KILLER firmware, floor MATS, gas & brake pedals Lexus Toyota recalls 10 million cars
#1
09-30-2009, 09:56 AM
KILLER firmware, floor MATS, gas & brake pedals Lexus Toyota recalls 10 million cars
A recall last week will affect 2007-2010 model year Toyota Camry, 2005-2010 Toyota Avalon, 2004-2009 Toyota Prius, 2005-2010 Tacoma, 2007-2010 Toyota Tundra, 2007-2010 Lexus ES350 and 2006-2010 Lexus IS250 and IS350.
The inquiry & recall was prompted by a highspeed crash in August in California of a 2009 Lexus ES350 driven by a CHP - California Highway Patrol POLICE OFFICER and barreling out of control. Yes, driven by a highly trained CHP Officer.
As the vehicle hit speeds exceeding 120 mph, family members made a frantic 911 call and said the accelerator was stuck and they couldn't stop the vehicle. Car went through an intersection and hit another car.
In the incident near San Diego, the fiery crash of a 2009 Lexus ES 350 killed California Highway Patrol Officer Mark Saylor, 45, his wife, their 13-year-old daughter, and his brother-in-law, on State Route 125 in Santee. The runaway car was traveling at more than 120 mph when it hit a sport utility vehicle, launched off an embankment, rolled several times and burst into flames. One of the family members called police about a minute before the crash to report the vehicle had no brakes and the accelerator was stuck. The call ended with someone telling people in the car to hold on and pray, followed by a woman's scream, moments before the car crashed.
Witnesses stated that before the crash, the car's wheels were on fire. The officer had tried to stop the car to no avail, the brakes caught on fire and the car continued to accelerate. He was not able to shut down the engine.
Toyota said the engine can be shut off by holding the button down for three seconds. Do you know how far a car will travel in 3 seconds at 120 mph? They had no chance.
Drivers trapped in a similar model car with the accelerator stuck have very limited options.
Toyota's Lyons stated, "The driver could have put the car in neutral to disengage the engine from the automatic transmission." He "also could have turned off the electronically keyed car by holding down the start switch for three seconds, but that could have locked the steering wheel, turned off the headlights and cut power-assist to the brakes, Lyons said."
Now, listen to this. The car was a LOANER from the LEXUS DEALER as the officer had his car in for maintenance. NHTSA said it had received reports of 102 incidents in which the accelerator may have become stuck on the Toyota vehicles involved. It was unclear how many led to crashes.
Toyota spokesman said until the company finds a fix, owners should take out the removable floor mat on the driver's side and not replace it.
Toyota Motor Corp. said Tuesday it is recalling 3.8 million vehicles in the United States, the company's largest-ever U.S. recall, to address problems with a removable floor mat that could cause accelerators to get stuck and lead to a crash.
Toyota Motor Corp, 2009 ES350
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The inquiry & recall was prompted by a highspeed crash in August in California of a 2009 Lexus ES350 driven by a CHP - California Highway Patrol POLICE OFFICER and barreling out of control. Yes, driven by a highly trained CHP Officer.
As the vehicle hit speeds exceeding 120 mph, family members made a frantic 911 call and said the accelerator was stuck and they couldn't stop the vehicle. Car went through an intersection and hit another car.
In the incident near San Diego, the fiery crash of a 2009 Lexus ES 350 killed California Highway Patrol Officer Mark Saylor, 45, his wife, their 13-year-old daughter, and his brother-in-law, on State Route 125 in Santee. The runaway car was traveling at more than 120 mph when it hit a sport utility vehicle, launched off an embankment, rolled several times and burst into flames. One of the family members called police about a minute before the crash to report the vehicle had no brakes and the accelerator was stuck. The call ended with someone telling people in the car to hold on and pray, followed by a woman's scream, moments before the car crashed.
Witnesses stated that before the crash, the car's wheels were on fire. The officer had tried to stop the car to no avail, the brakes caught on fire and the car continued to accelerate. He was not able to shut down the engine.
Toyota said the engine can be shut off by holding the button down for three seconds. Do you know how far a car will travel in 3 seconds at 120 mph? They had no chance.
