Toyota Recall 2011: 2.17 Million Vehicles Recalled (FULL DETAILS)

This has got to seem like deja vu all over again for Toyota, as the nation’s largest car company is recalling 2.17 million vehicles in the U.S. due to problems that can cause sudden acceleration.

The 2011 Toyota recall affects six models and addresses potential issues that could entrap the gas pedal, leading to loss of control.

Since fall of 2009, Toyota has issued over 14 million recall notices related to various safety and quality issues, most of which have been due to acceleration related issues.

Earlier this month, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and NASA determined that there was no electronic cause for the automaker’s sudden acceleration issues, but they did find that certain mechanical problems, such as pedal interference, did exist.

In a statement yesterday, NHTSA administrator David Strickland said the agency had combed through more than 400,000 pages of Toyota documents.

“As a result of the agency’s review, NHTSA asked Toyota to recall these additional vehicles, ” Strickland said. “Now that the company has done so, our case is closed.”

Toyota says almost 1.4 million of the newly affected models are being tacked on to its September 2009 recall for pedal entrapment. Those models are the Toyota 4Runner, the Toyota Rav4, and the Lexus LX.

There are also issues pertaining to the functionality of interior panels and carpeting that could potentially interfere with the accelerator in the Toyota Highlander, the Lexus RX, and the Lexus GS.

The affected models range in year from 2004 through 2011.

Here the full press release from Toyota, complete with instructions on how to check and see if your vehicle may be involved in this latest recall:

Toyota Announces Two Voluntary Recalls and Amends Potential Floor Mat Interference Recall Announced in 2009
Click here for Toyota VIN Recall Lookup

Driver’s Side Floor Carpet Plastic Pad Modification on Lexus GS
Driver’s Side Floor Carpet Cover Replacement on Lexus RX and Toyota Highlander
Models Added to the Potential Floor Mat Interference with Accelerator Pedal Recall

TORRANCE, Calif., [February 24], 2011 — Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc., today announced that it will conduct a voluntary safety recall of approximately 20,000 2006 and early 2007 Model Year GS 300 and GS 350 All-Wheel Drive vehicles to modify the shape of the plastic pad embedded in the driver’s side floor carpet. In the event that the floor carpet around the accelerator pedal is not properly replaced in the correct position after a service operation, there is a possibility that the plastic pad embedded into the floor carpet may interfere with the operation of the accelerator pedal. If this occurs, the accelerator pedal may become temporarily stuck in a partially depressed position rather than returning to the idle position.

Owners of the involved GS 300 and GS 350 All-Wheel Drive vehicles will receive a notification by first class mail beginning in early March 2011.

Toyota will also voluntarily recall approximately 372,000 2004 through 2006 and early 2007 RX 330, RX 350, and RX 400h vehicles, and approximately 397,000 2004 through 2006 Highlander and Highlander HV vehicles to replace the driver’s side floor carpet cover and its two retention clips. If the forward retention clip used to secure the floor carpet cover, which is located in front of the center console, is not installed properly, the cover may lean toward the accelerator pedal and interfere with the accelerator pedal arm. If this occurs, the accelerator pedal may become temporarily stuck in a partially depressed position rather than returning to the idle position.

Owners of the involved RX and Highlander vehicles will receive an interim notification by first class mail beginning in the near future, explaining how to inspect for this condition or that they may contact their local dealer to perform the inspection.
Owners will receive a second notification once the replacement covers are available.

Separately, Toyota has amended its recall from November 2009, adding three models to address the potential for unsecured or incompatible floor mat entrapment of the accelerator pedal. The models added include:

• Approximately 603,000 2003 through 2009 4Runner
• Approximately 17,000 2008 through 2011 Lexus LX 570; and
• Approximately 761,000 2006 through 2010 RAV4

Owners of the involved 4Runner, LX 570, and RAV4 vehicles will receive an interim notification by first class mail beginning in the near future, informing them of the condition. Owners will receive a second notification once the recall preparations are complete.

Toyota and Lexus dealers will implement the newly announced and amended recall remedies at no charge to the vehicle owners.

Detailed information and answers to questions are available to customers at www.toyota.com/recall or www.lexus.com/recall and the Toyota Customer Experience Center at 1-800-331-4331 or Lexus Customer Satisfaction at 1-800-25 LEXUS or 1-800-255-3987.

Related articles

• Toyota Highlander Hybrid investigation for engine stalling (inautonews.com)
• NHTSA probing 44,000 Toyota Highlander Hybrid crossovers over stall risk (autoblog.com)
• Toyota Recall Recap: Floormats, Sticky Pedals, AND User Error (thecarconnection.com)
• Toyota’s Recalls: Why the Government Reports Aren’t an All-Clear (dailyfinance.com)