Official: Toyota Recalls 3,8 Million Cars in the US

It is official. Toyota Motor Corp will reshape or replace the accelerator pedal on 3.8 million vehicles. The company’s biggest recall will involve reconfiguring the shape of the pedals in order to eliminate the risk of jamming in the floor mat. Just to be sure, original floor mats will be replaced with redesigned ones.

“As an extra measure of confidence,” Toyota will install a brake override system on the Camry, Avalon, and Lexus ES 350, IS 350 and IS 250 models. This will shut off the engine when a driver will simultaneously press both pedals.

Toyota will send recall letters to owners of the Camry, ES 350, and Avalon by the end of 2009, while owners of the other vehicles involved in the recall will be notified in 2010. At the beginning of next year, the Japanese company will train dealers to reshape the accelerator pedals. If customers choose to opt for a new part, the new reshaped pedals will be available in April, Reuters wrote.

Toyota, which is already in a big financial mess, stated that the costs of the recalls will not influence its business, as the Japanese company has already set aside $5.6 billion in provisions for recalls.

The models involved in the recall are:

• 2007 to 2010 model year Camry
• 2005 to 2010 Avalon
• 2004 to 2009 Prius
• 2005 to 2010 Tacoma
• 2007 to 2010 Tundra
• 2007 to 2010 Lexus ES 350
• 2006 to 2010 Lexus IS 250
• 2006 to 2010 Lexus IS 350