Toyota Recalls 55,000 Floormats, Yes, Floormats

This has got to be the easiest-to-fix recall notice we can remember, even though the problems caused can be severe. Toyota is recalling 55,000 all-weather floormats because they can stick underneath the gas pedal, causing unwanted acceleration. It seems that complaints arose about the unintended acceleration in 2007 Lexus ES 350 sedans, but we’ve also heard similar complaints regarding the Toyota Prius.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is highlighting the recall because of the number of reported accidents — eight in the Lexus ES 350 alone. So what’s the problem? The all-weather mats are made of rubber, and if they aren’t properly clipped into place they can slide below the pedals and become stuck when the gas pedal is pressed. One owner reported reaching speeds in excess of 100 mph due to the problem. There were also incidents of owners and dealers “installing” the all-weather mats over the standard floor mats instead of replacing one with the other.

In total, 30,500 mats for the 2007 Lexus ES 350 and 24,500 mats for 2007 and 2008 Toyota Camrys will be recalled in November, with replacements given free of charge. There’s no word on other Toyota and Lexus models included in the recall. NHTSA suggests owners check to make sure their current mats are secured properly and are not resting on top of the standard mats.

Toyota Recalls 55,000 Floor Mats (The Detroit News)

Comments

Hah

[JM]

another recall? this can cause some pretty serious injury, even though its only for floor mats. toyota really should clean up their act with all of these recalls before something REALLY bad happens.

[dave s]

I have a Prius and I bought the Toyota all-weather floor mats from the parts dept- wonder if I should exchange them? I have had them get stuck under the gas pedal before. The car wash people never seem to clip them back into place!

[Treacherous Jellybeans]

Dave...you don't wash your own car? LOL

[Anon]

I love how this article trys to downplay the fact that it is very dangerous recall.

[J]

I am surprised to see that people don't check these stuffs before they start driving.

I used to have some aftermarket all season mats, gotta check them every single day, which made a good habit.

[LM]

My Toyota all weather mats clearly say to not install them over the carpet floor mats and to use the clips. guess what, no problem whatsoever. What numskulls the dealers are. They should be sued for their negligence in installation.

[Drew]

My Cadillac doesn't have any clips at all just those rubber spines on the back side of the mat, yet I never have this problem. How can it really be something this simple?

[KJ]

Another cure to this so called problem, adjust the mats so they are properly fitted to the floor well. So often I see mats in cars that are pushed way up to the firewall.

As for the Toyota bashers here, if only GM or Ford's recalls would be so simple as a floor mat recall. But no, we have to get the really fun recalls like gas tanks exploding, vehichles rolling over.....you name it.

[Hollywood]

See, Toyota has recalls too. More than other imports.

[z]

If I recall - GM and Ford have a history of denying that problems exist until the NTSB actually demands the recall whereas Toyota has identified possible problems and acts on them. There is a big difference in how the problems are handled.

[LM]

Hey Hollywood - did you ever stop to think they also outsell all other imports? By a significant margin?

Is there a site that has a comprehensive recall list and rate all in one place? You know, recalls/million vehicles or something?
Dave?

[Skinner]

For years (perhaps decades) Ford has put a hole with a grommet in their driver's floormat, with a corresponding hook in the floor of the car. Not very difficult or expensive.

[LM]

Skinner - this is exactly what Toyota's have. But the regular floor mats need to be removed, and the hook actually attached to the hole which either the dealer or installer must do.

[Troy in Ft Walton Beach]

I'd like a recall on my vehicle because it doesn't get the MPG figures it said on the window sticker.

[Troy in Ft Walton Beach]

I'd like a recall on my vehicle because it doesn't get the MPG figures it said on the window sticker.

[Unknown]

This may be off topic. Lexus ES 350 and Camry is basically the same car. Why would anyone pay more for the Lexus...I know, must be the Lexus name. I have a game I play on ES350 owners. I always compliment them on what a nice Camry they have or "I've never seen a Camry in that color". Then they go on to explain why they have paid too much for a "Toyota". I guess egos are always an easy sell in the car biz!

[Tom L]

Ok, I'll let the "Buy American" rednecks win this one. I mean, common, floormats? Why the hell can't the dealers just put them in right? you know, by removing the carpet floormats then putting these in their place, while clamped down?

Yeesh. This is almost as bad as faulty alternators, and non-locking seatbelts on some other brands of car.

[J]

Tom L
Please remind me who is working in those Toyota dealers?

[Lance]

15 years ago ford was recalling floormats on the F-series trucks and 5 years ago on the windstar. How soon we forget.

[D. Harrison in Lake Saint Louis, MO]

Toyota should send a notice to all owners of Toyota/Lexus automobiles relative to the problem of the gas pedal sticking on mats on top of mats. I would not have know of the problem other than through personal experience and reading of the problem in searching the recall on this website as I heard a recall was issued including Lexus. It happened to me with rubber floor mats purchased from a supply source other than the dealer over the carpet mats. Not all consumers have heard and would not search the web for fun. Death may be on their hands!

[J]

So if they designed the gas pedal attached on the floor, so such problem should exist.

[Hollywood]

Hey LM

Toyota ousells which imports? Volkswagen, Hyundai, BMW? You need to specify. Definately not which import you were trying to say they outsell.

[LM]

they outsell all imports.

[Hollywood]

No they don't. Toyota is not the king like you think it is and like you wish it is. They don't outsell. You still didn't answer the question. "they outsell all imports" is not an answer.

[z]

Hollywood -
If Toyota is the #1 in sales - how could they not outsell other imports. Show us your numbers to back up what you say.

[z]

Maybe you are referring to all other imports combined????If so - that's a stupid comment to make. But import to import and import to domestic...Toyota is #1.

[ziggy]

Actually this article should not matter to anyone who has blogged here. It should only matter to the 2 MILLION people that bought Toyotas this year (so far). 1.2 million cars and 800K SUVs and trucks. Hollywood - does that help you out while you research your numbers?

[Hollywood]

Okay Toyota defenders who wear their pants up so high and are unfriendly. Does it really matter if Toyota is #1? The thing that really matters is that if Toyota even was #1, it is not the best and has been recalled. Why can't you get it in your brains already. It has also been recalled many other times to those of you who are defenders of stupidity. September sales have gone down for Toyota, just like for Chrysler, while Nissan and Honda had sales that went up. Clearly, the Toyota RAV4 did not outsell the import, the Honda CR-V, so I don't know who you're aiming against by saying Toyota is #1. I can clearly see where it is #1, or close to being #1 and that is in recalls. If more recalls were issued to address Toyota problems, then we would see the real truth behind somebody's statement saying that Toyota is #1.

By the way, did LM change his name to z and ziggy, because it is so obvious and I think he's using multiple names.

[Hollywood]

Yesterday, i was driving behind a white 200-2002 model year Toyota Corolla that had steering wheel problems. The car was weaving left and right and I clearly saw that the driver wasn't drunk because she was trying really hard to maintain lane position, but she merely hit a parked car because her Toyota Corolla has steering wheel problems. What do you say to thet, defenders of Toyota?