Lemon Law for California

Nothing is more important to Toyota than the reliability and safety of its vehicles. Toyota is now making great efforts to fix the issue with accelerator pedal mechanisms as soon as possible to restore its vulnerable reputation and market share.

The entire organization of 172,000 employees and dealership personnel is working around the clock to fix the vehicles. Toyota has confirmed the effectiveness of the reinforced pedals through rigorous testing on pedal assemblies that had previously shown a tendency to stick.  Toyota has high confidence in the effectiveness of its solution for fixing sticking accelerator pedals.

Toyota’s highest priority is to quickly and effectively address the needs of owners of involved vehicles. Because of the number of vehicles involved, it will take time to process and mail the instructions to all involved vehicle owners, and Toyota appreciates its owners’ patience during this time.  Owners will only receive a letter if their vehicle is involved in the recall and will be asked to contact a local Toyota dealership to schedule an appointment to have their vehicle fixed.

Toyota makes sure that the situation with sticking accelerator pedals is rare and generally does not occur suddenly. In the rare instances where it does occur, the vehicle can be controlled with firm and steady application of the brakes.

If you experience any issues with your accelerator pedal, you should contact your dealer without delay. If you are not experiencing any issues with your pedal, then your vehicle is safe to drive.

Jim Lentz, Toyota Motor Sales president and Chief Operating Officer, says they already know what is causing the sticking accelerator pedals, and they know what they have to do to fix it.

The issue that causes accelerator pedals in recalled vehicles to stick in a partially open position involves a friction device in the pedal designed to provide the proper “feel” by adding resistance and making the pedal steady and stable.  The device includes a shoe that rubs against adjoining surfaces during pedal operation.  Due to wear and environmental conditions and the materials used, these surfaces may, over time, begin to stick and release instead of operating smoothly.  In some cases, friction could increase to a point that the pedal is slow to return to the idle position or, in rare cases, the pedal sticks, leaving the throttle partially open.

Toyota’s solution for current vehicle owners is both simple and effective.  The reinforcement of pedal assembly will reduce the surface tension between the friction shoe and the adjoining surface.  With this reinforcement, the excess friction that can cause the pedal to stick is eliminated.  Toyota has confirmed the effectiveness of the newly reinforced pedals through rigorous testing on pedal assemblies that had previously shown a tendency to stick.

Separately from the recall to fix sticking accelerator pedals, Toyota is in the process of recalling vehicles to address rare instances in which floor mats have trapped the accelerator pedal in certain Toyota and Lexus models (announced November 25, 2009), and is already notifying customers about how it will fix this issue.  In the case of vehicles covered by both recalls, it is Toyota’s intention to remedy both at the same time.