerator pedal floor mat entrapment. In the Lexus ES350 Toyota Camry, and Toyota Avalon, the shape of the floor surface underneath would also be reconfigured to make more space between the gas pedal and the floor. Vehicles with Toyota or Lexus all-weather floor mats would be provided with a reconfigured all-weather floor mat replacement. Finally, Toyota said that in the Camry, Avalon, and Lexus ES 350, IS 250 and IS 350, it would install a brake override system that would turn off the car’s engine if the accelerator pedal and gas pedal were pressed simultaneously.
January 2010 Sticking Accelerator Recall
A new recall was announced on January 21, 2010. This recall had to do with the gas pedal sticking when it is pushed down. Toyota stated that there is a possibility that certain accelerator pedal mechanisms could stick in a partially depressed position or return slowly to the idle position. Toyota stressed that the situation is rare, but could occur when the pedal became worn. The new recall included the following vehicles:
2009 to 2010 Toyota Rav 4
2009 to 2010 Toyota Corolla
2009 to 2010 Toyota Matrix
2005 to 2010 Toyota Avalon
2007 to 2010 Toyota Camry
2010 Toyota Highlander (excluding hybrid models)
2007 to 2010 Toyota Tundra
2008 to 2010 Toyota Sequoia
In their January 21 announcement, Toyota stressed that the sticking accelerator issue is separate from the pedal entrapment recall involving incorrect or out of place floor mats. However, approximately 1.7 million vehicles, including certain Camry, Avalon, and Tundra models, are subject to both recalls. No Lexus vehicles were included in the January 2010 recall.
January 2010 Sales Suspension Announcement
On January 26, 2010, Toyota announced that it would be temporarily suspending the sales of eight models (Rav4, Corolla, Matrix, Avalon, Camry, Highlander, Tundra and Sequoia) and would halt production at five different plants in USA and Canada until a solution is found. The announcement was the lead story on the CBS Evening News, NBC Nightly News, and the ABC World News, and made headlines at the Washington Post, New York Times and other news outlets across the country. Toyota said that vehicles already manufactured would not be shipped to dealerships until a solution to the acceleration problem was found and implemented.
January 27 Recall – 1.1. Million More Vehicles
On Wednesday, January 27, 2010, Toyota announced that it was adding the following vehicles to the Floor Mat/Accelerator Pedal Entrapment previously announced in September and revised in November:
2008 to 2010 Toyota Highlander
2009 to 2010 Toyota Corolla
2009 to 2010 Toyota Verza
2009 to 2010 Toyota Matrix
2009 to 2010 Pontiac Vibe
The Pontiac Vide is manufactured under a partnership between General Motors and Toyota. It is similar to the Toyota Matrix. Toyota did not announce a proposed remedy to the problem at the time of the recall.
Contact Us
Davis & Crump, P.C. is now handling claims for individuals who have injured as a result of a runaway Toyota or Lexus. Davis & Crump, P.C. is experienced in product liability cases and settlements. If you or a loved one has been injured due to a recalled runaway Toyota or Lexus, contact us at 1-800-277-0300 or send us an email at info@daviscrump.com.
Toyota and Lexus Stuck Accelerator Recall Lawsuits:
Toyota Motor Corporation made headlines several times in late 2009 and early 2010 as the car manufacturer recalled millions of vehicles, first for safety concern involving the floor mat, then for a safety concern involving the gas pedal getting “entrapped” by the floor mat, and in a separate recall involving different vehicles, for the gas pedal getting stuck while depressed. Toyota owners are understandably confused. The fact that a recall was announced while Toyota still has not found a solution has Toyota owners even more concerned. Meanwhile, accidents involving “runaway Toyotas” continue to happen across the country. On January 21, 2010, ABC news reported more than 60 new “runaway Toyota” accidents had been reported since the recall was announced on September 30, 2009.
An accident that killed four people in San Diego County on August 25, 2009 made national headlines and prompted the NHTSA to launch an investigation of a potential defect with Toyota floor mats and accelerator pedals. In the August 25 crash, investigators said that one of the passengers in the car called 911 moments before the crash to report the gas pedal was stuck. The Lexus ES 350 was going an estimated 120 mph when it crashed. The vehicle was a loaner vehicle from a San Diego County Lexus dealership and was driven by an off-duty veteran CHP officer. The floor mats had been incorrectly installed and caused the gas pedal to become stuck.
