Toyota Clarifies Some Recall Info; Recall Expands to Pontiac Vibe, Europe
January 28, 2010
A top Toyota executive, in a briefing with Edmunds.com staffers, clarified some points of the 
automaker’s recent actions regarding the recall and subsequent sales and production suspension of eight best-selling Toyota-brand models. He described symptoms that suggest unintended acceleration in these vehicles could occur and provided an update on a remedy for the problem.
Meantime, Toyota expanded its recall to Europe and Asia as well as to the U.S. Toyota Corolla/Matrix-based Pontiac Vibe, a model from a brand that General Motors has discontinued. The Vibe had been built at a GM-Toyota joint venture plant in California, New United Motor Manufacturing Inc., that is being closed by Toyota.
Mike Michels, Toyota’s vice president of communications in the U.S., told Edmunds.com staffers, who, like Toyota, have been flooded with media and consumer inquiries about Toyota’s latest actions:
No Remedy Yet
No remedy currently exists for the flawed gas pedal mechanism, and it could be months before one is available to owners of these 2.3 million Toyota models covered by the recall announced last week.
By law, Toyota and its dealers were forced to stop selling the vehicles with the defective pedal mechanism, Michels said, as the law forbids the sale of a product with known defects. That’s why Toyota announced suspension of sales of its eight best-selling models: Toyota Avalon (model years 2005-2010); Toyota Matrix (my 2009-2010); Toyota Tundra (my 2007-2008); Toyota Sequoia (my 2008-2010); some Toyota Camry (my 2007-2010); Toyota Corolla (my 2009-2010); Toyota Highlander (my 2010); and Toyota RAV4 (2009-2010).
It was Toyota’s choice to close the plants that produce those models.
Michels said Toyota engineers are working feverishly to develop a fix. When they do, it will still require testing and regulatory approval.
At the same time, Toyota said the supplier that produces the part, CTS Corp., based in Elkhart, Ind., which produces the part in Canada, has launched production of a revised part for new vehicles to be assembled at Toyota plants.
Symptoms Obvious
Michels said symptoms that one of these Toyota vehicles could be prone to unintended acceleration are obvious and the driver will immediately recognize something is amiss. He described it as “chatter.” The pedal does not spring back smoothly or quickly after being depressed, or depresses slowly. He says these occurrences are “rare.”
Still, Edmunds.com examined a number of Toyotas at the office complex where its corporate headquarters is located in Santa Monica, Calif.
“Having checked nearly a dozen vehicles included in the recall, we found that the pedals felt sticky in about half,” said Edmunds.com director of Vehicle Testing Dan Edmunds. “This has the potential to be a widespread problem, and it is critical for consumers to stay aware of the condition of their vehicles and to know the appropriate steps to take in an emergency situation.”
Edmunds.com produced a video on Wednesday that should help consumers figure out how safe their vehicle is.
What Consumers Should Do
Michels said Toyota owners who do not experience these systems should continue driving their vehicles and feel comfortable doing so. He gives that advice to his neighbors and many relatives who drive Toyotas.
If the symptoms do occur, Michels says pushing on the brakes will stop the car.
Concerned consumers, particularly those who have experienced unintended acceleration, should call Toyota’s customer service line or go to the automaker’s Web site, Toyota.com. He suggested calling the customer service line at off hours — early morning and evening — as it has been overloaded with calls and the wait for a customer service representative can be long.
Edmunds.com has produced a video on what to do if a vehicle suddenly accelerates.
Floormat Issue Separate
Michels reiterated that the 4.2 million recall of vehicles for a floormat issue is unrelated to the accelerator defect. He said owners should be receiving letters soon to bring their affected vehicles to dealerships for the fix.
Recalls Spread
On Thursday, Toyota said its recall was expanded to cover the Pontiac Vibe and some Toyota-brand vehicles sold in Europe and China.
Other Edmunds.com Resources
Edmunds.com has created a free resource to keep consumers informed about the 2010 Toyota recall on its Web site. The page,constantly updated as new information becomes available, features the Toyota recall list, guidance for driving a vehicle that suddenly accelerates and other critical information. – Michelle Krebs, Senior Analyst and Editor at Large
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