Toyota halts sale of 8 models over pedal recalls

Toyota stopping sales and production of cars with issues of sticking accelerator pedals till the problem can be fixed.

Pretty big to stop all sales and production of some very popular Toyota cars, really going to hurt them but is the right thing to do.

This is on top of the recall as they say the issue can happen without the floor mats and is some other issue.

Toyota halts sale of 8 models over pedal recalls | freep.com | Detroit Free Press

Cars Involved:

2009-2010 RAV4,
• 2009-2010 Corolla,

• 2009-2010 Matrix,

• 2005-2010 Avalon,

• Certain 2007-2010 Camrys,

• 2010 Highlander,

• 2007-2010 Tundra,

• 2008-2010 Sequoia

 

Looks like the only one NOT affected is our Sienna.:applause2:

 

Good move to do this. It should shut up the media from reporting that they're selling dangerous cars, AKA without the modification in place. My 2010 Camry is affected but I'm not the type of person to jam the throttle open when I accelerate. If the pedal gets stuck, it'll be slowly accelerating and I've known in the past to shift into Neutral anyway

 

That's too bad for Toyota but at least they recognize the problem and do what they can to fix it.

 

Unfortunately, this all stems from an unfortunate accident with fatalities. Read it in the paper

awhile back. Basically, from the article a man was driving then accelerator malfunctioned

he hit an oncoming car, killing the person(s) in the other car. It seems the Law enforcement

officers where so sure it was his fault, his statement was unbelievable as described. When it

was all said and done in fact it was the combination of the carpet and accelerator causing

the tragic accident. Bringing us to this stage, R.I.P

 

i wonder is Toyota will see Law Suits from people that have been involed in Incidents

 

After admitting there is a problem, you can be assured they are already filed.

 

Something is not right here.

Those of us who have been around cars for a while know what can cause an unintended acceleration event. Usually it was a busted motor mount causing the engine to twist and jam open the throttle. I've had that happen on an old Ford.

On the same Ford I've has debris interfere with the pedal.

Both those issues where 100% my fault as an insane 18 year old (at the time).

But this one stinks. The cars in question are "fly-by-wire" cars. If I were a betting man, I'd say there is a software bug. And being in the software business I can attest to just how difficult an intermittent software bug can be.

Then there's the Toyota element here. Toyota does NOT like to admit they f'ed up - ever. The most ardent KoolAid drinkers are AMSOil users and some Toyota owners/fans. I was there when headgaskets let go on Toyota 7M engines in the 80s. Toyota's response. Silence. The factory specs for the headbolts was a laughable 58 ft lbs.

Then there was the V6 sludging problem. Toyota's response - silence. They eventually buckled, but it was only because they were staring down dozens of lawsuits and it was about to go critical (read: class-action-payday-for-lawyers).

Here, they first tried to tell the world that the drivers were idiots. Then a CHP bought it in a loaner Lexus. Someone needs to do a core dump and get to the bottom of this. I'm sure they're getting ready to slip-stream a fix while the cars are in for anything (maintenance, "floor mat" issue, etc.).

For the record, I'm NOT a Toyota basher. I was a Toyota Guy for years and still appreciate many things about the cars. But I've smelt this aroma in the air before.

 

From what I read on the NTSB bulletin has to do with the assembly in the cold of if moisture is present from cold spring/pedal assembly being rapidly heated by the heater. Who knows the true issue, be it software or something mechanical seizing up at the wrong time.

 

Must sucks to be a Toyota dealer right now.

 

Id rather be a Toyota dealer than GM or Dodge.

 

All I can say is the only way a throttle should ever work is a metal cable running from the accelerator pedal to the throttle body... PERIOD

 

I wonder what will happen at my service this Saturday. Just reached 5,000 miles in my 2010 Camry with no incidents. I guess I'll be talking to my Fleet Manager about what will happen I guess

 

What I was getting at is that sales are being halted. Dealers are not allowed to sell these cars which I imagine is quite a bit of inventory. It'll be tough to make money.

 

Do you have a link to that article?

I remember when they were pushing the "driver error" line, someone did the numbers and figured out that of all the unintended accelerations in the US, Toyota had more than all of the other automakers combined. People might be idiots on occasion, but why would they only be driving Toyotas?

Toyota has been in the mechanical throttle business for 50 years and has never had a problem.

BMW, Audi and M-B also have fly-by-wire on their newest cars, but they have a failsafe algorithm incorporated into their system which I've heard Toyota doesn't.

 

Let me try to find it...I dont remember where I saw it but I will try to find it again.

 

Here is what Toyota spokesperson said, seems to stem from wear on return spring:

 

This issue almost took Audi off the market for good in the 80's. This is a serious PR problem for Toyota. The press damn near sunk Audi...we'll see what it does to Toyota.

 

The recall was just expanded to millions of more cars, really not looking good for Toyo, and has spread to the EU.

 

I currently work at Toyota as tech. From my point of view its horrible for sales, but for me it couldn't be better. I have guaranteed work for the next months and possibly the rest of the year.

Not all cars are affected. Cars manufactured in North America equipped with gas pedals manufactured by CTS are affected. All cars manufactured in Japan are good, and all cars with denso pedals are good. Toyota currently has a fix that is under review by NHTSA. The pedal "sticking" has to do with return mechanism for the pedal. There was only one documented incident and the customer brought the car to the dealership and complained about it. It is a different issue from the pedal entrapment. We are able to sell cars that have been inspected and contain the Denso Pedals. A big problem is no one is going to buy a Car regardless if it was approved or not until a fix is applied. I completely understand that as well, I wouldn't buy a car if there was a potential problem.

The pedal entrapment with the floor mat already has a fix. We are going to be cutting gas pedals, shaving the foam under the carpet for clearance, and reflashing the ecu to cut power to the engine when the brake and gas pedal are pressed at the same time. Also if equipped with all weather mats, we will be replacing them with new thinner ones.

I'll post more info as I receive it.

-Vincent

PS: Sorry I've been off the boards lately, been really busy with work and school.:thumb: