Toyota Recall Information for our Customers

How to stop your vehicle if accelerator sticks, see the YouTube video click here

Toyota Temporarily Suspends Sales of Selected Vehicles

First Floor mat issue press release from Toyota click here

FAQs for Sticking Accelerator Pedal Recall and Suspension of Sales

St. Charles Toyota’s dedicated Recall Hotline (866-468-6968 or 630-485-5067)

email Recall@toyota.net

Toyota Customer Service: 1-800-331-4331

Latest News About Toyota's Safety Recall Campaign

Dear Valued Customers,

As you know, we at St. Charles Toyota are committed to exceeding your expectations and understandably the recent Toyota Safety Recall for accelerator pedals makes it more challenging to do just that. It is during these challenging times that we hope this commitment to you is more apparent than ever.

On behalf of St. Charles Toyota and the Alf family, we sincerely and personally apologize for any stress and inconvenience this recall has caused you. Ensuring your safety and providing a timely, comprehensive fix to the problem is our number one priority. Though information and details on a path forward are still forthcoming, we are confident that Toyota is taking the right steps to remedy the issue fully, and restore your faith in our reputation for high quality, safe, reliable vehicles.

Actual instances of a stuck accelerator pedal are rare, but the mere thought of it occurring is concerning enough.

Below is a list of new vehicles that are non affected by the announcement and are available for sale at St. Charles Toyota:
• Yaris
• Prius
• Corolla with VINs that begin with “JT”
• Camry with VINs that begin with “JT”
• Camry with VINs that begin with “4T1” AND are equipped with Denso accelerator pedals
• Scion – All models
• Venza
• FJ Cruiser
• Highlander with VINs that begin with “JT”
• RAV4 with VINs that begin with “JT”
• Land Cruiser
• Sienna
• 4Runner
• Tacoma

Below is a list of new and used vehicles that are affected by the voluntary recall:
• Avalon VINs beginning with “4T1” MY 2005 - 2010
• Matrix VINs beginning with “2T1”  MY 2009 – 2010
• Tundra VINS beginning with “5TB”  MY 2007 – 2008
• Tundra VINS beginning with “5TF  MY 2007- 2010
• Sequoia VINS beginning with “5TD”  MY 2008 – 2010
• Camry VINS beginning with “4T4”  MY 2007- 2010
• Camry VINS beginning with “4T1” with CTS accelerator pedal MY 2009 – 2010
• Corolla VINs beginning with “1NX” and “2T1” MY 2009 – 2010
• Highlander VINs beginning with “5TD”  MY 2010
• RAV4 VINs beginning with “2T3” MY 2009 – 2010

Below is the latest information available to us regarding the recall along with steps we are taking to implement the fix as quickly and efficiently as possible.

• If your vehicle is affected, you will receive a recall letter directly from Toyota. Upon receipt, please call St. Charles Toyota’s dedicated Recall Hotline (866-468-6968 or 630-485-5067) to make an appointment to bring in your vehicle. Any questions or concerns you may have can be directed to the St. Charles Toyota Recall Hotline (866-468-6968 or 630-485-5067) or email Recall@toyota.net.

• Parts to reinforce the pedals have been shipped by Toyota and are en-route to us now. As soon as we receive the parts and complete appropriate technician training, we will begin working on customer vehicles.

• It is anticipated that the installation of the required part and completion of the fix will take approximately 30 minutes to complete. Due to high volume, please understand that we are doing everything possible to accommodate your needs and attend to your vehicle in a quick and timely fashion.

• We are committed to adding and/or reallocating personnel as well as extending service hours to accommodate expected demand and reduce wait times.

• We are posting information on our website about this recall at www.toyota.net/recall.htm

• St. Charles Toyota will offer a complimentary carwash after your repair is completed. Please allow extra time should you wish to partake in this added service.

Additional information from Toyota

Latest News from Toyota About the Safety Recall Campaign FAQs for Sticking Accelerator Pedal Recall and Suspension of Sales http://pressroom.toyota.com/pr/tms/toyota/FAQ-for-Sticking-Accelerator-Pedal-152196.aspx

Detailed information and answers to questions about issues related to this recall are available to customers at www.toyota.com/recall

We will work diligently to keep you informed and provide updated information. We thank you for your patience and understanding during this difficult time.

Again, we deeply regret the concern this has caused you.

