Defective Pedal prompts Toyota to expand recall

July 2, 2012

The Detroit News (6/30, Shepardson) reported that Toyota on Friday “expanded its 2009 recall of vehicles for pedal entrapment to include 154,000 model year 2010 RX 350 and RX 450h (hybrid) SUVs from its Lexus luxury line, the first new recall for the issue since early 2011. The automaker told National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that it is still seeking a fix for the Lexus vehicles.” NHTSA said it was urging “consumers impacted by the recall to immediately remove the floor mat and have their vehicles serviced promptly.”

The Detroit Free Press (6/30, Spangler) noted that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration “expects the remedy proposed by the company – which involves replacing the pedal and the mat and installing the override software – to take care of the problem.”

The Los Angeles Times (6/30, Hirsch, Chang) says NHTSA regulators “warned the automaker that it might face another investigation as to whether the company ‘met its obligation to notify the agency and conduct a recall in a timely manner.'”

The Wall Street Journal (6/30, Ramsey, Subscription Publication) added that NHTSA approached Toyota a month ago “after the agency observed an increase in consumer complaints and other reports regarding pedal entrapment in these vehicles.”