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In light of the recent Toyota recall, BAIERL
TOYOTA is ready to help you any way we can. So if you’re
interested in trading in your Toyota please call me directly, at
724.940.2177. We’ll give you up to 125% of Fair Kelley Blue
Book for your vehicle with the purchase of any new* or used
vehicle from BAIERL TOYOTA.
At BAIERL TOYOTA we take pride in
providing you the best experience possible whether it is assisting in a
new car purchase or servicing your vehicle. Know that you can count on
us to be here for you!
*By the way…we also have 85 Toyota vehicles READY
TO SELL that are NOT AFFECTED BY THE RECALL
with many more that will be ready to sell soon!
NOTE: Any VIN that starts with a J or JT
was not involved in the recall.
So regardless of your preference, just know I am
here to help you any way I can.
Pat Sorco, Toyota Store Manager –
724.940.2177
For more information on the recall, click
here
Read
more in this article published by Business Week titled
"Toyota's
Lost Its Quality Edge? Not So Fast"
Toyota Answers Customer Questions About
The Solution For Sticking Accelerator Pedals
- What is the solution Toyota announced
to fix sticking accelerator pedals?
A: Toyota’s engineers have developed and rigorously tested a
solution that is both effective and simple. A precision-cut steel
reinforcement bar will be installed into the accelerator pedal
assembly, thereby eliminating the excess friction that has caused
pedals to stick in rare instances.
- What is the problem that could cause
accelerators to stick and led to the recall?
A: The issue involves a friction device in the pedal designed to
provide the proper “feel” by adding resistance and making the
pedal steady and stable. This friction device includes a “shoe”
that rubs against an adjoining surface during normal pedal
operation. Due to the materials used, wear and environmental
conditions, these surfaces may, over time, begin to stick and
release instead of operating smoothly. In some cases, friction could
increase to a point that the pedal is slow to return to the idle
position or, in rare cases, the pedal sticks, leaving the throttle
partially open.
- How does a steel reinforcement bar
solve this problem?
The steel reinforcement bar will reduce the surface tension between
the friction shoe and the adjoining surface. With this reinforcement
in place, the excess friction that can cause the pedal to stick is
eliminated.
- How does Toyota know that this solution
will be effective?
A: We have confirmed the effectiveness of the newly reinforced
pedals through rigorous testing on pedal assemblies that had
previously shown a tendency to stick. Nothing is more important to
Toyota than the safety and satisfaction of our customers, and we
have high confidence in our solution for fixing our customers’
vehicles.
- When can I get my vehicle fixed?
A: We will begin contacting customers to let them know when to bring
in their vehicles for the fix, and some of them will be notified as
early as this week. At Toyota, our highest priority has been to
quickly and effectively address the needs of owners of affected
vehicles. Parts to reinforce the pedals are already being shipped
for use by dealers, and many Toyota dealers will work extended hours
to complete the recall campaign as quickly and conveniently as
possible -- some even staying open 24 hours a day.
- How long will it take for a dealer to
repair my automobile?
A: The actual repair involves about 30 minutes’ work.
- Is the repair covered by warranty? Will
drivers have to pay any money out of pocket for this work?
A: Toyota will cover all repair costs associated with this work.
- Does the reinforced pedal feel any
different?
A: Drivers should not notice any change in the feel of the pedal.
- Is my car safe to drive if it has not
yet received this solution?
A: To be clear, the condition is rare and generally does not occur
suddenly. It can occur when the pedal mechanism becomes worn and, in
certain conditions, the accelerator pedal may become harder to
depress, slower to return or, in the worst case, stuck in a
partially depressed position.
Customers who experience an accelerator pedal that is hard to
depress, slow to return or is unsmooth during operation should drive
the vehicle to a safe location, shut off the engine and contact a
Toyota dealer contacted for assistance
In the event that a driver experiences an accelerator pedal that
sticks in a partial open throttle position or returns slowly to idle
position, the vehicle can be controlled with firm and steady
application of the brakes. The brakes should not be pumped
repeatedly because it could deplete vacuum assist, requiring
stronger brake pedal pressure. The vehicle should be driven to the
nearest safe location, the engine shut off and a Toyota dealer
contacted for assistance.