Drivers trapped in a similar model car with the accelerator stuck have very limited options.
Toyota's Lyons stated, "The driver could have put the car in neutral to disengage the engine from the automatic transmission." He "also could have turned off the electronically keyed car by holding down the start switch for three seconds, but that could have locked the steering wheel, turned off the headlights and cut power-assist to the brakes, Lyons said."
Now, listen to this. The car was a LOANER from the LEXUS DEALER as the officer had his car in for maintenance. NHTSA said it had received reports of 102 incidents in which the accelerator may have become stuck on the Toyota vehicles involved. It was unclear how many led to crashes.
Toyota spokesman said until the company finds a fix, owners should take out the removable floor mat on the driver's side and not replace it.
Toyota Motor Corp. said Tuesday it is recalling 3.8 million vehicles in the United States, the company's largest-ever U.S. recall, to address problems with a removable floor mat that could cause accelerators to get stuck and lead to a crash.
Toyota Motor Corp, 2009 ES350
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Last edited by stomper; 02-23-2010 at 09:13 AM.
#2
09-30-2009, 10:13 AM
it gets worse .. it happened two years ago and Toyota simply added instructions & warning on proper use.
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Mats Recalled in 2007
The rubber mats installed in 2007 and 2008 models of the Lexus ES 350 sedans were recalled in November 2007 after it was found that if not properly installed or clipped to the floor of the vehicle, the mats might slide forward and trap the gas pedal beneath them. The defect could easily cause a driver to lose control of the vehicle, investigators said.
Toyota sent letters to the registered owners of the 30,500 Lexus cars involved in the recall, asking them to return and replace the driver’s side mats and said it would change the packaging of the mats to warn owners about improper installation, according to a report in the San Diego Union Tribune.
Toyota USA, which manufactures the Lexus vehicle, said the mats were redesigned after the recall. The company said while the all-weather mats are supposed to be used in place of carpet floor mats, some owners put the rubber mats on top of the carpet mats, increasing the risks of the all-weather mats sliding out of place and interfering with control of the vehicle.
However, investigators looking into the wreck of Saylor’s vehicle said the Lexus did not have double mats.
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Mats Recalled in 2007
The rubber mats installed in 2007 and 2008 models of the Lexus ES 350 sedans were recalled in November 2007 after it was found that if not properly installed or clipped to the floor of the vehicle, the mats might slide forward and trap the gas pedal beneath them. The defect could easily cause a driver to lose control of the vehicle, investigators said.
Toyota sent letters to the registered owners of the 30,500 Lexus cars involved in the recall, asking them to return and replace the driver’s side mats and said it would change the packaging of the mats to warn owners about improper installation, according to a report in the San Diego Union Tribune.
Toyota USA, which manufactures the Lexus vehicle, said the mats were redesigned after the recall. The company said while the all-weather mats are supposed to be used in place of carpet floor mats, some owners put the rubber mats on top of the carpet mats, increasing the risks of the all-weather mats sliding out of place and interfering with control of the vehicle.
However, investigators looking into the wreck of Saylor’s vehicle said the Lexus did not have double mats.
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#3
09-30-2009, 10:19 AM
Toyota spokesman said to take out the removable floor mat on the driver's side
Play it safe !
Toyota spokesman said until the company finds a fix, owners should take out the removable floor mat on the driver's side and not replace it.
pictures, 911 call:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Y1alzS9BSg
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Last edited by stomper; 09-30-2009 at 10:30 AM.
#4
11-16-2009, 04:17 PM
~ Los Angeles Times
A lawsuit, “Filed Thursday by two Los Angeles County residents claims that the majority of Toyota and Lexus vehicles made since 2001 contain defective components that can cause unintended acceleration.”
“According to the suit, Toyota has known about reports of unintended acceleration for years and has received over 2,000 such complaints. Citing statistics from Safety Research & Strategies, Inc., the lawsuit alleges that there have been 16 fatalities and 243 injuries from Toyota and Lexus crashes attributed to runaway vehicles.”
