Another 2.2 million Toyota and Lexus vehicles recalled

TOYOTA has issued a fresh safety recall in the United States over Toyota and Lexus accelerator pedals that can become dangerously trapped in floor mats, adding almost 2.2 million vehicles to the repair list.

The recall, which does not apply to any vehicles in Australia, addresses concerns raised in a 10-month investigation by the US National Highway and Traffic Administration into claims of unintended acceleration in Toyota vehicles.

While the investigation, done with the help of NASA experts, cleared Toyota vehicles of any electronic throttle control problems, it reiterated that floor mats fouling throttle pedals were an issue.

The latest recall covers three separate issues with the floor mats. One involves 397,000 2004-06 Highlanders (known in Australia as the Kluger) and 372,000 2006-07 Lexus RX SUVs to replace the driver's side floor carpet cover and its two retention clips.

Toyota says that if the forward retention clip securing the floor carpet cover in front of the centre console is not installed properly, the cover might lean toward the accelerator pedal and interfere with the accelerator pedal arm.



From top: The 2006 Lexus GS300, 2008 Lexus LX570 and 2008 Toyota 4Runner are among the models affected.

“If this occurs, the accelerator pedal may become temporarily stuck in a partially depressed position rather than returning to the idle position,” he said.

About 20,000 2006-07 Lexus GS AWD SUVs are also being recalled to modify the shape of a plastic pad embedded in the driver’s side carpet that might interfere with the accelerator pedal if the carpet is not replaced correctly after service.

Finally, Toyota has added three more models to its list of recalled vehicles from its original 2009 floor mats problem. These are the 2008-11 Lexus LX570, 2006-10 RAV4 and 2003-09 4Runner – a total of almost 1.4 million vehicles.

The latest recalls brings Toyota’s global total to 19.2 million, two third of them in the US.

Toyota Australia issued a statement this morning assuring Australian customers that the recall affects only left-hand-drive vehicles.

“The floor carpet cover, plastic pad and all-weather floor mat involved in these recall campaigns were specifically designed and manufactured for left hand drive vehicles and are not sold in Australia,” the statement said.

“Toyota Australia and Lexus Australia have inspected local vehicles and confirmed that the conditions do not affect right hand drive vehicles sold in Australia.”