NEW YORK (AP) - Toyota is recalling 2.3 million U.S. vehicles to correct sticking accelerator pedals, the latest in a string of quality problems that have bedeviled the Japanese automaker.

The recall includes the 2009-2010 RAV4, the 2009-2010 Corolla, the 2009-2010 Matrix, the 2005-2010 Avalon, the 2007-2010 Camry, the 2010 Highlander, the 2007-2010 Tundra and the 2008-2010 Sequioia.

Toyota Motor Corp. spokesman Brian Lyons says the recall is due to the vehicles' pedal mechanism becoming worn and, in some cases, stuck.

The recall comes just months after Toyota issued a larger 4.2 million-vehicle recall because of pedals getting stuck due to insecure floor mats.

Japan's Toyota Motor Company says it will recall 2.3 million cars in the US due to a defect with the accelerator. This follows a recall of more than 4.2 million Toyota vehicles last November.

Toyota said on Thursday in the US that a problem with a part used for the accelerator pedal could prevent the gas pedal from returning to its original position.

The defective part is used in 8 US models, including Corollas and RAV4s produced from 2009 to 2010, and Camrys manufactured from 2007 to 2010.

The models for the Japanese market use a different part, and are excluded from the recall.

Toyota says 1.7 million units of the previously recalled cars are included in the current recall.

In November last year, Toyota found a problem with driver-side floor mats that caused the gas pedal to stick, leading to potentially fatal acceleration.

In another blow to the company's long-standing reputation for quality, Toyota said that they would announce another recall today, spanning some 2.3 million cars for problems with sticking accelerator pedals.

The recall includes the 2009-2010 RAV4, the 2009-2010 Corolla, the 2009-2010 Matrix, the 2005-2010 Avalon, the 2007-2010 Camry, the 2010 Highlander, the 2007-2010 Tundra and the 2008-2010 Sequioia. Toyota noted that the recall does not include the Prius or any of the Lexus or Scion brands, which use a pedal system from a different manufacturer.

The company was quick to note that this is actually a separate recall from the late 2009 recall involving 4.3 million vehicles for incorrect floor mats. This issue is related to the pedal system itself, which can become worn down and can become "sticky over time," according to company spokesman Brian Lyons.

The company's press release provided an explanation of what a driver might experience:

Toyota's Accelerator Recall Affects the Following Vehicles:
2009-2010 RAV4
2009-2010 Corolla
2009-2010 Matrix
2005-2010 Avalon
2007-2010 Camry
2010 Highlander
2008-2010 Sequoia

"The condition is rare, but can occur when the pedal mechanism becomes worn and, in certain conditions, the accelerator pedal may become harder to depress, slower to return or, in the worst case, stuck in a partially depressed position."

Toyota noted that the remedy and timing of the fix isn't apparent yet. Today's announcement is a notice that they will bring a recall, not the actual recall filing itself.

Although Toyota hasn't indicated how many incidents led to this particular recall, they did indicate that reports of stuck gas pedals have surfaced in vehicles with no floor mats.

“In recent months, Toyota has investigated isolated reports of sticking accelerator pedal mechanisms in certain vehicles without the presence of floor mats,” said TMS Group Vice President Irv Miller.

“Our investigation indicates that there is a possibility that certain accelerator pedal mechanisms may, in rare instances, mechanically stick in a partially depressed position or return slowly to the idle position. Consistent with our commitment to the safety of our cars and our customers, we have initiated this voluntary recall action.”

Following the tragedy that claimed the lives of a family of four last August, Toyota has been more closely investigating throttle issues on all of their vehicles. The terrible tragedy of the Saylor family occurred when the gas pedal of the family's loaner Lexus ES350 became entrapped on the floor mat. We later learned that the accident was entirely avoidable, as another customer reported a similar issue to the dealership earlier that week. Sadly, the message was never relayed and nothing was done to address it.

While the dealership was more to blame in that situation, Toyota began an intense investigation. Besides issuing a voluntary recall on affected vehicles, Toyota also offered some advice that can be used here as well, if you happen to find yourself in a situation where your gas pedal becomes stuck while depressed.

