Toyota and Lexus Warn Tennessee Car Owners of Floor Mat Hazard
On Tuesday, September 29, Toyota along with the NHTSA issued a safety advisory applicable to approximately 3.8 million Toyota and Lexis vehicles. The advisory warns car owners of a potential unexpected acceleration of the vehicle caused by certain defects in the floor mat, which can result in a car crash, serious injury or death.
To date, NHTSA has received reports of 102 incidents in which the accelerator may have become stuck, causing the vehicle to accelerate. 13 crashes, 17 injuries and 5 fatalities have been reported. (These reports likely include accidents involving Toyota accessory “all-weather” floor mats that were subject to a recall from 2007 to 2008.)
The most notorious incident—and the one prompting the safety warning—involved a family that leased a vehicle from Toyota—a 2009 Lexus ES 350—near San Diego, California. Apparently, while operating the vehicle, the floor mat covered the accelerator pedal and caused it to accelerate out of control, strike an SUV, launch off an embankment and burst into flames. Four people were killed. The precise cause of the accident, however, is still under investigation.
On the NHTSA website, individuals can review incident reports/complaints by Toyota vehicle owners. One customer had this to say:
“I was first in line at a red light. The light turned green. I accelerated aggressively in order to change lanes as I pulled way. When I was across the intersection, I lifted my foot off the gas pedal and it continued to accelerate. Shocked, I depressed the brake, but had no effect on the acceleration. There was nothing in front of me so I pulled to the right side of the road and hit the power button and the car stopped.” She further reported that she took it to her Toyota dealer and they could find nothing wrong. No injuries or deaths were reported, but she says she hasn’t driven the car since.
The Toyota and Lexus models affected are:
- 2007-2010 Camry,
- 2005-2010 Avalon,
- 2004-2009 Prius,
- 2005-2010 Tacoma,
- 2007-2010 Tundra,
- Lexus 2006-2010 IS 250 and IS 350
The NHTSA recommends that owners "immediately" remove the driver's side factory floor mat as an "interim safety measure" until a recall can be issued.
At Baker Associates, as skilled Tennessee product liability attorneys, we handle many types of products liability claims, including those claims where a defective car or truck part has contributed to a motor vehicle accident. If you need help with your claim or would like to discuss your legal options, don’t hesitate to call. Our number is 866-853-2888. Call now to schedule a free in-person case consultation at one of our convenient locations in Knoxville or Sevierville, Tennessee.
Source reports: http://www.qctimes.com/business/article_e0e8f87c-ae0f-11de-afa9-001cc4c03286.html; http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/2009/aug/31/bn31chp-lexus-crash/; http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/complaints/results.cfm
