Floor Mats Cause of Deadly Crash

09/21/2009 - Law Firm Blog - Link to This Entry

Toyota orders all dealers (approximately 1400) to inspect cars for mismatched floor mats as the result of a deadly crash were the floor mat is suspected of causing the gas pedal of a runaway Lexus to get stuck. Click here for video.

Investigators with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration have determined that a rubber all-weather floor mat found in the wreckage was a couple of inches longer than the mat that belonged in the vehicle.

NHTSA and Toyota noted that, if unsecured, the mats being recalled can slip forward and trap the accelerator pedal, causing the vehicle to accelerate uncontrollably.

In 2007, the company did recall all-weather mats from some of its Lexus ES 350s and Toyota Camry’s after complaints that they could slip and trap the accelerator. Toyota’s investigation prior to the recall noted that driver’s floor mat interference with the accelerator pedal is possible in any vehicle make, with any combination of floor mats when the floor mat is not properly secured or if it is not the factory designed floor mat for your vehicle.

NHTSA reminds all drivers of all makes and models to check the driver-side floor mats for secure installation and to follow manufacturer instructions for installing the mats. For more information, consumers can contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's hotline at 888-327-4236.

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