Toyota Stuck Accelerator Recall Lawyers

 If you have been injured in an accident involving a stuck accelerator in a recalled Toyota vehicle, contact Estey & Bomberger, LLP at (800) 925-0723 for more information and a free review of your legal rights to compensation.

Toyota Motor Corp. made news headlines more than a few times in late 2009 and early 2010, as the car manufacturer recalled millions of vehicles, first for safety concern involving the floor mat, then for a safety concern involving the gas pedal getting "entrapped" by the floor mat, and in a separate recall involving different vehicles, for the gas pedal getting stuck while depressed. Toyota owners are understandably confused. The fact that a recall was announced while Toyota still has not found a solution has Toyota owners even more concerned. Meanwhile, accidents involving "runaway Toyotas" continue to happen across the country. On January 21 2010, ABC News reported more than 60 new "runaway Toyota" accidents had been reported since the recall was announced on September 30, 2009.

An accident that killed four people in San Diego County on August 25, 2009 made national headlines and prompted the NHTSA to launch an investigation of a potential defect with Toyota floor mats and accelerator pedals. In the August 25 crash, investigators said that one of the passengers in the car called 911 moments before the crash to report the gas pedal was stuck. The Lexus ES 350 was going an estimated 120 mph when it crashed. The vehicle was a loaner vehicle from a San Diego County Lexus dealership, and was driven by an off-duty veteran CHP officer. The floor mats had been incorrectly installed and caused the gas pedal to become stuck.

September 2009 Floor Mat / Accelerator Pedal Entrapment Safety Advisory – 3.8 Million Cars

In September 2009, Toyota announced its largest recall to date of 3.8 million vehicles, advising drivers to remove their floor mats on the driver's side. That number was later expanded to 4.2 million vehicles.  At the time of the recall announcement on September 30, the NHTSA said that it had received 102 complaints involving stuck Toyota or Lexus accelerator pedals. The 2009 recall included the following vehicles:

• 2007 to 2010 Toyota Camry
• 2005 to 2010 Toyota Avalon
• 2004 to 2009 Toyota Prius
• 2005 to 2010 Toyota Tacoma
• 2007 to 2010 Toyota Tundra
• 2007 to 2010 Lexus ES 350
• 2006 to 2010 Lexus IS 250
• 2006 to 2010 Lexus IS 350

In a press release on November 25, 2009, Toyota announced that a remedy had been found for the September recall.  The accelerator pedal would be reconfigured to reduce the risk of accelerator pedal floor mat entrapment.  In the Lexus ES350, Toyota Camry, and Toyota Avalon, the shape of the floor surface underneath would also be reconfigured to make more space between the gas pedal and the floor. Vehicles with Toyota or Lexus all-weather floor mats would be provided with a reconfigured all-weather floor mat replacement. Finally, Toyota said that in the Camry, Avalon, and Lexus ES 350, IS 250, and IS 350, it would install a brake override system that would turn off the car's engine if the acceletor pedal and gas pedal were pressed simultaneously.

January 2010 Sticking Accelerator Recall

A new recall was announced on January 21, 2010. This recall had to do with the gas pedal sticking when it is pushed down. Toyota stated that there is a possibility that certain accelerator pedal mechanisms could stick in a partially depressed position or return slowly to the idle position. Toyota stressed that the situation is rare, but could occur when the pedal became worn. The new recall included the following vehicles:

• 2009 to 2010 Toyota Rav4
• 2009 to 2010 Toyota Corolla
• 2009 to 2010 Toyota Matrix
• 2005 to 2010 Toyota Avalon
• 2007 to 2010 Toyota Camry
• 2010 Toyota Highlander (excluding Hybrid models)
• 2007 to 2010 Toyota Tundra
• 2008 to 2010 Toyota Sequoia

In their January 21 announcement, Toyota stressed that the sticking accelerator issue is separate from the pedal entrapment recall involving incorrect or out of place floor mats. However, approximately 1.7 million vehicles, including certain Camry, Avalon, and Tundra models, are subject to both recalls.  No Lexus vehicles were included in the January 2010 recall.

January 2010 Sales Suspension Announcement

On January 26, 2010, Toyota announced that it would be temporarily suspending the sales of eight models (the Rav4, Corolla, Matrix, Avalon, Camry, Highlander, Tundra and Sequoia) and would halt production at five different plants in USA and Canada until a solution is found. The announcement was the lead story on the CBS Evening News, NBC Nightly News, the ABC World News, and made headlines in the Washington Post, New York Times and other news outlets across the country. Toyota said that vehicles already manufactured would not be shipped to dealerships until a solution to the acceleration problem was found and implemented.

January 27 Recall  - 1.1 Million More Vehicles

On Wednesday, January 27, 2010, Toyota announced that it was adding the following vehicles to the Floor Mat / Accelerator Pedal Entrapment previously announced in September and revised in November:

• 2008 to 2010 Toyota Highlander
• 2009 to 2010 Toyota Corolla
• 2009 to 2010 Toyota Venza
• 2009 to 2010 Toyota Matrix
• 2009 to 2010 Pontiac Vibe

The Pontiac Vibe is manufactured under a partnership between General Motors and Toyota. It is similar to the Toyota Matrix. Toyota did not announce a proposed remedy to the problem at the time of the recall.

Additional Information and Resources

If you have questions about the recalls, you may contact Toyota's customer service line at (800) 331-4331 or Lexus's customer service line at (800) 255-3987.  If you would like to report a safety complaint to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, you may call (888) 327-4236 or visit safercar.gov.

If you have been injured in an accident caused by a stuck accelerator, you may be entitled to compensation from Toyota. An experienced attorney can help you protect your rights. The defective product lawyers at Estey & Bomberger handle auto defect claims against auto manufacturers and have successfully obtained millions of dollars in compensation for numerous clients.

Free Attorney Consultation

To speak with an attorney at Estey & Bomberger about your potential case against Toyota, call (800) 925-0723 for an immediate telephone consultation. Our staff is available to discuss your case 24 hours a day. All consultations are free, and all cases are handled on a contingency fee basis. We do not charge any fees unless we win your case.

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