Tokyo — TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION (TMC) announces
that Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. (TMS) announced November 25
(local time) details of the vehicle-based remedy to address the root
cause of the potential risk for floor mat entrapment of accelerator
pedals in certain Toyota and Lexus models in the U.S.
Toyota issued a consumer safety advisory on September 29 on this issue
and, as an interim measure, commenced the mailing of safety notices to
owners of certain Toyota and Lexus models on October 30. The models
involved are: 2007 to 2010 MY (model year) "Camry", 2005 to 2010 MY
"Avalon", 2004 to 2009 MY "Prius", 2005 to 2010 MY "Tacoma", 2007 to
2010 MY "Tundra", 2007 to 2010 MY "ES350", 2006 to 2010 MY "IS250", and
2006 to 2010 MY "IS 350".
The specific measures of the vehicle-based remedy are as follows:
| 1. |
The
shape of the accelerator pedal will be reconfigured to address the risk
of floor mat entrapment, even when an older-design all-weather floor
mat or other inappropriate floor mat is improperly attached, or is
placed on top of another floor mat. For the ES350, Camry, and Avalon
models involved, the shape of the floor surface underneath will also be
reconfigured to increase the space between the accelerator pedal and
the floor. |
| 2. |
Vehicles
with any genuine Toyota or Lexus accessory all-weather floor mat will
be provided with newly designed replacement driver- and front
passenger-side all-weather floor mats. |
In addition, as a separate measure independent of the vehicle-based
remedy, Toyota will install a brake override system onto the involved
Camry, Avalon, and Lexus ES 350, IS350 and IS 250 models as an extra
measure of confidence. This system cuts engine power in case of
simultaneous application of both the accelerator and brake pedals.
Toyota is in the process of completing development of these actions and
for the ES350, Camry, and Avalon will start notifying owners of the
involved vehicles via first-class mail by the end of this year. The
remedy process regarding the other five models will occur on a rolling
schedule during 2010.
Dealers will be trained and equipped to make the necessary
modifications to these models starting at the beginning of 2010.
Initially, dealers will be instructed on how to reshape the
accelerator pedal for the repair. As replacement parts with the same
shape as the modified pedal become available, they will be made
available to dealers for the repair, beginning around April 2010.
Customers who have had the remedy completed will have the opportunity
to receive a new pedal if they desire.
In the meantime, owners of the involved vehicles are asked to take out
any removable driver's floor mat and not replace it with any other
floor mat until they are notified of the vehicle-based remedy, as
notified in the consumer safety advisory and the interim notice.
The brake override system will be made standard equipment throughout
the Toyota and Lexus product lines starting with January 2010
production of ES350 and Camry and is scheduled to be incorporated into
new production of most models by the end of 2010.
The safety of our owners and the public is our utmost concern and
Toyota has and will continue to thoroughly investigate and take
appropriate measures to address any defect trends that are identified.
Owners who have further questions are asked to visit
www.toyota.com or
www.lexus.com or contact (the North America) Toyota Customer Experience Center at











1-800-331-4331
or (the North America) Lexus Customer Assistance at











1-800-295-3987
.
| NOTE: The
potential risk of floor-mat entrapment of the accelerator pedal in
certain Toyota and Lexus models concerns U.S.-market all-weather floor
mats. Therefore, Toyota has no plan to carry out the above-described
remedy in any other region or country. |