September 2009 Floor Mat/Accelerator Pedal Entrapment Safety Advisory – 3.8 million cars.
In September 2009, Toyota announced its largest recall to date of 3.8 million vehicles, advising drivers to remove their floor mats on the driver’s side. That number was later expanded to 4.2 million vehicles. At the time of the recall announcement on September 30, the NHTSA said that it had received 102 complaints involving stuck Toyota or Lexus accelerator pedals. The 2009 recall included the following vehicles:
2007 to 2010 Toyota Camry
2005 to 2010 Toyota Avalon
2004 to 2009 Toyota Prius
2005 to 1010 Toyota Tacoma
2007 to 2010 Toyota Tundra
2007 to 2010 Lexus ES 350
2006 to 2010 Lexus IS 250
2006 to 2010 Lexus IS 350
In a press release on November 25, 2009, Toyota announced that a remedy had been found for the September recall. The accelerator pedal would be reconfigured to reduce the risk of accelerator pedal floor mat entrapment. In the Lexus ES350 Toyota Camry, and Toyota Avalon, the shape of the floor surface underneath would also be reconfigured to make more space between the gas pedal and the floor. Vehicles with Toyota or Lexus all-weather floor mats would be provided with a reconfigured all-weather floor mat replacement. Finally, Toyota said that in the Camry, Avalon, and Lexus ES 350, IS 250 and IS 350, it would install a brake override system that would turn off the car’s engine if the accelerator pedal and gas pedal were pressed simultaneously.
January 2010 Sticking Accelerator Recall
A new recall was announced on January 21, 2010. This recall had to do with the gas pedal sticking when it is pushed down. Toyota stated that there is a possibility that certain accelerator pedal mechanisms could stick in a partially depressed position or return slowly to the idle position. Toyota stressed that the situation is rare, but could occur when the pedal became worn. The new recall included the following vehicles:
2009 to 2010 Toyota Rav 4
2009 to 2010 Toyota Corolla
2009 to 2010 Toyota Matrix
2005 to 2010 Toyota Avalon
2007 to 2010 Toyota Camry
2010 Toyota Highlander (excluding hybrid models)
2007 to 2010 Toyota Tundra
2008 to 2010 Toyota Sequoia
In their January 21 announcement, Toyota stressed that the sticking accelerator issue is separate from the pedal entrapment recall involving incorrect or out of place floor mats. However, approximately 1.7 million vehicles, including certain Camry, Avalon, and Tundra models, are subject to both recalls. No Lexus vehicles were included in the January 2010 recall.
January 2010 Sales Suspension Announcement
On January 26, 2010, Toyota announced that it would be temporarily suspending the sales of eight models (Rav4, Corolla, Matrix, Avalon, Camry, Highlander, Tundra and Sequoia) and would halt production at five different plants in USA and Canada until a solution is found. The announcement was the lead story on the CBS Evening News, NBC Nightly News, and the ABC World News, and made headlines at the Washington Post, New York Times and other news outlets across the country. Toyota said that vehicles already manufactured would not be shipped to dealerships until a solution to the acceleration problem was found and implemented.
January 27 Recall – 1.1. Million More Vehicles
On Wednesday, January 27, 2010, Toyota announced that it was adding the following vehicles to the Floor Mat/Accelerator Pedal Entrapment previously announced in September and revised in November:
2008 to 2010 Toyota Highlander
2009 to 2010 Toyota Corolla
2009 to 2010 Toyota Verza
2009 to 2010 Toyota Matrix
2009 to 2010 Pontiac Vibe
The Pontiac Vide is manufactured under a partnership between General Motors and Toyota. It is similar to the Toyota Matrix. Toyota did not announce a proposed remedy to the problem at the time of the recall.
Contact Us
Davis & Crump, P.C. is now handling claims for individuals who have injured as a result of a runaway Toyota or Lexus. Davis & Crump, P.C. is experienced in product liability cases and settlements. If you or a loved one has been injured due to a recalled runaway Toyota or Lexus, contact us at 1-800-277-0300 or send us an email at info@daviscrump.com.