~ The San Diego Union-Tribune
“Toyota is advising owners to remove all driver-side mats from certain Toyota and Lexus models and is preparing for a recall, once the automaker and federal officials determine the underlying defects that may be behind the incidents.”
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A lawsuit, “Filed Thursday by two Los Angeles County residents claims that the majority of Toyota and Lexus vehicles made since 2001 contain defective components that can cause unintended acceleration.”
“According to the suit, Toyota has known about reports of unintended acceleration for years and has received over 2,000 such complaints. Citing statistics from Safety Research & Strategies, Inc., the lawsuit alleges that there have been 16 fatalities and 243 injuries from Toyota and Lexus crashes attributed to runaway vehicles.”
~ The San Diego Union-Tribune
“Toyota is advising owners to remove all driver-side mats from certain Toyota and Lexus models and is preparing for a recall, once the automaker and federal officials determine the underlying defects that may be behind the incidents.”
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#5
11-21-2009, 09:48 AM
The National Highway Traffic Safety is warning for drivers of Toyota and Lexus vehicles to remove the floor mats as a precautionary measure.
Toyota has started a recall program to address the issue.
An estimated 3.8 million vehicles are affected.
Toyota's move to pull the mats only addresses the symptom. Experts argue that the masts are not the problem. The root problem is said to be the design of the accelerator pedal and linkage. There are also some that point to electrical engine computer issues.
~ NHTS, Sept 29, 2009
The list of affected vehicles:
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Toyota has started a recall program to address the issue.
An estimated 3.8 million vehicles are affected.
Toyota's move to pull the mats only addresses the symptom. Experts argue that the masts are not the problem. The root problem is said to be the design of the accelerator pedal and linkage. There are also some that point to electrical engine computer issues.
~ NHTS, Sept 29, 2009
The list of affected vehicles:
- Toyota Camry: 2007-2010
- Toyota Avalon: 2005-2009
- Toyota Prius: 2004-2010
- Toyota Tacoma: 2005-2010
- Toyota Tundra: 2007-2010
- Lexus ES 350: 2007-2010
- Lexus IS 250: 2006-2010
- Lexus IS 350: 2006-2010
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Last edited by stomper; 11-21-2009 at 09:53 AM.
#6
02-03-2010, 09:30 AM
toyota stops production
read all of the previous posts .. people have been dying since 2007 and its only now, Feb 2010 that toyota/lexus is forced to take action.
management handled it badly, they denied it, they lied, all the while they continued to make and sell the same cars with the same problem.
toyota even quoted the NHTSA as they having agreed with the solution when that wasnt true. a lie.
toyota thinks that they can get away with an apology?
no way .. they need to be made to pay for their actions.
there will never be a toyota or lexus in my driveway ..
BTW, some of these models with the problem cannot be put into neutral while the car is in motion and the engine cannot be shut down while car is in gear. HELLO !!!!!!!!!
maybe the installation of an ejection seat is the solution.?
Toyota's Lyons stated, "The driver could have put the car in neutral to disengage the engine from the automatic transmission." He "also could have turned off the electronically keyed car by holding down the start switch for three seconds, but that could have locked the steering wheel, turned off the headlights and cut power-assist to the brakes, Lyons said."
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Feb. 1: NHTSA today informed owners of certain Toyota, Lexus and Pontiac Vibe vehicles about actions they should take if the accelerator gets stuck or is slow to return under certain conditions. Today’s advisory is prompted by continued reports of consumer concern and confusion about two recalls Toyota announced over the past week involving accelerator pedals. Each recall has a different root cause -– pedal entrapment and sticky pedal. In October, Toyota recalled 3.8 million vehicles for accelerator pedal entrapment by the floor mat. Toyota has begun to notify owners of the availability of a remedy for this entrapment recall. The accelerator pedal will be reconfigured by dealers. Then, in January 2010, Toyota recalled 2.3 million vehicles for a problem internal to the accelerator pedal that causes it to be harder to depress, slower to return to the closed position or get stuck in some partially depressed position. Some of the vehicles included in this recall are also included in the pedal entrapment recall. Toyota has announced a remedy repair that will be available right away. Consumers should take the following steps prior to receiving the recall remedy. Owners should pay attention to the operation of the accelerator pedals. If the accelerator is harder to depress than normal or slower to return, it may be a precursor to a stuck pedal. These vehicles should be parked and a dealer immediately notified. Should a pedal become stuck in a partially depressed condition while driving, owners should put their car in neutral, bring it to a stop and call their dealer.