Sincerely,
 

Toyota Announces Comprehensive Plan to Fix Accelerator Pedals on Recalled Vehicles and Ensure Customer Safety

Rigorously Tested Reinforced Pedals Will Eliminate the Excess Friction that Caused Sticking  

Toyota Will Make Concerted Effort to Repair Recalled Vehicles as Quickly and Conveniently as Possible


        TORRANCE, Calif., February 1, 2010 – Toyota Motor Sales (TMS) U.S.A., Inc., today announced it will begin fixing accelerator pedals in recalled Toyota Division vehicles this week.  Toyota’s engineers have developed and rigorously tested a solution that involves reinforcing the pedal assembly in a manner that eliminates the excess friction that has caused the pedals to stick in rare instances.  In addition, Toyota has developed an effective solution for vehicles in production.

        Parts to reinforce the pedals are already being shipped for use by dealers, and dealer training is under way.  Many Toyota dealers will work extended hours to complete the recall campaign as quickly and conveniently as possible, some even staying open 24 hours a day. The company has also taken the unprecedented action of stopping production of affected vehicles for the week of February 1.

         “Nothing is more important to us than the safety and reliability of the vehicles our customers drive,” said Jim Lentz, president and Chief Operating Officer, TMS.  “We deeply regret the concern that our recalls have caused for our customers and we are doing everything we can – as fast as we can – to make things right.  Stopping production is never an easy decision, but we are 100% confident it was the right decision.  We know what’s causing the sticking accelerator pedals, and we know what we have to do to fix it.  We also know it is most important to fix this problem in the cars on the road.”

Lentz added: “We are focused on making this recall as simple and trouble-free as possible, and will work day and night with our dealers to fix recalled vehicles quickly.  We want to demonstrate that our commitment to safety is as high as ever and that our commitment to our customers is unwavering.”

        On January 21, Toyota announced its intention to recall approximately 2.3 million select Toyota Division vehicles equipped with a specific pedal assembly and suspended sales of the eight models involved in the recall on January 26.  

Toyota vehicles affected by the recall include:

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

No Lexus Division or Scion vehicles are affected by these actions.  Also not affected are Toyota Prius, Tacoma, Sienna, Venza, Solara, Yaris, 4Runner, FJ Cruiser, Land Cruiser, Highlander hybrids and certain Camry models, including Camry hybrids, all of which remain for sale.

         Further, Camry, RAV4, Corolla and Highlander vehicles with Vehicle Identification Numbers (VIN) that begin with "J" are not affected by the accelerator pedal recall.

        In the event that a driver experiences an accelerator pedal that sticks in a partial open throttle position or returns slowly to idle position, the vehicle can be controlled with firm and steady application of the brakes.  The brakes should not be pumped repeatedly because it could deplete vacuum assist, requiring stronger brake pedal pressure.  The vehicle should be driven to the nearest safe location, the engine shut off and a Toyota dealer contacted for assistance.

Detailed information and answers to questions about issues related to this recall are available to customers at www.toyota.com/recall and at the Toyota Customer Experience Center at 1-800-331-4331.

How Toyota Will Fix Recalled Vehicles
       
        Toyota has pinpointed the issue that could, on rare occasions, cause accelerator pedals in recalled vehicles to stick in a partially open position.  The issue involves a friction device in the pedal designed to provide the proper “feel” by adding resistance and making the pedal steady and stable.  The device includes a shoe that rubs against an adjoining surface during normal pedal operation.  Due to the materials used, wear and environmental conditions, these surfaces may, over time, begin to stick and release instead of operating smoothly.  In some cases, friction could increase to a point that the pedal is slow to return to the idle position or, in rare cases, the pedal sticks, leaving the throttle partially open.

        Toyota’s solution for current owners is both effective and simple.  A precision-cut steel reinforcement bar will be installed into the assembly that will reduce the surface tension between the friction shoe and the adjoining surface.  With this reinforcement in place, the excess friction that can cause the pedal to stick is eliminated.  The company has confirmed the effectiveness of the newly reinforced pedals through rigorous testing on pedal assemblies that had previously shown a tendency to stick.  

Separately from the recall for sticking accelerator pedals, Toyota is in the process of recalling vehicles to address rare instances in which floor mats have trapped the accelerator pedal in certain Toyota and Lexus models (announced November 25, 2009), and is already notifying customers about how it will fix this issue.