"Helping ensure the safety of our customers and restoring confidence in Toyota are very important to our company," said Group Vice President and Toyota Division General Manager Bob Carter. "This action is necessary until a remedy is finalized. We’re making every effort to address this situation for our customers as quickly as possible."
Toyota has investigated isolated reports of sticking accelerator pedal mechanisms in certain vehicles without the presence of floor mats. There is a possibility that certain accelerator pedal mechanisms may, in rare instances, mechanically stick in a partially depressed position or return slowly to the idle position.
Toyota’s accelerator pedal recall and suspension of sales is confined to the following Toyota Division vehicles:
· 2009-2010 RAV4
· 2009-2010 Corolla
· 2009-2010 Matrix
· 2005-2010 Avalon
· Certain 2007-2010 Camry
· 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 and select Camry models, including all Camry hybrids, which will remain for sale.
Due to the sales suspension, Toyota is expected to stop producing vehicles on the following production lines for the week of Feb. 1 to assess and coordinate activities. The North America vehicle production facilities affected are:
Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Canada (Corolla, Matrix, and RAV4)
Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Indiana (Sequoia and Highlander)
Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky Line 1 (Camry and Avalon)
Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc. (Camry)
Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Texas (Tundra)
No other North American Toyota vehicle production facilities are affected by the decision to stop production.
The sticking accelerator pedal recall is separate from the on-going recall of Toyota and Lexus vehicles to reduce the risk of pedal entrapment by incorrect or out of place accessory floor mats. Approximately 1.7 million Toyota Division vehicles are subject to both separate recall actions.
CTS Automotive Products, a pedal supplier to Toyota since 2005, reported, "Our products are not implicated by the November 2009 recall. The products we supply to Toyota, including the pedals covered by the recent recall, have been manufactured to Toyota’s design specifications."
According to Toyota, CTS Automotive Products is working on ways to modify the faulty pedals in recalled cars on the road instead of replacing them.
According to USA Today’s ‘DRIVE ON,’ GM has weighed in on the issue, as it relates to its Vibe, a near-clone of the Toyota Matrix that was built by Toyota for Pontiac.