TORRANCE, CA - Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. Inc. is recalling 2.17 million vehicles to address the potential for unintended acceleration.
The automaker is recalling approximately 20,000 model year 2006 and early 2007 GS 300 and GS 350 All-Wheel Drive vehicles to modify the shape of the plastic pad embedded in the driver's side floor carpet. If the floor carpet around the accelerator pedal is not properly replaced in the correct position after a service operation, the plastic pad embedded into the floor carpet can potentially interfere with the operation of the accelerator pedal. If this occurs, the accelerator pedal may become temporarily stuck in a partially depressed position rather than returning to the idle position, Toyota said.
Owners of the involved GS 300 and GS 350 All-Wheel Drive vehicles will receive a notification by mail beginning in early March 2011.
Toyota is also recalling approximately 372,000 MY 2004-2006 and early 2007 RX 330, RX 350 and RX 400h vehicles, and approximately 397,000 MY 2004 through 2006 Highlander and Highlander HV vehicles to replace the driver's side floor carpet cover and its two retention clips. If the forward retention clip used to secure the floor carpet cover (located in front of the center console) is not installed properly, the cover may lean toward the accelerator pedal and interfere with the accelerator pedal arm. If this occurs, the accelerator pedal may become temporarily stuck in a partially depressed position rather than returning to the idle position.
Owners of the involved RX and Highlander vehicles will receive an interim notification by mail explaining how to inspect for this condition. Owners may also contact their local dealer to perform the inspection. Owners will receive a second notification once the replacement covers are available, Toyota said.
Separately, Toyota has amended a November 2009 recall, adding three models to address the potential for unsecured or incompatible floor mat entrapment of the accelerator pedal. The models added include:
Approximately 603,000 2003 through 2009 4Runner
Approximately 17,000 2008 through 2011 Lexus LX 570
Approximately 761,000 2006 through 2010 RAV4.
Owners of the recalled 4Runner, LX 570 and RAV4 vehicles will receive an interim notification by mail. A second notification will go out once the recall preparations are complete.
Toyota and Lexus dealers will make the repairs free of charge.
The recalls come at the request of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, after the agency conducted an investigation into Toyota's earlier gas pedal-entrapment recall.
Earlier this month, a study conducted by NHTSA and NASA concluded there was no evidence that reported incidents of unintended acceleration involving Toyota vehicles were caused by electronic system flaws.
For more information, visit www.toyota.com/recall or www.lexus.com/recall, or contact Toyota at (800) 331-4331 or Lexus at (800) 255-3987.