- What if my vehicle is also affected by
the floor mat recall? Which will be addressed first?
A: We are working to coordinate the pedal entrapment and the
sticking pedal recalls to minimize the number of customers who will
have to have two service visits.
- What do I do if I experience a sticking
accelerator pedal before my car receives the remedy? Should I bring
my car to a dealer?
A: Customers who experience an accelerator pedal that is hard to
depress, slow to return or is unsmooth during operation should drive
the vehicle to a safe location, shut off the engine and contact a
Toyota dealer contacted for assistance.
Otherwise, no action is required at this time unless you feel you
are experiencing this condition. We will begin contacting customers
to let them know when to bring in their vehicles for the fix, and
some of them will be notified as early as this week.
- Can I return my vehicle to Toyota if I
purchased it in the five-day period between when the recall was
announced and Toyota stopped the sale on my vehicle? What are my
options?
A: Toyota will work with customers who have concerns about their new
vehicles on a case-by-case basis.
- Which models are affected by the sticky
accelerator pedal recall/stop sale?
A: Toyota’s accelerator pedal recall and suspension of sales is
confined to the following Toyota Division vehicles:
* Certain 2009-2010 RAV4,
* Certain 2009-2010 Corolla,
* 2009-2010 Matrix,
* 2005-2010 Avalon,
* Certain 2007-2010 Camry,
* Certain 2010 Highlander,
* 2007-2010 Tundra,
* 2008-2010 Sequoia
Highlander hybrids and Camry hybrids are not affected by this action
and will remain for sale.
Further, Camry, RAV 4, Corolla and Highlander vehicles with VINs
that begin with "J" are not affected.
- What is a “VIN” and how do I find
it on my automobile?
A: 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.
- Why are mechanically similar Lexus and
Scion vehicles not affected by this recall?
A: The recall affected pedal is confined to one of Toyota’s
suppliers. That supplier’s pedals are not used on Lexus and Scion
vehicles.
Toyota Announces Comprehensive Plan to Fix
Accelerator Pedals on Recalled Vehicles and Ensure Customer Safety
Rigorously Tested Reinforced Pedals Will
Eliminate the Excess Friction that Caused Sticking
Toyota Will Make Concerted Effort to Repair Recalled Vehicles as
Quickly and Conveniently as Possible
TORRANCE, Calif., February 1, 2010 – Toyota Motor Sales (TMS) U.S.A.,
Inc., today announced it will begin fixing accelerator pedals in
recalled Toyota Division vehicles this week. Toyota’s engineers have
developed and rigorously tested a solution that involves reinforcing the
pedal assembly in a manner that eliminates the excess friction that has
caused the pedals to stick in rare instances. In addition, Toyota has
developed an effective solution for vehicles in production.
Parts to reinforce the pedals are already being shipped for use by
dealers, and dealer training is under way. Many Toyota dealers will work
extended hours to complete the recall campaign as quickly and
conveniently as possible, some even staying open 24 hours a day. The
company has also taken the unprecedented action of stopping production
of affected vehicles for the week of February 1.
“Nothing is more important to us than the safety and reliability of
the vehicles our customers drive,” said Jim Lentz, president and Chief
Operating Officer, TMS. “We deeply regret the concern that our recalls
have caused for our customers and we are doing everything we can – as
fast as we can – to make things right. Stopping production is never an
easy decision, but we are 100% confident it was the right decision. We
know what’s causing the sticking accelerator pedals, and we know what
we have to do to fix it. We also know it is most important to fix this
problem in the cars on the road.”
Lentz added: “We are focused on making this recall as simple and
trouble-free as possible, and will work day and night with our dealers
to fix recalled vehicles quickly. We want to demonstrate that our
commitment to safety is as high as ever and that our commitment to our
customers is unwavering.”
On January 21, Toyota announced its intention to recall approximately
2.3 million select Toyota Division vehicles equipped with a specific
pedal assembly and suspended sales of the eight models involved in the
recall on January 26.
