Toyota Accelerator Pedal Fix Heading For Dealers

The fix for the widespread Toyota accelerator problem which has caused not just a recall but a stoppage of sales is on the way, Toyota said Monday. Dealers should get the parts by the end of the week, the company said.

The recall currently affects over 4 million cars worldwide. 2.3 million of those are in the U.S., and some dealers' service departments will reportedly stay open 24 hours to fix the issues. Service bulletins outlining how to install the new parts should arrive at dealers by midweek. It is unclear exactly how soon repairs will start.

The recall, focused on a number of Toyota models, also affects the Pontiac Vibe, a now discontinued model. The Vibe was essentially a Toyota Matrix, one of the cars on the list of recalled models.

Toyota added that it would suspend production of the eight U.S. models affected by the recall for this week. Factories will resume building models on Feb. 8.

The list of affected U.S. Toyota cars includes the 2009-10 RAV4 crossover, the 2009-10 Corolla, the 2009-10 Matrix hatchback, the 2005-10 Avalon, the 2007-10 Camry, the 2010 Highlander crossover, the 2007-10 Tundra pickup and the 2008-10 Sequoia SUV. Additionally, it includes the aforementioned Pontiac Vibe.

According to reports, here's the issue with the Toyota accelerator pedal. There is a friction device that is supposed to provide the proper pedal "feel" by adding resistance. There is a shoe that rubs against a nearby metal surface during pedal use, but after extended use, the pedals may fail to not operate smoothly or even, in rare cases, stick partially open. A steel reinforcement bar will be installed, reducing the friction.

A Toyota statement said the following:

"With this reinforcement in place, the excess friction that can cause the pedal to stick is eliminated. The company has confirmed the effectiveness of the newly reinforced pedals through rigorous testing on pedal assemblies that had previously shown a tendency to stick."

Written by Michael Santo
HULIQ.com

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