Publications
Partners
WASHINGTON - Toyota recalled 2.17-million vehicles in the US on Thursday to address accelerator pedals that could become trapped by floor mats or jammed in driver's side carpeting and federal regulators closed its investigation into the embattled Japanese automaker.
The Transportation Department said it had reviewed more than 400 000 pages of Toyota documents to determine whether the scope of the company's recalls for pedal-trapping was sufficient.
"As a result of the agency's review, we (the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) asked Toyota to recall these additional vehicles and, now that the company has done so, our investigation is closed," said NHTSA administrator David Strickland.
HUGE NUMBERS...
Toyota has now recalled more than 14-million vehicles globally to fix accelerator pedals and other safety problems since 2009. US regulators said earlier this month (Feb 2011) that electronic flaws were not to blame for reports of sudden, unintended acceleration. The company paid the US government a record $48.8-million in fines for its handling of three recalls.
The world's No.1 automaker said more than half of the vehicles under recall were being added to a comprehensive 2009 recall that fixed accelerator pedals potential to be trapped by a floor mat.
The automaker said it would add three models to the 2009 pedal-trapping recall: about 600,000 4Runner SUV's from the 2003-2009 model years; 761 000 RAV4 compact SUV's from the 2006-2010 model years; and 17 000 Lexus LX 570 units from the 2008-2011 model years.
The recall also includes 372 000 RX 330, RX 350 and RX 400H vehicles from the 2004 through to early 2007 model years and 397 000 2004-2006 Toyota Highlander SUV's and hybrids to replace floor carpets and retention clips on the driver's side that could interfere with the accelerator pedal arm.
Toyota also recalled 20 000 2006 through to early 2007 GS 300 and GS 350 all-wheel drive vehicles to change the shape of a plastic pad embedded in the driver's side floor carpet that could cause pedal interference.
Toyota spokesman Brian Lyons said the company was unaware of any accidents or injuries related to the new recalls.
The Transportation Department said it had reviewed more than 400 000 pages of Toyota documents to determine whether the scope of the company's recalls for pedal-trapping was sufficient.
"As a result of the agency's review, we (the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) asked Toyota to recall these additional vehicles and, now that the company has done so, our investigation is closed," said NHTSA administrator David Strickland.
HUGE NUMBERS...
Toyota has now recalled more than 14-million vehicles globally to fix accelerator pedals and other safety problems since 2009. US regulators said earlier this month (Feb 2011) that electronic flaws were not to blame for reports of sudden, unintended acceleration. The company paid the US government a record $48.8-million in fines for its handling of three recalls.
The world's No.1 automaker said more than half of the vehicles under recall were being added to a comprehensive 2009 recall that fixed accelerator pedals potential to be trapped by a floor mat.
The automaker said it would add three models to the 2009 pedal-trapping recall: about 600,000 4Runner SUV's from the 2003-2009 model years; 761 000 RAV4 compact SUV's from the 2006-2010 model years; and 17 000 Lexus LX 570 units from the 2008-2011 model years.
The recall also includes 372 000 RX 330, RX 350 and RX 400H vehicles from the 2004 through to early 2007 model years and 397 000 2004-2006 Toyota Highlander SUV's and hybrids to replace floor carpets and retention clips on the driver's side that could interfere with the accelerator pedal arm.
Toyota also recalled 20 000 2006 through to early 2007 GS 300 and GS 350 all-wheel drive vehicles to change the shape of a plastic pad embedded in the driver's side floor carpet that could cause pedal interference.
Toyota spokesman Brian Lyons said the company was unaware of any accidents or injuries related to the new recalls.
