Toyota® Recall - Auto Accident

St. Louis Personal Injury Lawyers

Toyota Motor Sales announced a recall of 2.3 million vehicles because of sticking accelerator pedals on specific Toyota Division models. This recall is separate from the ongoing recall of 4.2 million Toyota and Lexus vehicles due to the risk of "pedal entrapment" by incorrect or out of place accessory floor mats. Approximately 1.7 million Toyota vehicles are subject to both recalls (1).

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) warns the accelerator pedals of millions of Toyotas may get stuck in the "open" position, which describes a situation when the accelerator pedal is pressed down and the vehicle accelerates out of the driver's control. The NHTSA says, "A stuck accelerator may result in very high vehicle speeds and a crash, which could cause serious injury or death."

The NHTSA strongly recommends taking out removable floor mats on the driver's side in certain models and not to replace them with any other mat, either from Toyota or any other brand (2).

Update 2/4/10:

Toyota has added 270,000 of its latest-generation Prius models to the millions of vehicles already subject to recall. The additional recall was made after the NHTSA announced it was opening a formal investigation of the Toyota Prius Hybrid model year 2010 to look into allegations of momentary loss of braking capability while traveling over an uneven road surface, pothole, or bump.

"An Urgent Matter"

"This is an urgent matter," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. "For everyone's sake, we strongly urge owners of these vehicles to remove mats or other obstacles that could lead to unintended acceleration (2)."

Some of the recalled Toyota and Lexus models include:

• 2007-2010 Camry
• 2005-2010 Avalon
• 2004-2009 Prius
• 2005-2010 Tacoma
• 2007-2010 Tundra
• 2007-2010 ES 350
• 2006-2010 IS 250 and IS350

A Second Safety Recall Following Serious Injuries and Deaths

Toyota announced a second recall in January 2010 for 2.3 million models that was separate from the 4.2 million vehicles subject to the pedal entrapment recall. The second recall also affects the accelerator pedal of millions of Toyota vehicles, but instead of the pedal getting trapped beneath a floor mat, it may get stuck in the "open" (acceleration) position because of mechanical defects in various Toyota cars, SUVs, and trucks.

The following Toyota vehicles have been recalled due to their potential for unintended acceleration:

• 2009-2010 RAV4
• 2009-2010 Corolla
• 2009-2010 Matrix
• 2005-2010 Avalon
• 2007-2010 Camry
• 2010 Highlander
• 2007-2010 Tundra
• 2008-2010 Sequoia

Affected Accelerator Pedal Signs

According to Toyota's U.S. national manager for environmental safety and quality, "The accelerator might feel a little balky or stiff or rough when you depress it. The pedal may be slow to return to its original position after you let up. It won't spring back like it used to. The problem is progressive, meaning if you feel a slight change, it likely will get worse over time (3)."

We Want to Help

Our law firm wants to help you and your loved ones if you've been the victim of unintended acceleration due to the pedal of your Toyota or Lexus vehicle becoming trapped under a floor mat or getting stuck because of mechanical reasons. If you or someone you care about has suffered, contact our law firm today and we'll do everything in our power to help get you the compensation you deserve.

Sources:

1. "Toyota Temporarily Suspends Sales of Suspected Vehicles," from Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc., Accessed 1/27/10 via www.toyota.com.
2. "Toyota Owners Cautioned About Floor Mats And Accelerator Pedal Interference, Toyota to Launch a Safety Recall on Specific Toyota and Lexus Vehicles," from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Accessed 1/27/10 via the NHTSA website at www.nhtsa.gov.
3. "Toyota Recall Sparks Questions," from USA Today. Accessed 1/27/10 via the USA Today website at www.usatoday.com.

This law firm is not associated with, sponsored by, or affiliated with Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A, Inc., or any of its trademarks or subsidiaries, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, or USA Today.

If you’ve been hurt in a recalled Toyota® or Lexus®, Get the Power of CofmanTownsley. Our Missouri drug injury attorneys know how to win. With our main office located in St. Louis, we easily serve clients throughout Missouri and Illinois, including Belleville, Chicago, Clayton, Edwardsville, Jefferson City, Kansas City, and Springfield. Get the help you need. Fill out a free online consultation form or dial (866) 483-3618.

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