How Toyota Plans to Fix Deadly Accelerator Pedal

After yesterday it announced and, at the same time acknowledged there is a problem with the accelerator pedal on some 3.8 million Toyota and Lexus vehicles, the Japanese carmaker released details on how it plans to fix the issue.

According to the carmaker, the problems will be fixed as follows:

"The shape of the accelerator pedal will be reconfigured to address the risk of floor mat entrapment, even when an older-design all-weather floor mat or other inappropriate floor mat is improperly attached, or is placed on top of another floor mat."

"For the ES350, Camry, and Avalon models involved, the shape of the floor surface underneath will also be reconfigured to increase the space between the accelerator pedal and the floor."

In addition, Toyota will replace all the floor mats believed to have been the cause of the stuck accelerator pedal on the cars. The extra safety measures don't stop here, as Toyota will install a brake override system on the Camry, Avalon, and Lexus ES 350, IS350 and IS 250.

This new system will cut engine power in case of simultaneous application of both the accelerator and brake pedals. It will be installed or become standard equipment on Toyota and Lexus vehicles starting January 2010, and will be first featured on 2010 ES350 and Camry.

To remind you, the affected models are 2007 to 2010 Camry, 2005 to 2010 Avalon, 2004 to 2009 Prius, 2005 to 2010 Tacoma, 2007 to 2010 Tundra, 2007 to 2010 ES350, 2006 to 2010 IS250, and 2006 to 2010 IS 350.