Toyota warns on potentially deadly floormats

Video Master Joined: 21 May 2004 Posts: 1815

http://money.cnn.com/2009/09/29/news/companies/toyota_lexus_floor_mats/index.htm?postversion=2009092918

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Lexus and Toyota advised drivers of 3.8 million of its cars to remove floor mats or risk a forced-down accelerator pedal that could lead to a fatal crash. In statements released Tuesday, the world's largest automaker and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration warned drivers that the removable mats could interfere with the pedal and cause it to stick.

"A stuck open accelerator pedal may result in very high vehicle speeds and make it difficult to stop the vehicle, which could cause a crash, serious injury or death," said Toyota in its statement.

Though Toyota recalled accessory all-weather floor mats in 2007 for similar problems, NHTSA noted that reports of vehicles accelerating rapidly even after the release of the pedal have continued.

The agency advised drivers of seven different makes of Toyota and Lexus to take caution.

In a statement posted on the automaker's Web site earlier this month, Toyota said that preliminary information from investigators indicated that a fatal crash involving a family driving a 2009 ES350 loaned by a local Lexus dealer in San Diego could have been caused by an all-weather floor mat interfering with the accelerated pedal because of a faulty mat installation.

"There is an urgent matter," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood in the NHTSA statement. "For everyone's sake, we strongly urge owners of these vehicles to remove mats or other obstacles that could lead to unintended acceleration."

Toyota has announced that it will soon launch a safety recall to redress the problem, but NHTSA and the automaker warn Toyota and Lexus drivers of certain models to remove that floor mats sooner for safety.

The Toyota models affected include the 2007-2010 Camry, 2005-2010 Avalon, 2004-2009 Prius, 2005-2010 Tacoma and 2007-2010 Tundra. The Lexus models are the 2007-2010 ES 350, and the 2006-2010 IS 250 and IS 350.

---THIS ANNOUCEMENT WAS MADE BECAUSE OF THIS....

http://www.sandiego6.com/news/local/story/Saylor-CHP-Santee-crash-accelerator-Lexus/zgnHRP0aykGBykIx9UIFyw.cspx

Services for CHP Officer & Family Killed in Crash

Last Update: 9/03 1:45 pm
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CHP Officer Mark Saylor
CHP Officer Mark Saylor
CHULA VISTA - A Highway Patrol officer, his wife, daughter and brother-in-law -- all killed in a fiery crash in Santee -- will be remembered at a Saturday memorial service in Chula Vista.

Mark Saylor and his wife Cleofe, both 45, 13-year-old daughter Mahala and 38-year-old brother-in-law Chris Lastrella were killed in the crash at 6:35 p.m. Friday at the end of state Route 125 at Mission Gorge Road.

The officer was off-duty at the time of the crash.

They were in a 2009 Lexus loaned by Bob Baker Lexus in El Cajon while their vehicle was being serviced, authorities said. One of the occupants, believed to be Cleofe Saylor, called 911 to report the accelerator in the loaner vehicle was stuck, they were driving at a high rate of speed and couldn't stop.

The car collided with an SUV waiting to turn left at the end of Highway 125, and continued across Mission Gorge Road, crashed through a fence and ended up on fire in the bed of the San Diego River.

All four victims died at the scene.

A public Celebration of Life will be held at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Calvary Chapel, 1771 E. Palomar St., Chula Vista, CHP Officer Brad Baehr said.

A viewing will be held from 2 p.m. to about 8:30 p.m., Baehr said.

The family welcomes participation by the public and CHP, but law enforcement officers are asked to wear civilian clothes, according to Baehr.

He said plans for a law enforcement memorial service have not been finalized.

Kai Regular Joined: 08 Jun 2004 Posts: 76

I remember reading this story on Yahoo a couple days ago. I'm still confused on how a floormat can hinder your brakes useless though. Could a car person break what happened down into layman's terms?