Monday February 13, 2012

JAPAN NEWS AND DISCUSSION

Toyota discloses US findings on floor mats

Business Nov. 03, 2009 - 08:01AM JST ( 14 )

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14 Comments

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WilliBNov. 03, 2009 - 09:11AM JST

Couple of horrific accidents there. What I don´t understand is why it isn´t possible to set the range lever to neutral or turn off the ignition key on a runaway vehicle?
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namabiru4meNov. 03, 2009 - 09:13AM JST

So then what was the cause of the stuck accelerator in the August 2009 accident? Was their floor mat improperly installed??
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timtakNov. 03, 2009 - 10:45AM JST

Since it seems to be recurring in Toyota cars then it would seem that there is something about Toyota cars that can make an improperly installed floor mat, or incorrect floor mat dangerous.

I have a aftermarket floor mat in my Subaru and it does not cause problems, yet.

Is the hole for the accelerator pedal bar large enough to allow incorrectly installed matting to get inside with the bar, and thus jam its movement, perhaps? Or is this in fact a problem in all cars?

Better check out my driver's site mat quickly.
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SmytheNov. 03, 2009 - 11:18AM JST

I know that the floor mats will not move forward on my '06 Forester due to being held by a hook system at the back. It is my preference of a rubber mat, due to winter time, snow & such. Mind you I remove that daily & make sure it is eliminated of any grit to any snow in the future & tend to keep my eye on the forward part of my driving position JUST IN CASE, but have been doing this for some 64 yrs. It is simply automatic.
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SmytheNov. 03, 2009 - 11:21AM JST

My apology for I should have put down the MAKE of the car, I was backing up, being a mini-SUV by Subaru.
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nandakandamandaNov. 03, 2009 - 12:28PM JST

If you race your car at the track, then standard common knowledge is ALWAYS take out the floor mats. Anything loose around the accelerator is a possible recipe for disaster.

Incidentally, I have never felt that those mat hooks do their job properly on any car.
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desmosediciNov. 03, 2009 - 02:15PM JST

Couple of horrific accidents there. What I don´t understand is why it isn´t possible to set the range lever to neutral or turn off the ignition key on a runaway vehicle?

That seemed odd to me as well. If figured that if you step on the brake pedal, you could smother the engine. Anyway, on CNN they showed that when you want to cut the engine while driving, you must push-in the starter button for 3 seconds. Problem seems to be, that almost no Lexus driver knows this.
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MrUSANov. 03, 2009 - 03:45PM JST

Didn't the recent crash involve after-market mats?
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YelnatsNov. 04, 2009 - 04:02PM JST

If you race your car at the track, then standard common knowledge is ALWAYS take out the floor mats. Anything loose around the accelerator is a possible recipe for disaster.

Incidentally, I have never felt that those mat hooks do their job properly on any car.

I have been racing for years, but my race car formula 1 never gave me the option to buy mats for it. I am going to complain to the dealer I bought it from.
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JunnamaNov. 04, 2009 - 04:09PM JST

I can honestly say in all my years of driving this is the first time I have ever heard of this issue, but hey let's cut Toyoya some slack. I mean a mistake here or there in car design isn't that bad and this can't affect too many cars can it?
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numbskullNov. 04, 2009 - 04:13PM JST

Four people in the car and nobody went for the gear shift? (might require pushing the shift release button) But somebody called 9-11? The driver did not get his or her foot under the gas pedal and pull up?

Incidentally, I have never felt that those mat hooks do their job properly on any car.

Ditto. They must have the dunces designing those thinking nobody could mess that up. Think again!
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JunnamaNov. 04, 2009 - 07:43PM JST

This commentary is good. I could see how it would have went with the Pinto: Well those dunces shouldn't have stopped so suddenly and they wouldn't have gotten rear-ended..car wouldn't have exploded..it's really their fault...
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societymikeNov. 06, 2009 - 01:20PM JST

Four people in the car and nobody went for the gear shift?

My father has an LS460 and wife drives an IS-F, you can easily put them in neutral, or push the On/Off button for about a second.
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MittsuNov. 06, 2009 - 01:54PM JST

IS-F is a lovely car. Can take the risk of unintended acceleration.