Accelerator Sticking
Yep, this made the NBC World News last night. They are really making a mountain out of a mole hill here. My wife watched the news piece, and it ratified her decision to keep her floor mat in the trunk, no matter what I say.
Lou
Lou
Lexus Champion
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 12,610
Likes: 289
From: Illinois
I've got my all weather mats in for the winter season and they are securely anchored to the floor and not going anywhere.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,834
Likes: 6
From: PA
I checked my Lexus all weather floor mat again this morning. No way can this mat ride up to interfere with the gas pedal unless it is not hooked properly. As I said before, the loaner IS250 AWD I had a few months ago had the carpet mats upside down and not hooked up.
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 43
Likes: 0
From: Michigan
The latest speculation I've heard is that it has nothing to do with the mat.... that it's like the drive by wire module (or software) and causes the accelerator to "stick" in the full throttle position.
I honestly don't know what to believe, but I'm with Garsarno, I have no idea how any of the mats can interfere with the pedal.
The question I have is whether the drive by wire components that are used in these cars is proprietary to Toyota/Lexus (including the software)? If it is, then it might be plausable, but otherwise, if its used by other mfg's, then why isn't the problem showing up in their cars?
I honestly don't know what to believe, but I'm with Garsarno, I have no idea how any of the mats can interfere with the pedal.
The question I have is whether the drive by wire components that are used in these cars is proprietary to Toyota/Lexus (including the software)? If it is, then it might be plausable, but otherwise, if its used by other mfg's, then why isn't the problem showing up in their cars?
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 606
Likes: 1
From: Virginia
The latest speculation I've heard is that it has nothing to do with the mat.... that it's like the drive by wire module (or software) and causes the accelerator to "stick" in the full throttle position.
I honestly don't know what to believe, but I'm with Garsarno, I have no idea how any of the mats can interfere with the pedal.
The question I have is whether the drive by wire components that are used in these cars is proprietary to Toyota/Lexus (including the software)? If it is, then it might be plausable, but otherwise, if its used by other mfg's, then why isn't the problem showing up in their cars?
I honestly don't know what to believe, but I'm with Garsarno, I have no idea how any of the mats can interfere with the pedal.
The question I have is whether the drive by wire components that are used in these cars is proprietary to Toyota/Lexus (including the software)? If it is, then it might be plausable, but otherwise, if its used by other mfg's, then why isn't the problem showing up in their cars?
SPECULATION is all it is at this point. I saw the piece on NBC news the other night and was appalled by it. They speculated as well. Show me some proof it is anything other than improperly installed mats.
If the dealerships would follow the directions given to them by Lexus (no less than two letters received over the past 3 years to NOT install two mats) this likely would never have happened.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,834
Likes: 6
From: PA
Had maybe a related experince Sunday morning. Took the Impala to the local car wash, got the full service wash where they do in and out. The car washers removed my all weather vinyl mats to wash them (which I thought was good). When I got into my car, they did not hook up the drivers mat. Hence, it already started to inch up towards the pedals just from the guy that does the interior and from me getting into the car. I got out and hooked it up. And we all know how Lexus dealers likes to wash their / our cars. Wonder if they washed and vacumed the car(s) and did not hook the mats down.
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
From: VA
Tragic ES350 Accident
My guess is this accident victim had already faded out the brakes by the time he called 911. At 120 mph, he probably could not have slowed even if they had told him to pop the car into neutral, which is VERY EASY TO DO, by the way. (I tried it last night in a safe place.)
So, bottom line....
Step One Keep floor mats installed properly
***In the event of some kind of runaway situation.....
Step Two Gently push the trans up one notch into neutral (or two if in manual)
Step Three Start braking firmly but in a controlled manner
Step Four Hold the starter button for several seconds while slowing
Step Five Bring the car to a stop safely off the road
Apparently the National Safety Board did several tests on Toyota's electronics and they found no problems over a multi-year period. I think this California accident might be a tragic fluke....
So, bottom line....
