Toyota discloses US findings on floor mats

Tuesday 03rd November, 08:01 AM JST

The requested article has expired, and is no longer available. Any related articles, and user comments are shown below.

› Login to comment

14 Comments

WilliB at 09:11 AM JST - 3rd November

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?
namabiru4me at 09:13 AM JST - 3rd November

So then what was the cause of the stuck accelerator in the August 2009 accident? Was their floor mat improperly installed??
timtak at 10:45 AM JST - 3rd November

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.
Smythe at 11:18 AM JST - 3rd November

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.
Smythe at 11:21 AM JST - 3rd November

My apology for I should have put down the MAKE of the car, I was backing up, being a mini-SUV by Subaru.
nandakandamanda at 12:28 PM JST - 3rd November

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.
desmosedici at 02:15 PM JST - 3rd November

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.
MrUSA at 03:45 PM JST - 3rd November

Didn't the recent crash involve after-market mats?
Yelnats at 04:02 PM JST - 4th November

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.
Junnama at 04:09 PM JST - 4th November

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?
numbskull at 04:13 PM JST - 4th November

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!
Junnama at 07:43 PM JST - 4th November

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...
societymike at 01:20 PM JST - 6th November

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.
Mittsu at 01:54 PM JST - 6th November

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