Toyota Recalls 3.8 Million Vehicles Over Floor Mats

Toyota announced a massive recall of 3.8 million vehicles because driver's side floor mats in certain vehicles could become stuck causing the vehicle to accelerate out of control.

Wednesday, September 30th 2009, 7:12 pm

By: News 9


By Jon Jordan, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Toyota announced a massive recall of 3.8 million vehicles because driver's side floor mats in certain vehicles could become stuck causing the vehicle to accelerate out of control.

Last month, Chris Lastrella made a frantic 911 call while riding in the rear passenger seat of a Lexus 350 stating the gas pedal was stuck. Inside the car with Lastrella was his 13-year-old niece, his sister and his brother-in-law, who was driving the vehicle as it raced down the San Diego Highway.

The Lexus topped 120 miles per hour before coming to a fiery crash killing everyone inside.

Investigators believe the driver's side floor mat may have become lodged under the gas pedal causing it to stick and causing the car to accelerate out of control.

That incident is just one reason Toyota has decided to recall some their Toyota and Lexus models.

See the full list of recalled Toyota and Lexus models

Tad Kennedy with Kennedy Tire and Auto has read extensively about the recall and sees where the problem lies especially with all-terrain type floor mats.

"They're asking drivers of Lexus and Toyota to pull out the floor mat," Kennedy said. "Because their rubber and the brake and gas pedals are made of rubber and that rubber against rubber can grab each other and not release," Kennedy.

Toyota wouldn't say how many complaints they've received but did issue a statement.

"A stuck open accelerator petal may result in very high vehicle speeds and make it difficult to stop a vehicle, which could cause a crash, serious injury or death."

Toyota is working on a solution but officials said the best thing for vehicle owners to do is to remove the floor mat.

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