DETROIT — To quell rising consumer worries from its largest
ever recall, Toyota Motor Corp. will shorten the gas pedal and install a new
brake system on some of 3.8 million vehicles recalled because of the risk they
may accelerate without warning.
The problem, which allegedly has caused more than a dozen
fatalities and resulted in more than 100 formal complaints to the National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration, has presented the most serious challenge
yet to Toyota’s reputation as the auto industry’s quality leader.
Wednesday’s announcement came one day after Toyota recalled
110,000 Tundra pickup trucks from model years 2000 through 2003 which have
experienced underbody rust that in some cases may loosen spare tires mounted
beneath the trucks.
For 2005 through 2010 model year Toyota Avalons, 2007
through 2010 Camry and Lexus ES350, the automaker will reconfigure the floor
surface beneath the pedal to create more space between the pedal and the floor.
The action is designed to address the root cause of the
unintended acceleration, which Toyota previously blamed on floor mats becoming
trapped between drivers’ feet and the gas pedal.
The brake over-ride system that will be offered on the
Camry, Avalon and Lexus ES and IS models should ensure the car stops if both
the accelerator and brake pedals are applied at the same time. Many of the
reported incidents involved sudden increases in speed when the cruise control
system is engaged. Drivers have reported that their brakes could not stop their
vehicles when they experienced the phenomenon.
Toyota intends to make the brake over-ride feature standard
throughout the Toyota and Lexus product lines beginning in January 2010.
It is unclear how much these repairs and changes will cost,
but it will be significant.
“If you have to dig into the vehicle like in the power
train or under the dash, the cost is high even if the part cost is low,”
said David Cole, chairman of the Center for Automotive Research in Ann Arbor.
Toyota and the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration announced the company’s largest ever recall Sept. 29, covering
Toyota and Lexus models, including the Camry, Prius, Avalon, and Lexus ES and
IS cars and Tacoma and Tundra pickup trucks.
Dealers will begin the repairs in January by shortening the
gas pedals as a temporary measure. Replacement pedals should be available in
April 2010, Toyota said in a statement.
Toyota continues to ask owners of the recalled vehicles to
remove driver’s side floor mats and not replace them until the company provides
additional information.
The brake over-ride system that will be offered on the
Camry, Avalon and Lexus ES and IS models will ensure the car stops if both the
accelerator and brake pedals are applied at the same time. Many of the reported
incidents involved sudden increases in speed when the cruise control system is
engaged. Drivers have reported that the brake systems could not stop their
vehicles when they experienced the phenomenon.
Toyota intends to make the brake over-ride feature standard
throughout the Toyota and Lexus product lines beginning in January 2010.
Via McClatchy-Tribune News Service.
