Florida Driving Alert: Toyota Lexus Issues Safety Advisory After Fatal Car Accident Involving Floor Mats
Florida drivers should be aware of an ongoing large-scale defective auto product recall issued by Toyota/Lexus, which affects popular models including Camry, Avalon, Prius, and Tacoma vehicles manufactured between 2004 and 2010 (see link to advisory, below, for exact models and years). It is the largest product recall in Toyota's history affecting millions of vehicles.
The recall occurred following a highly publicized fatal car crash in California in August, where a 2009 Lexus reached speeds of 120 mph when the gas pedal became stuck in the open position. NHTSA attributed the problem to the accelerator pedal becoming snared by an ill-fitting removable floor mat. The family in the Lexus placed a frantic 911 call prior to crashing into an SUV, flipping and bursting into flames. The crash killed the vehicle's driver and occupants: an off-duty California highway patrol officer and three members of his family. The L.A. Times reported that the Lexus involved in the accident was a loaner car from the dealer, and that the floor mat was improperly installed.
Toyota has stated that it will change the length of the gas pedal and the shape of the floor underneath it to avoid future motor vehicle accidents. In addition, Toyota will replace any of its floor mats in the affected models with new floor mats. The Toyota newsroom issued instructions of what drivers should do to avoid a car accident if their gas pedals become stuck. However an investigation by ABC News reported up to 2,000 consumer reports of "runaway" Toyotas, leaving some safety experts and dealers to question whether the car manufacturer's planned solutions will fix the root problem.
A Florida auto product liability lawyer is familiar with laws and safety regulations put in place to protect consumers from being injured or killed due to automotive product defects. Defective tires is another area of motor vehicle safety concern that makes news headlines whenever a tire recall is issued.
NHTSA's SaferCar.gov website provides a searchable database for consumers to check for product recalls related to their vehicles or tires.
Toyota Announces Details of Remedy to Address Potential Accelerator Pedal Entrapment
Toyota Press Room Nov. 25, 2009
Toyota Recall Fails to Address 'Root Cause' of Many Sudden Acceleration Cases, Safety Expert Says
ABC News Investigation Revealed Over 2,000 Complaints of 'Runaway Toyotas'
ABCNEWS.com Nov. 25, 2009
New details in crash that prompted Toyota recall
L.A. Times Oct. 25, 2009
Related Web Resources
Toyota/Lexus Consumer Safety Advisory:
Potential Floor Mat Interference with Accelerator Pedal (Models & Years listed here)
Toyota Press Room Sept. 29, 2009
Toyota recalls 3.8 million vehicles
Potentially dangerous floor mats cited for company's largest U.S. recall
MSNBC.com Sept. 29, 2009