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management handled it badly, they denied it, they lied, all the while they continued to make and sell the same cars with the same problem.
toyota even quoted the NHTSA as they having agreed with the solution when that wasnt true. a lie.
toyota thinks that they can get away with an apology?
no way .. they need to be made to pay for their actions.
there will never be a toyota or lexus in my driveway ..
BTW, some of these models with the problem cannot be put into neutral while the car is in motion and the engine cannot be shut down while car is in gear. HELLO !!!!!!!!!
maybe the installation of an ejection seat is the solution.?
Toyota's Lyons stated, "The driver could have put the car in neutral to disengage the engine from the automatic transmission." He "also could have turned off the electronically keyed car by holding down the start switch for three seconds, but that could have locked the steering wheel, turned off the headlights and cut power-assist to the brakes, Lyons said."
--------------------------
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Feb. 1: NHTSA today informed owners of certain Toyota, Lexus and Pontiac Vibe vehicles about actions they should take if the accelerator gets stuck or is slow to return under certain conditions. Today’s advisory is prompted by continued reports of consumer concern and confusion about two recalls Toyota announced over the past week involving accelerator pedals. Each recall has a different root cause -– pedal entrapment and sticky pedal. In October, Toyota recalled 3.8 million vehicles for accelerator pedal entrapment by the floor mat. Toyota has begun to notify owners of the availability of a remedy for this entrapment recall. The accelerator pedal will be reconfigured by dealers. Then, in January 2010, Toyota recalled 2.3 million vehicles for a problem internal to the accelerator pedal that causes it to be harder to depress, slower to return to the closed position or get stuck in some partially depressed position. Some of the vehicles included in this recall are also included in the pedal entrapment recall. Toyota has announced a remedy repair that will be available right away. Consumers should take the following steps prior to receiving the recall remedy. Owners should pay attention to the operation of the accelerator pedals. If the accelerator is harder to depress than normal or slower to return, it may be a precursor to a stuck pedal. These vehicles should be parked and a dealer immediately notified. Should a pedal become stuck in a partially depressed condition while driving, owners should put their car in neutral, bring it to a stop and call their dealer.
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Last edited by stomper; 02-03-2010 at 09:48 AM.
#7
02-03-2010, 09:37 AM
toyota power surge
as if that wasnt enough, dealers have gotten thousands of complaints from both toyota and lexus owners about a power surge that happens when the brake is released and driver starts to press on the gas pedal .. result is that cars can and do surge forward and impact the car ahead.
if you take your car to the dealer, you are told that they get that complain all the time and its normal for the car to do that now and then. no, i didnt make that up.
are you ready for the fix? make sure the car ahead is far away from you so if your car surges, no impact will happen. now, that was an easy no cost solution.
lets see how long this goes on before someone gets killed.
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if you take your car to the dealer, you are told that they get that complain all the time and its normal for the car to do that now and then. no, i didnt make that up.
are you ready for the fix? make sure the car ahead is far away from you so if your car surges, no impact will happen. now, that was an easy no cost solution.
lets see how long this goes on before someone gets killed.
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Last edited by stomper; 02-03-2010 at 09:39 AM.
#8
02-04-2010, 04:22 AM
I think that the "internal issue" was supposedly condensation ..
How is it not possible to get into Neutral? Is it some electronic shift BS or something?
I had a 1986 Toyota Cressida do this one time.. the pedal itself wasn't stuck, though, and I just went to neutral, shut it off, and coasted down
I guess these newer cars are more complicated
How is it not possible to get into Neutral? Is it some electronic shift BS or something?
