Toyota Expands Gas Pedals Recall to 4 Million Vehicles

 
Toyota has expanded its initial floormat recall to 4 million vehicles. It will now reconfigure the accelerator pedal to prevent it from getting caught in the floormat, causing unintended acceleration, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The automaker also plans to install a brake-override system on some models; if the brake and accelerator are depressed at the same time, the brake will take precedence.

The recall initially covered the 2007-10 model year Camry, 2005-10 Avalon, 2004-09 Prius cars as well as 2005-10 Tacoma and 2007-10 Tundra trucks. It is also recalling 2007-10 Lexus ES 350, 2006-10 IS 250, and 2006-10 IS 350 models. The increase to 4 million recalled vehicles is to account for those sold since October when the recall was first announced.

Toyota will still replace the floormats, but dealers will also shave three-quarters of an inch from accelerator pedals. By April, Toyota will have replacement pedals of that length.

The automaker will install the break override system on the Camry, Avalon and Lexus ES 350, IS 350 and IS 250 models, calling it “an extra measure of confidence.”

Toyota said it will begin fixing the recalled vehicles in early 2010, starting by notifying Camry, Avalon, and ES 350 owners. The Japanese press is speculating that this recall will cost Toyota around $5 billion. There’s no official word on the cost from Toyota at this point.

Toyota to Fix 4 Million Gas Pedals (Detroit News)

Recall Alert: 2000-2003 Toyota Tundra

Toyota and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) have announced that Toyota will recall approximately 110,000 Tundra pickup trucks from the 2000 to 2003 model years in 20 cold-weather states and the District of Columbia to fix a frame rust and corrosion problem that could cause the spare tire to fall away from the truck.

Originally, NHTSA's investigation covered only 2000-01 Tundras but during Toyota's investigation of the problem, the number of trucks discovered with the problem grew to include 2002 and 2003 models.

Toyota has just announced the recall, but NHTSA recommends that owners remove the spare tires before taking the trucks to the dealers to be remedied.

In addition, the corrosion may also cause damage to the rear brake lines and lead to brake system failures.

The states in the recall include Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia. These states typically use chemical de-icers, such as road salts, to treat roadways in winter weather.

Recall Alert: 2010 Volvo XC60

Volvo has issued a recall for 8,438 Volvo XC60 vehicles from the 2010 model year, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The recall is due to a glitch in the driver’s seat side cover panel (also called the seat control panel).

In the event of an impact with the driver’s side, the collision could release the attachment of the seatbelt to the seat frame. If the seatbelt fails to properly restrain the occupant, he or she could suffer serious injury in an accident.

The glitch was enough to get the 2010 XC60 an asterisk when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety issued its Top Safety Picks for 2010. IIHSs award only went to the XC60s manufactured after November when the fix went into effect.

For those 8,438 vehicles that need the fix, Volvo dealers will modify the inside of the driver’s seat side cover panel for free. Owners may contact Volvo at 800-458-1552 or NHTSA’s hotline at 888-327-4236.

2010|Volvo|XC60

Recall Alert: 2008-09 Mitsubishi Lancer and Lancer Evolution

Mitsubishi is recalling 29,353 Lancers and Lancer Evolutions from the 2008-09 model years, according to the National Highway Traffic Administration.

In areas where road salt is used in the winter, long-term exposure to a mixture of melted snow and salt may cause it to adhere to the car’s front-impact sensors. This recall affects vehicles originally sold in or currently registered in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia.

This water-salt coating may cause corrosion on the sensor. In a crash that would deploy the airbags, this type of short circuit may cause a delay in the airbag deployment, which would result in injuries to the driver or passenger.  

Dealers will install new front-airbag sensors that have improved corrosion resistance for free. This recall is expected to begin by Nov. 27.

For more information, owners can call Mitsubishi at 714-372-6000 or NHTSA’s hotline at 888-327-4236.