If the accelerator pedal sticks in a partially open throttle position or returns slowly to idle position, the vehicle can be controlled with firm and steady application of the brakes. Don't pump the brakes because it could deplete the vacuum assist. That would make it even harder to depress the brake pedal. The brakes will stop the vehicle no matter the throttle position. When under control, the vehicle should be driven to the nearest safe location and the engine should be turned off. Contact a Toyota dealer as soon as possible for assistance.

Toyota has announced a new voluntary recall of approximately 2.3 million vehicles to correct "sticking accelerator pedals" on eight specific Toyota models. The recall includes late model versions of the RAV4, Corolla, Matrix, Avalon, Camry, Highlander, Tundra and Sequoia (follow the jump for the list of vehicles including model years). This recall is entirely separate from the one Toyota announced last September, its largest ever at approximately 4.2 million vehicles, involving "pedal entrapment" by floor mats that could cause unintended acceleration. That said, about 1.7 million vehicles out there on the roads are involved in both recalls, though no Lexus or Scion models are involved in the one announced today.

This particular recall addresses complaints by Toyota customers who have experienced unintended acceleration not caused by floor mats jamming the accelerator pedal down. In these cases, which Toyota says are rare, the pedal mechanism could be worn and "become harder to depress, slower to return or, in the worst case, stuck in a partially depressed position."

A class action law suit filed against the automaker last November alleges that Toyota has known about this problem for four years and received 2,000 complaints. It also alleges that sticking accelerator pedals have resulted in 16 deaths and 243 injuries.

Last week, Automotive News reported that Toyota will also begin installing brake override systems in its vehicles beginning with the Toyota Camry and Lexus ES350. These systems would force the engine into idle if they detected the driver was trying to apply the brakes unsuccessfully. With two large recalls and the introduction of brake override systems, Toyota may have finally covered all the bases when it comes to possible causes and solutions for its vehicles potentially taking off on their own. The court of public opinion, however, will decide if it could have moved more quickly doing so.

[Source: Toyota | Image: Stan Honda/AFP/Getty]


Toyota's accelerator pedal recall is confined to the following Toyota Division vehicles:
• 2009-2010 RAV4,
• 2009-2010 Corolla,
• 2009-2010 Matrix,
• 2005-2010 Avalon,
• 2007-2010 Camry,
• 2010 Highlander,
• 2007-2010 Tundra,
• 2008-2010 Sequoia

Toyota considers expanding massive recall over gas pedals to Europe
Tuesday 26th January, 06:40 AM JST

NAGOYA —
Toyota Motor Corp is considering recalling about 2 million vehicles in Europe, following a similar move in the United States to repair potentially defective accelerator pedals, sources familiar with the matter said Monday.

Last week, the Japanese auto giant issued a safety recall of about 2.3 million vehicles, including Corolla and Camry models, with U.S. authorities, citing instances where gas pedals can get stuck in a partially depressed position.

The sources said the same parts of the accelerator pedals produced by U.S. manufacturers, which were subject to the recent recall, are also used in vehicles sold in Europe.

Toyota officials are currently in talks with authorities in each country since regulations over recalls vary, but the automaker may issue a voluntary recall even if the situation does not warrant a mandatory recall.

‘‘We cannot announce the model types or the number of vehicles to be recalled until negotiations with authorities are completed,’’ a Toyota spokesperson said.

WASHINGTON -- Toyota is suspending U.S. sales of eight recalled vehicle models to fix accelerator pedals that stick.

As part of the plan, Toyota is halting production at five manufacturing facilities for the week of Feb. 1 "to assess and coordinate activities."

There are 2.3 million vehicles involved in the recall, which was announced last week.

The Japanese automaker says the sales suspension includes the 2009-2010 RAV4, the 2009-2010 Corolla, the 2009-2010 Matrix, the 2005-2010 Avalon, the 2007-2010 Camry, the 2010 Highlander, the 2007-2010 Tundra and the 2008-2010 Sequoia.

The recall came months after Toyota recalled 4.2 million vehicles due to gas pedals that could become trapped under floor mats, causing the vehicle to accelerate.

-- The Associated Press

A Toyota spokesman said there are no confirmed deaths traceable to the defect