I had a 1986 Toyota Cressida do this one time.. the pedal itself wasn't stuck, though, and I just went to neutral, shut it off, and coasted down
I guess these newer cars are more complicated
#9
02-04-2010, 07:57 AM
toyota Prius brakes can sometimes fail to work
is the keeping of info and taking proper fast action becoming a pattern or is it biz as usual?
you decided
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Toyota Motor Corp., which Thursday reported a $1.7 billion profit for last quarter, said it had corrected problems with the antilock brake system in Prius models sold since late last month, including those shipped overseas.
But the company was still deciding what steps to take to fix the problem in Prius cars sold in Japan and overseas before late January.
Whether a recall is necessary for the Prius was still undecided, according to Toyota executive Hiroyuki Yokoyama, but the transport minister urged the company to consider it and is ordering an investigation.
Paul Nolasco, a company spokesman, said the time lag for brakes kicking in felt by drivers stem from the two systems in a gas-electric hybrid — the gas-engine and the electric motor.
When the car moves on a bumpy or slippery surface, a driver can feel a pause in the braking when the vehicle switches between the traditional hydraulic brakes and the electronically operated braking system, he said.
The brakes start to work if the driver keeps pushing the pedal, but the driver may momentarily feel they aren't working, he said.
A major Toyota dealership in Tokyo said the automaker had informed dealers that Prius brakes can sometimes fail to work for less than a second but it had not told owners.
~ AP
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you decided
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Toyota Motor Corp., which Thursday reported a $1.7 billion profit for last quarter, said it had corrected problems with the antilock brake system in Prius models sold since late last month, including those shipped overseas.
But the company was still deciding what steps to take to fix the problem in Prius cars sold in Japan and overseas before late January.
Whether a recall is necessary for the Prius was still undecided, according to Toyota executive Hiroyuki Yokoyama, but the transport minister urged the company to consider it and is ordering an investigation.
Paul Nolasco, a company spokesman, said the time lag for brakes kicking in felt by drivers stem from the two systems in a gas-electric hybrid — the gas-engine and the electric motor.
When the car moves on a bumpy or slippery surface, a driver can feel a pause in the braking when the vehicle switches between the traditional hydraulic brakes and the electronically operated braking system, he said.
The brakes start to work if the driver keeps pushing the pedal, but the driver may momentarily feel they aren't working, he said.
A major Toyota dealership in Tokyo said the automaker had informed dealers that Prius brakes can sometimes fail to work for less than a second but it had not told owners.
~ AP
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#10
02-23-2010, 09:04 AM
recall now over 5 million cars ?
the reports i'm looking at now state a recall in excess of 5 million Toyota, Lexus and other Toyota brands.
there also seems to be a consensus that the famous washer fix is only an apeacement for a minor issue and that the real problem goes back several years and its firmware related, not-unfixable .. a glitch that creates a power surge and is sometimes coupled with a brake issue. evidence is also showing that toyota mgt knew about all these issues and chose to keep making the cars until it blew up on their face with the death of a CHP officer (and his family) while making a desperate 911 call.
it seems that most of these cars have no mechanical link to either throttle or brake control and such is governed by firmware (computer).
now the evidence is pouring in that hundreds if not thousands of accidents may well be the result of these firmware glitches but since the public was not aware, the accidents may well have been tagged 'driver error'. Toyota got away with it until it become clear that even a highly trained driver (the CHP officer) was unable to stop the car and raced to his death.
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there also seems to be a consensus that the famous washer fix is only an apeacement for a minor issue and that the real problem goes back several years and its firmware related, not-unfixable .. a glitch that creates a power surge and is sometimes coupled with a brake issue. evidence is also showing that toyota mgt knew about all these issues and chose to keep making the cars until it blew up on their face with the death of a CHP officer (and his family) while making a desperate 911 call.
it seems that most of these cars have no mechanical link to either throttle or brake control and such is governed by firmware (computer).
now the evidence is pouring in that hundreds if not thousands of accidents may well be the result of these firmware glitches but since the public was not aware, the accidents may well have been tagged 'driver error'. Toyota got away with it until it become clear that even a highly trained driver (the CHP officer) was unable to stop the car and raced to his death.
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Last edited by stomper; 02-23-2010 at 09:11 AM.