Toyota vehicles affected by the recall include:
• Certain 2009-2010 RAV4
• Certain 2009-2010 Corolla
• 2009-2010 Matrix
• 2005-2010 Avalon
• Certain 2007-2010 Camry
• Certain 2010 Highlander
• 2007-2010 Tundra
• 2008-2010 Sequoia
No Lexus Division or Scion vehicles are affected by these actions. Also
not affected are Toyota Prius, Tacoma, Sienna, Venza, Solara, Yaris,
4Runner, FJ Cruiser, Land Cruiser, Highlander hybrids and certain Camry
models, including Camry hybrids, all of which remain for sale.
Further, Camry, RAV4, Corolla and Highlander vehicles with Vehicle
Identification Numbers (VIN) that begin with "J" are not
affected by the accelerator pedal recall.
In the event that a driver experiences an accelerator pedal that sticks
in a partial open throttle position or returns slowly to idle position,
the vehicle can be controlled with firm and steady application of the
brakes. The brakes should not be pumped repeatedly because it could
deplete vacuum assist, requiring stronger brake pedal pressure. The
vehicle should be driven to the nearest safe location, the engine shut
off and a Toyota dealer contacted for assistance.
Detailed information and answers to questions about issues related to
this recall are available to customers at www.toyota.com/recall and at
the Toyota Customer Experience Center at 1-800-331-4331.
How Toyota Will Fix Recalled Vehicles
Toyota has pinpointed the issue that could, on rare occasions, cause
accelerator pedals in recalled vehicles to stick in a partially open
position. The issue involves a friction device in the pedal designed to
provide the proper “feel” by adding resistance and making the pedal
steady and stable. The device includes a shoe that rubs against an
adjoining surface during normal pedal operation. Due to the materials
used, wear and environmental conditions, these surfaces may, over time,
begin to stick and release instead of operating smoothly. In some cases,
friction could increase to a point that the pedal is slow to return to
the idle position or, in rare cases, the pedal sticks, leaving the
throttle partially open.
Toyota’s solution for current owners is both effective and simple. A
precision-cut steel reinforcement bar will be installed into the
assembly that will reduce the surface tension between the friction shoe
and the adjoining surface. 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.
Separately from the recall for sticking accelerator pedals, Toyota is in
the process of recalling vehicles to address rare instances in which
floor mats have trapped the accelerator pedal in certain Toyota and
Lexus models (announced November 25, 2009), and is already notifying
customers about how it will fix this issue. In the case of vehicles
covered by both recalls, it is Toyota’s intention to remedy both at
the same time.
Toyota Talks to Customers About the Sticking
Pedal Issue
Video Transcript: Toyota
Talks to Customers About the Sticking Pedal Issue
Jim Lentz
President and COO
Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
__________________________________
Hi, I’m Jim Lentz, president of Toyota Motor
Sales USA. I want to let you know that we have developed a comprehensive
plan to fix the sticking pedal situation in recalled Toyota vehicles.
But first, I want to sincerely apologize to Toyota owners.
I know that our recalls have caused many of you concern... and for that
... I am truly sorry.
Toyota has always prided itself on building high quality, durable cars
that customers can depend on...and I know that we have let you down. I
want you to know that all 172,000-plus Toyota and dealership employees
across North America will work hard to fix your vehicle properly and
regain your trust.
In fact, many of our dealers will have extended hours and some will
remain open 24 hours a day to get this job done.
And we’re redoubling our efforts to ensure this does not happen again.
The fix can be completed within a short period of time, depending on the
work flow at your dealership.
We hope to start making those repairs in just a few days. Owners will be
notified by mail when to set up a dealer appointment.
In addition, our dealers have already started fixing the
earlier-announced floor mat recall vehicles. We are doing this as
quickly as possible, and we ask that you wait to contact your dealer
when you receive our letter in the mail.
Some Toyota vehicles are involved in both recalls... and we hope to
coordinate your notification so you can take care of both repairs in one
dealer visit.
For more details, including a list of the vehicles involved in these
recalls, please visit Toyota.com or call the Toyota Customer Experience
Center
Once again I apologize for this situation...and I hope you will give us
a chance to earn back your trust.
Thank you for your patience and understanding.
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