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Wednesday, Toyota Motor Corporation reported it will replace accelerator pedals on about 4 million recalled vehicles in the U. S. because of the recurrance of the gas pedal getting stuck in the floor mat. Toyota will instruct dealers on how to do the modification to the pedals before the end of the year, enabling dealers to offer the remedy beginning in January. This is a temporary fix while the company develops replacement pedals for their vehicles.

Toyota hopes to have the replacements available beginning in April. The replacement pedals will be provided and recommended even if the vehicles have already received a modified pedal under the recall. A brake override system will be installed on some vehicle models as a precaution. In the meantime, if your Toyota accelerator sticks, they recommend you put the car in neutral and then apply the brakes.

This recall is the second chapter to a massive floor mat recall in September of 2009. At that time, Toyota told owners to remove the driver’s side floor mats to keep the gas pedal from becoming jammed. The company said unhooked floor mats or replacement mats stacked on top of the originals could lead to stuck gas pedals. NHTSA issued a rebuke accusing Toyota of releasing misleading information about the recall, saying removing the mats did not “correct the underlying defect.” Of course, Toyota responded that it was not their intention to mislead anyone. Cars affected by the recall:

• 2007-10 Toyota Camry
• 2005-10 Toyota Avalon
• 2004-09 Toyota Prius
• 2005-10 Toyota Tacoma
• 2007-10 Toyota Tundra
• 2007-10 Lexus ES350
• 2006-10 Lexus IS250/350

A brake override system will become standard equipment throughout the Toyota and Lexus lineup by the end of 2010. The following models are to receive the brake override system installation:

• Camry
• Avalon
• Lexus ES350
• Lexus IS350
• Lexus IS250

The government statistics report five deaths and two injuries due to floor mat-related, unintended acceleration in Toyota vehicles. In excess of 100 incidents have been reported in which the accelerator may have become stuck. But a safety consultant in Massachusetts, who has investigated many Toyota cases, found more than 2,000 incidents involving 16 deaths and 243 injuries potentially tied to the Toyota gas pedals.

For additional information, owners should contact Toyota at 800-331-4331 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              800-331-4331      end_of_the_skype_highlighting or the NHTSA hot line at 888-327-4236.

Minnesota Car Accident Lawyer
If you have been injured in an accident due to mechanical defect, you need expert legal representation to maximize your compensation. You should not have to shoulder the financial burden because of the negligence of a manufacturer. Contact our Minnesota Car Accident Lawyers at 612-362-0000. We will work aggressively on your behalf.

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