Recall Alert: 2007 Dodge Nitro

Chrysler is recalling 84,680 Dodge Nitros from the 2007 model year, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

High usage of the windshield wiper system’s delay mode may affect the primary wiper function and render the wiper system inoperable. In inclement weather, this problem would impair visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

Dealers will inspect and add external relays as well as update the totally integrated power module software to control the wiper functions.

For more information, owners can call Chrysler at 800-853-1403 or NHTSA’s hotline at 888-327-4236.

2007|Dodge|Nitro

Recall Alert: 2007-08 Jeep Wrangler

Chrysler has issued a recall for 161,450 Jeep Wranglers from the 2007-08 model years, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The vehicles affected by the recall were manufactured from June 2006-July 2008 and are equipped with an automatic transmission.

These vehicles weren’t equipped with a transmission fluid temperature warning system. Without this system, transmission fluid could boil over and come into contact with a hot engine or exhaust component, which could cause a fire.

Dealers will inspect and install a “hot oil” message in the instrument cluster and a chime indicating an elevated transmission fluid condition. This recall is expected to begin in December.

For more information, owners can call Chrysler at 800-853-1403 or NHTSA’s hotline at 888-327-4236.

2007|Jeep|Wrangler

2008|Jeep|Wrangler

Recall Alert: 2010 Jaguar XF

Jaguar has issued a recall for 2,131 XF models from the 2010 model year, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The recall is due to the fuel transfer pipe in the fuel tank, which may become kinked. This would prevent fuel from flowing from one side of the fuel tank to the fuel pump, causing “fuel starvation” at low fuel levels. This can cause the engine to stall without warning and possibly cause an accident.

Dealers will repair the fuel tank assembly for free. Owners may contact Jaguar at 800-452-4827 or NHTSA’s hotline at 888-327-4236.

2010|Jaguar|XF

Recall Alert: 2009 Nissan Sentra

Nissan has issued a recall for 10,586 Sentra models from the 2009 model year, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The recall affects those models equipped with Bosch master cylinders, which may leak brake fluid. If enough fluid leaks, the brake system warning indicator will light up because the brakes aren’t functioning properly. If one of the brake circuits fails, it will increase the vehicle’s stopping distance and the risk of a crash. No matter the car you drive, if a warning light goes on you should take it to be serviced immediately.

Dealers will inspect and replace the master cylinder brake booster assembly for free. Owners may contact Nissan at 800-647-7261 or NHTSA’s hotline at 888-327-4236.

2009|Nissan|Sentra

Recall Alert: 39,600 Mazda B Series Trucks

Mazda has issued a recall for 39,600 Mazda B Series pickup trucks from the 1995-1997 and 2001-2003 model years, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The only pickups being recalled are those equipped with the Texas Instruments speed-control deactivation switch and/or antilock brake system manufactured before Dec. 5, 2002. Part of the cruise control deactivation switch may corrode over time, possibly leaking. This could lead the switch to overheat, which may start a fire under the hood. This could happen even if the engine is not running.

Mazda dealers will install a universal fused jumper harness on the deactivation switch for free. Owners may contact Mazda at 800-222-5500 or NHTSA’s hotline at 888-327-4236.

2003|Mazda|B Series

Recall Alert: 52,937 GM Compact Cars

GM has issued a recall for 52,937 vehicles, including the 2006-2007 Chevrolet Cobalt, 2007 Pontiac G5 and 2006-2007 Saturn Ion, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The recall is for vehicles sold or currently registered in Arizona, California, Florida, Nevada and Texas and is due to a plastic supply or return port on the modular reservoir assembly that could crack. If either of these components cracks then fuel will leak, which could cause a fire if it ignites. The fuel leak may be visible depending on the size of the crack.

Dealers will replace the fuel pump module for free. Even if you do not own a vehicle sold or registered in the aforementioned states, check with your dealer all the same. Some vehicles from the same timeframe in other states may be eligible for special warranty coverage.

Owners may contact Chevrolet at 800-630-2438, Saturn at 800-972-8876 and Pontiac at 800-620-7668 or NHTSA’s hotline at 888-327-4236.

2007|Chevrolet|Cobalt

2007|Pontiac|G5

2010|Saturn|Ion