Toyota's floor mat fix: Tie it down

ERJ staff report (TB)

Detroit, Michigan -- Before Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. Inc. recalls 3.8 million defective Toyota and Lexus vehicles, it is taking steps to make sure dealers can keep selling the affected cars and trucks.

Toyota is telling car dealers to attach floor mats to seat frames on the driver's side of select vehicles with locking wire ties, to prevent the mats from snagging on gas pedals and causing unintended acceleration. Dealers are to perform the fix on vehicles on their lots, including loaners and demo models.

Toyota is not asking consumers to bring their vehicles in for the tie-down fix.

“We have reviewed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration what we're calling a semi-permanent floor mat installation process, and we're providing these instructions to our dealers,” Toyota spokesman Brian Lyons said. “This allows dealers to continue selling and delivering both new and used vehicles.”

Toyota plans to issue a formal recall after a full engineering review of the problem. The auto maker may move the gas pedal away from the floor mats and alter engine software to make it easier for drivers to turn the car off in an emergency.

The recall was prompted by an accident in August in which four people were killed in a Lexus. A floor mat catching on the accelerator may have caused the crash.

Mr. Lyons said the mats are to be secured to the driver's seat frame with nylon self-locking wire ties, described as plastic straps that loop back into themselves and lock when pulled tight.

Toyota vehicles involved are 2007-10 Camrys; 2005-10 Avalons; 2004-09 Priuses; 2005-10 Tacomas; and 2007-10 Tundras. Lexus models involved are 2007-10 ES 350s and 2006-10 IS 250s and IS 350s.

From Tire Business (A Crain publication)