Feds: Toyota released misleading info in floor mat recall

Toyota Motor Corp. released misleading information about an investigation into problems with stuck gas pedals that led to a massive Toyota recall, the government said Wednesday, stressing the issue is still under review by federal safety regulators.

[Vitoy]

I own a 2007 Lex ES350 and I don't believe it's the floor mat that's causing this issue. There's no way that the mat will jam the accelerator pedal. I even tried putting a heavy rubber mat over the pedal but it did not really push down the pedal. When I got my car (CPO), I observed that there was some slight sticking in the pedal, but after awhile, it seemed to disappear.
However, that feeling of uncertainty and discomfort still hang around. Toyota could or should investigate further and express some honesty with us consumers.

[b willoughby]

This is Sick I have aToyota Avalon and this is scaring me to death I think I should not be expected to drive this car / death trap another day I want Toyota to buy my car back so I can get a safer car.

[To Vitoy]

Vitoy wrote:

I own a 2007 Lex ES350 and I don't believe it's the floor mat that's causing this issue. There's no way that the mat will jam the accelerator pedal. I even tried putting a heavy rubber mat over the pedal but it did not really push down the pedal. When I got my car (CPO), I observed that there was some slight sticking in the pedal, but after awhile, it seemed to disappear.
However, that feeling of uncertainty and discomfort still hang around. Toyota could or should investigate further and express some honesty with us consumers.

The LA Times had several articles about this. This one in the DB didn't mention that the Lexus the off-duty CHP officer was driving had the wrong floor mats inside of it. It was a loaner car that he had received that day. He had brought his personal car in for some work. It's a terrible story about what happened to him and his family members.

[lapdrn]

NHTSA can't even prove that there is a defect on the acceleration process

[umm]

maybe i should trade in my toyota for a ford...ha yeah right i'm not crazy

[Sandy]

My husband and I purchased a 2008 Toyota Tacoma in April of 2008. On March 9, 2009. My friend and me were travelling on the Parkway near Pittsburgh International Airport, PA when I accellerated to pass a slow moving vehicle in the right lane. The throttle stuck wide open, I had both feet on the brakes and the truck wouldn't slow down. We were going in excess of 100 MPH. My only saving grace was that 1. It was a Sunday morning (little traffic) 2. We were on the 3 lane section of roadway with no on-ramps or intersections. I noticed the gravel berm to my right but knew at the speed I was going that the truck would flip. I swear that God was my co-pilot that day and something told me to put the truck in neutral. The engine was screaming. It sounded as if it would come through the hood of the truck. We were still speeding down the hightway and I still had both feet on the brakes...finally when I finally slowed down enough, I got off onto the berm. The brakes were smoking. I looked down at the floor mat....IT WAS NOT STUCK.....My friend and me were terrified at this entire experience and still are. These vehicles throttles are controlled by a computer (drive by wire system). When you apply the brakes, it creates a vaccuum rendering the brakes inoperable. I have complained to Toyota, NHTSA and Lemon Law and they STILL INSIST THAT IT HAS TO DO WITH THE MATS. Stop insulting people's intelligence. More people are going to be killed.

[Sandy]

b willoughby wrote:

This is Sick I have aToyota Avalon and this is scaring me to death I think I should not be expected to drive this car / death trap another day I want Toyota to buy my car back so I can get a safer car.

I marched into the dealership and told them that I didn't wsnt our Toyota Tacoma and the service manager said, "Well, we're not buying it back!!!" It sat in our driveway for months, the inspection even expired. I wouldn't get back in it. Toyota Spokeswoman Nicole Redd said that I was fixated on "What If" What If" and should be dwelling on "What Is, What Is??!!" AND that I had handled the situation "TEXT BOOK" by putting it in NEUTRAL going 100+ MPH....She said "NEXT TIME YOU'LL KNOW WHAT TO DO!" More people are going to die as a result of Toyota not acknowledging that there is a serious problem and ITS NOT THE MATS!

[Thomas Meinerding]

We have yet to receive a recall on our 2008 Toyota Prius, but we did remove the front floor mat.
What do you do then when you have not received the recall notice.

[Huh]

Sandy wrote:

....These vehicles throttles are controlled by a computer (drive by wire system). When you apply the brakes, it creates a vaccuum rendering the brakes inoperable....

The power brakes are vacuum assist. The vacuum comes from the motor. When the trhottle is wide open, there is no vacuum. The application of the brake uses the vacuum it had in reserve.

It's hard to imagine shifting into neutral or switching of the key not being the first instinct after braking.

[Sandy]

Thomas Meinerding wrote:

We have yet to receive a recall on our 2008 Toyota Prius, but we did remove the front floor mat.
What do you do then when you have not received the recall notice.

We have not received a recall either...but I am one who experienced this and IT IS NOT THE FLOOR MATS! So Toyota is giving Toyota owners false hope and others are going to die.

[Sandy]

Huh wrote:

<quoted text>
The power brakes are vacuum assist. The vacuum comes from the motor. When the trhottle is wide open, there is no vacuum. The application of the brake uses the vacuum it had in reserve.
It's hard to imagine shifting into neutral or switching of the key not being the first instinct after braking.

Really!? Well, try shutting the key off going in excess of 100 MPH. You will lose your brakes and power steering. No one should be afraid of driving a vehicle because of this problem. I had came through 2 tunnels and a construction area. When this happens, you are in absolute shock that IT IS HAPPENING! This is NOT a problem with the floor mats, it's the first thing I checked when I got the Tacoma stopped. Upon restarting the vehicle, if it was a result of the mat being stuck on the accellerator, it would have still been stuck!

[Huh]

Sandy wrote:

<quoted text>
Really!? Well, try shutting the key off going in excess of 100 MPH. You will lose your brakes and power steering. No one should be afraid of driving a vehicle because of this problem. I had came through 2 tunnels and a construction area. When this happens, you are in absolute shock that IT IS HAPPENING! This is NOT a problem with the floor mats, it's the first thing I checked when I got the Tacoma stopped. Upon restarting the vehicle, if it was a result of the mat being stuck on the accellerator, it would have still been stuck!

I am not disagreeing with you. I do understand, the brakes are gone either way with engine reving or engine off. But with the engine off or in neutral, you don't have a couple hundred horsepower to fight against with your compromised brakes.
BTW, power steering is for slow speed/halted assistance, like parking. A rolling car can be steered with much less effort.
Shock aside, I just don't understand why the idea to turn off the engine or shift into neutral didn't occur. Maybe I'm just old and can recall the days of broken accelerator return springs.
Your are right, no one should be afraid of their car.