 request info  email to friend
Insurable Interests
Vol.
5, Issue
7 •
March 2010
Understanding the Toyota Recall
Toyota, a name once synonymous with quality cars, has recalled more than 8 million of its popular vehicles worldwide. The Japanese company’s chief executive officer, Akio Toyoda, recently appeared before the U.S. Congress to apologize and to explain how the problems occurred and how the company plans to fix them.
If you own a Toyota, a Lexus or a Pontiac Vibe, you might be concerned about whether your vehicle is affected by the recall. As of the end of February, the recalls involved potential problems with gas pedals and with braking. The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) posted this list on its Web site. If your car is on this list, contact your dealer, even if you have not received a recall notification from Toyota.
Problems with Gas Pedal Entrapment by Floor Mats
More than 4 million vehicles have been recalled because of potential problems with the gas pedal becoming entrapped by the floor mat. The NHTSA says you should immediately remove the floor mat on the driver’s side of your car, if you have the following models:
- 2007-2010 Camry
- 2005-2010 Avalon
- 2004-2009 Prius
- 2005-2010 Tacoma
- 2007-2010 Tundra
- 2007-2010 ES 350
- 2006-2010 IS 250 and IS350
- 2008-2010 Highlander
- 2009-2010 Corolla
- 2009-2010 Venza
- 2009-2010 Matrix
- 2009-2010 Pontiac Vibe
Sticky Gas Pedals
About 2.3 vehicles have been recalled because of potential problems with gas pedals sticking, so that the cars accelerate unintentionally. These models include:
- 2007-2008 Tundra
- 2008-2010 Sequoia
- 2005-2010 Avalon
- 2007-2010 Camry
- 2009-2010 Corolla
- 2009-2010 Matrix
- 2009-2010 RAV4
- 2010 Highlander
- 2009-2010 Pontiac Vibe
The NHTSA advises drivers who notice any issues with the gas pedal in these cars to stop driving the car and call their dealer.
Brake Issues
Toyota is recalling its 2010 Prius Hybrids and Lexus HS 250h because of braking problems. The company also is recalling some 2010 Camrys that have had problems with leaking brake fluid. Drivers who notice any difficulty with braking in these cars should stop driving the car and call their dealer, the NHTSA says.
What To Do if Your Car Won’t Stop
The NHTSA says that if you experience unexpected acceleration in your vehicle:
- Don’t pump the brake. Instead, brake firmly and steadily.
- Shift into neutral.
- Steer your car to safety.
- Turn off the car.
- Have the car towed to your dealer. Don’t try to drive it yourself.
Drivers with additional questions can contact the NHTSA Hotline at 1-888-327-4236. You also can contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331 or www.toyota.com; Lexus at 1-800-255-3987 or www.lexus.com; or Pontiac at 1-800-762-2737 or www.pontiac.com. And of course, you can call the dealership where you bought the car.
|