Toyota Recalls Certain Vehicles: Crash Risk

Also see: Toyota Recall: Four Different Causes. So Which is it?

Vehicle Make / Model:		Model Year(s):
PONTIAC / VIBE		2009
TOYOTA / AVALON		2005-2010
TOYOTA / CAMRY		2007-2010
TOYOTA / COROLLA		2009-2010
TOYOTA / COROLLA MATRIX		2009-2010
TOYOTA / HIGHLANDER		2010
TOYOTA / RAV4		2009-2010
TOYOTA / SEQUOIA		2008-2010
TOYOTA / TUNDRA		2007-2010
Manufacturer: TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC.		Mfr’s Report Date: JAN 21, 2010
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 10V017000		N/A NHTSA Action Number: N/A

Component: POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY:PEDAL/LINKAGE

Potential Number of Units Affected:

Summary: TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2010 AVALON, MODEL YEAR 2007-2010 CAMRY, MODEL YEAR 2009-2010 COROLLA, COROLLA MATRIX, RAV4, MODEL YEAR 2010 HIGHLANDER, MODEL YEAR 2008-2010 SEQUOIA, AND MODEL YEAR 2007-2010 TUNDRA. DUE TO THE MANNER IN WHICH THE FRICTION LEVER INTERACTS WITH THE SLIDING SURFACE OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL INSIDE THE PEDAL SENSOR ASSEMBLY, THE SLIDING SURFACE OF THE LEVER MAY BECOME SMOOTH DURING VEHICLE OPERATION. IN THIS CONDITION, IF CONDENSATION OCCURS ON THE SURFACE, AS MAY OCCUR FROM HEATER OPERATION (WITHOUT A/C) WHEN THE PEDAL ASSEMBLY IS COLD, THE FRICTION WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS OPERATED MAY INCREASE, WHICH MAY RESULT IN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECOMING HARDER TO DEPRESS, SLOWER TO RETURN, OR, IN THE WORST CASE, MECHANICALLY STUCK IN A PARTIALLY DEPRESSED POSITION.

Consequence: THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL MAY BECOME HARD TO DEPRESS, SLOW TO RETURN TO IDLE, OR, IN THE WORST CASE, MECHANICALLY STUCK IN A PARTIALLY DEPRESSED POSITION, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: TOYOTA HAS NOT YET PROVIDED A REMEDY PLAN OR AN OWNER NOTIFICATION SCHEDULE. OWNER MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.

Notes: OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION’S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV .