In its largest recall ever, auto manufacturing giant Toyota announced that it will recall 3.8 million Toyota and Lexus autos in the United States. The recall involves removable floor mats on the driver's side that can cause the accelerator to get stuck. This can result in the vehicle moving at high speeds, making it hard to stop and possibly resulting in catastrophic consequences.
The recall announcement comes one month after four people were killed while riding in a Lexus in which the accelerator got stuck. Witnesses report seeing the vehicle speed through traffic at speeds as high as 120 mph before it hit another car, crashed through a fence, and soared some 100 feet before landing and bursting into flames.
CHP officer Mark Saylor, his spouse Cleofe, brother-in-law Chris Lastrella, and teenage daughter Mahala died in the August 28 Southern California auto collision. Someone from the Lexus reportedly called 911 before the deadly crash to report that the brakes weren't working.
A Consumer Reports article noted that there have been reports that the car dealer may have fitted the vehicle with accessory all-weather floor mats that were too big. However, the Saylor family's auto accident is not the first time that someone has gotten hurt because of a stuck accelerator in a Toyota vehicle. People have filed some 102 incident reports with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Injuries and deaths have resulted from some of these auto accidents.
Our Orange County, California products liability lawyers continue to remain concerned about the number of people who are injured each year because an auto or auto part was defectively designed or manufactured. Many auto products liability accidents could have been prevented if only the automaker had been more careful.
Toyota is working with the NHTSA to determine how to remedy this problem. In the meantime, the carmaker is asking drivers who own or lease one of the affected vehicles to take the floor mat out of the car.
Vehicles included in the Toyota recall:
• Lexus IS250 (2006-2010 models)
• Lexus IS350 (2006-2010 models)
• Toyota Camry (2005-2010 models)
• Toyota Prius (2005-2010 models)
• Toyota Avalon (2004-2009 models)
• Toyota Tundra (2007-2010 models)
• Toyota Tacoma (2007 - 2010 models)
• Lexus ES350 (2007-2010 models)
">">Toyota Recall September 2009 List Includes 3.8 Million Vehicles with Faulty Floor Mats, Associated Content, September 29, 2009
Toyota to recall 3.8M vehicles over floor mats, OC Register, September 29, 2009
Misaligned floor mat may have caused calamity, ConsumerReports.org, September 23, 2009
Related Web Resources:
CHP Officer, Family Killed in Crash, NBC San Diego, September 1, 2009
Contact our Anaheim injury lawyers to discuss your Orange County, California products liability case.
