Toyota Recall: Sticking Accelerator Pedals
Toyota has issued a safety recall involving eight vehicle models and millions of cars because the accelerator pedals can stick. The voluntary recall involves the following Toyota models:
- Some 2009-2010 RAV4,
- Some 2009-2010 Corolla,
- 2005-2010 Avalon,
- 2009-2010 Matrix,
- Some 2007-2010 Camry,
- Some 2010 Highlander,
- 2008-2010 Sequoia, and
- 2007-2010 Tundra.
If you own one of the listed Toyota models, you should carefully read the information available on these pages, and contact us to learn more about your legal rights.
This recall follows a separate and ongoing recall involving unintended acceleration caused by floor mat entrapment of the accelerator pedal, although a large subset of Toyota vehicles are affected by both recalls.
In addition to issuing the recall on existing vehicles, Toyota has stopped sales of all car models affected by the recall until the defect can be corrected.
The automaker says that it is working quickly to find a remedy for the problem.
On the other hand, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) began receiving complaints about sticking accelerator pedals in some Toyota vehicles six years ago—in 2004. It seems remarkable that, in six years, Toyota couldn’t come up with a solution to the sticking accelerator pedals.
In fact, Congress is gearing up to investigate the defective accelerator pedals and, in particular, why it took so long for Toyota to act when problems had been reported.
Toyota has no remedy right now for the millions of car owners who are confused and afraid to drive. Toyota says to watch for signs that the accelerator petal is becoming rough in its motion, sluggish, harder to depress or not returning to idle as quickly as it should and, until you see those signs, it’s okay to keep driving recalled cars.
But according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration database, sudden, unintended acceleration in Toyota vehicles has caused at least 34 deaths over the past ten years. And many more non-fatal accidents have occurred because of the defect.
Despite assurances and the rareness of the problem, it’s not clear that it is entirely safe to drive these cars. In fact, a number of large rental car companies—including Hertz, Avis, Enterprise, Alamo and National—are removing all recalled cars from their driving fleets.
If you have noticed signs of a problem, Toyota says to stop driving and call a Toyota dealer. But so far, all Toyota or its dealers are telling consumers is to stop driving their cars.
If you own one of the listed Toyota models—especially if you have called Toyota and been told to stop driving your car—please contact us for a free, confidential consultation to discuss your legal rights.
