Toyota Recalls Lexus/Camry Floor Mats; NHTSA Issues Advisory
Toyota Motor Co. and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration are urging owners of 2007 and 2008 Lexus ES 350 models and certain other Toyota vehicles to make sure the driver-side, "All Weather" floor mats are properly secured before driving the vehicles. Toyota announced it will conduct a recall of all the affected floor mats, which are used in the 2007/2008 Lexus ES 350 as well as the 2007/2008 Camry. NHTSA and Toyota noted that, if unsecured, the mats being recalled can slip forward and trap the accelerator pedal, causing the vehicle to accelerate uncontrollably.
Although not part of the recall, NHTSA urged drivers of other Toyota models, including Avalons and Prius hybrids, to check the driver-side floor mats to make sure they are properly installed. While the recall is underway, drivers of these Toyota vehicles are strongly urged to make sure the driver-side floor mat is properly secured to the retention hooks on the floorboard. Also, never overlay two mats on top of each other because the retention hooks cannot secure the top-most mat which can then can slip and trap the accelerator pedal.
Of course, depending on vehicle design, it is possible for unsecured floor mats to interfere with accelerator or brake pedals in a wide range of vehicles. Therefore, NHTSA reminds all drivers of all makes and models to check the driver-side floor mats for secure installation and to follow manufacturer instructions for installing the mats. For more information, consumers can contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Hotline at 888-327-4236 or their Toyota or Lexus dealer.