How to Respond To The Toyota Recall 2010

How To Respond To The Toyota Recall 2010

Toyota Motor Company, repeatedly recognized as manufacturing some of the most reliable cars in the world, recently announced the recall of approximately 2.3 million vehicles. The massive recall was brought on by the discovery of a sticking accelerator pedal problem that can potentially affect several different vehicle models manufactured between 2005 and 2010.

Toyota states that the defect can cause the gas pedal to exhibit one of the following behaviors: becomes hard to depress; becomes stuck in the depressed position; or returns slowly to the idle position when you take your foot off of it. The vehicles affected are not only being recalled, but Toyota has also suspended sales of new models of these cars until the manufacturing problem is corrected.

A recall of this magnitude obviously affects many Toyota owners who are driving these cars daily. What do you do if you are the owner of one of these vehicles? Who do you contact and where do you go for repairs or replacement of the faulty accelerator pedal? To find out, here is How To Respond To The Toyota Recall 2010.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

things you'll need:

• Toyota Vehicle

1. • 1
     Many Toyota Models Are Covered In The Recall

     First, determine if your car is one of those that are being recalled.
     The vehicles on the Toyota Sticking Accelerator Recall list are:

     Certain 2009-2010 RAV4 and Corolla (vehicles with VIN numbers beginning with "J" are not affected)
     Certain 2007-2010 Camry (VIN numbers beginning with "J" are not affected)
     Certain 2010 Highlander (VIN numbers beginning with "J" are not affected)
     All 2005-2010 Avalon
     All 2007-2010 Tundra
     All 2008-2010 Sequoia
     All 2009-2010 Matrix

     Toyota has also stated that no models of the following cars are affected:
     All Lexus Division, All Scion Division, Prius, Tacoma, Sienna, Venza, Solara, Yaris, 4Runner, FJ Cruiser, Land Cruiser, Highlander Hybrids, and Camry Hybrids. These models all currently remain for sale.

     In addition, 2009-2010 Pontiac Vibe vehicles are also being recalled. The Vibe is sold by General Motors' soon-to-be-defunct Pontiac Division, but is actually a joint effort between GM and Toyota. The Vibe is essentially the same vehicle as the Toyota Matrix, and therefore suffers from the same manufacturing defect.

     You can also check the Toyota Recall website listed in the Resources section below for a listing of affected vehicles.

     If you are the owner of any of the vehicles listed in the recall, you may have a car with a defective accelerator pedal assembly!

   • 2
     The Problem Develops Gradually

     If your Toyota or Pontiac Vibe is on the list of recalled vehicles, and you have noticed it exhibiting some of the problematic behaviors mentioned above, you should park it in a safe place and then do not drive it anymore. Contact your Toyota Dealership immediately, as they have been instructed to offer you assistance.

     Toyota says that the problem will develop gradually, so if you are not currently experiencing any symptoms, they say that your vehicle should be safe to drive. But, this is up to the individual owner/driver whether they feel safe continuing to operate the vehicle.

   • 3
     A Steel Reinforcement Bar Will Fix The Problem

     Toyota has worked out a solution for the problem. Their solution involves installing a precision-cut steel reinforcement bar into the accelerator pedal assembly. The steel reinforcement bar eliminates the excess friction that has caused some pedals to stick.

     Toyota will individually contact the owners of the affected Toyota vehicles by mail to schedule an appointment with a dealer to bring their vehicles in to be fixed. The repair of the accelerator will take approximately 30 minutes to complete, and will be done at no cost to the owner.

     Toyota dealerships have committed to working extra hours so that owners can get their vehicles fixed as quickly as possible.

   • 4
     What Do You Do If Your Accelerator Sticks

     What do you do if you are driving your Toyota or Pontiac Vibe and you experience a stuck accelerator?

     In an emergency situation, the first thing to do is to step on the brake pedal as hard as you can, keeping it pressed down without pumping the brakes. Modern brakes can normally overpower the acceleration of the average car and will slow you down.

     Shift your car into Neutral to stop power going to the drive wheels, pull over, and turn the engine off.

     If you can't shift into Neutral for some reason, turn the engine off (turn to the "ACC", or Accessories position), without removing the keys from the ignition, and then steer your vehicle to safety. With the engine turned off, you will lose your power steering and brake assist, but with extra effort you will still be able to steer and stop the vehicle.

   • 5

     If your vehicle is part of any other current Toyota recall, such as the Floor Mat Entrapment Recall, or the Prius 2010 Prius Anti-Lock Brake System Recall, Toyota will contact you about scheduling your vehicle for repairs.

     If you aren't sure if you have a recalled vehicle, contact the Toyota Customer Experience Center at 800-331-4331, contact your local Toyota dealership, or check the Toyota Recall website listed below. They are prepared to answer any questions you might have about the status of the recall.

Tips & Warnings

• Toyota states that actual occurrences of the sticking accelerator are rare, and have usually shown up in vehicles where the pedal mechanism has become worn.

• The Toyota Customer Experience Center can be contacted at 800-331-4331 during these hours: Mon-Fri, 5:00 AM - 6:00 PM PST, and Sat, 7:00 AM - 4:00 PM PST

• A Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) is a 17-character sequence of numbers and letters that is used by the automobile industry to uniquely identify motor vehicles. It can be viewed through the windshield on the driver's side at the front of the dashboard. In addition, the VIN number is also located on a sticker located the driver's side pillar, with the tire inflation information and on the vehicle's registration.