Toyota’s recall is the sixth-largest ever in the United States. For more information, contact Toyota at 800-331-4331.
(Associated Press)
WASHINGTON - Toyota Motor Corp. will replace accelerator pedals on about 3.8 million recalled vehicles because the pedals can get stuck in the floor mats, another blow to the reputation of the world’s largest automaker.
Toyota said dealers will offer to shorten the length of the gas pedals by about 3/4 inch beginning in January, as a stopgap measure while the company develops replacement pedals, which will be installed on a rolling basis beginning in April. Some vehicles will have brake override systems installed as a precaution.
Toyota announced the recall in late September and told US vehicle owners to remove the driver’s side floor mats to keep the gas pedal from becoming jammed.
Popular vehicles such as the Toyota Camry, the top-selling passenger car in America, and the Toyota Prius, the best-selling gas-electric hybrid, are among those being fixed. The recall also included the luxury Lexus ES350, the vehicle in a fiery fatal accident in California that focused public attention on the danger.
Toyota spokesman Irv Miller said the company was “very, very confident that we have addressed this issue’’ with the fix.
Toyota officials said the floor mats are only sold in the United States.
Toyota declined to provide a cost estimate for the fix.
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