Step One Keep floor mats installed properly
***In the event of some kind of runaway situation.....
Step Two Gently push the trans up one notch into neutral (or two if in manual)
Step Three Start braking firmly but in a controlled manner
Step Four Hold the starter button for several seconds while slowing
Step Five Bring the car to a stop safely off the road
Apparently the National Safety Board did several tests on Toyota's electronics and they found no problems over a multi-year period. I think this California accident might be a tragic fluke....
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 606
Likes: 1
From: Virginia
Step One Keep floor mats installed properly
***In the event of some kind of runaway situation.....
Step Two Gently push the trans up one notch into neutral (or two if in manual)
Step Three Start braking firmly but in a controlled manner
Step Four Hold the starter button for several seconds while slowing
Step Five Bring the car to a stop safely off the road.
I throw mine into neutral all the time after pulling up to long stop lights so I can rest my foot. I just don't understand it. Maybe the cop had it in sport mode, which makes it more difficult to find neutral. I could see that.
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Lead Lap
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 502
Likes: 1
From: GA
I just got my 'recall' notice in the mail yesterday...it is preliminary. Lexus is saying to remove the driver's side mat. If you don't want to remove the mat, then Lexus suggests some steps to take in the event you have a 'stuck accelerator pedal', which has been noted in a previous post above. However, as long as the mat came with your Lexus you should not have a problem at all. I don't plan to remove my mat. Lexus advises that as a test, depress the gas pedal all the way down to the floor (engine off and car in park...of course!!) to ensure that the pedal won't get caught in the mat. I believe this problem is mainly a result placing aftermarket all weather floor mats in the vehicle.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,669
Likes: 4
From: Palos Verdes, California
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,669
Likes: 4
From: Palos Verdes, California
Report
You might want to read this report in its entirety.
http://autos.aol.com/gallery/saylor-crash-report
~ Cap
http://autos.aol.com/gallery/saylor-crash-report
~ Cap
Driver
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 134
Likes: 0
From: CO
I did read the whole thing.
Looks like a "perfect storm" situation.
- Detailer Octaviano places wrong mats in and probably does not clip them down.
- Receptionist Jessica ignores customer Frank when he complains about the mats trapping the gas pedal.
- Officer Mark gets the loaner with the same problematic mats.
- The gas pedal gets stuck under the mat on him.
- Mark was never clearly told, verbally or in the manual, that to stop a runaway vehicle he could:
a) put the tranny in neutral and just brake to stop.
b) put the tranny in manumatic and downshift to first gear to slow down to safe speed.
c) kill the engine while at safe speed and in safe place by pressing "Start/Stop" button for THREE seconds.
- Instead, Mark panics, burn the brakes to failure, and ends up in heaven.
- Dealership VP David tries to cover it all up.
- Toyota/Lexus has to pay for it all.
I'm afraid that we all would end up with another big yellow warning sticker - on the dashboard no less - how to stop a runaway vehicle. As if the airbag warning decals on sun visors were not enough.
Looks like a "perfect storm" situation.
- Detailer Octaviano places wrong mats in and probably does not clip them down.
- Receptionist Jessica ignores customer Frank when he complains about the mats trapping the gas pedal.
- Officer Mark gets the loaner with the same problematic mats.
- The gas pedal gets stuck under the mat on him.
- Mark was never clearly told, verbally or in the manual, that to stop a runaway vehicle he could:
a) put the tranny in neutral and just brake to stop.
b) put the tranny in manumatic and downshift to first gear to slow down to safe speed.
c) kill the engine while at safe speed and in safe place by pressing "Start/Stop" button for THREE seconds.
- Instead, Mark panics, burn the brakes to failure, and ends up in heaven.
- Dealership VP David tries to cover it all up.
- Toyota/Lexus has to pay for it all.
I'm afraid that we all would end up with another big yellow warning sticker - on the dashboard no less - how to stop a runaway vehicle. As if the airbag warning decals on sun visors were not enough.
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