Toyota and NHTSA Spar Over Floor Mats

Toyota and the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration seem to be getting along once again. Accidents stemming from Toyota floor mats sparked an investigation from the NHTSA, but the automaker stressed that a defective product was not the cause of the accidents in question.

Toyota and the NHTSA had previously warned drivers about floor mats that could potentially cause the accelerator pedal to stick. But when Toyota issued a letter to owners stressing that the issue was not related to defects and was merely about floor mat compatibility, the NHTSA felt that Toyota had been a bit misleading in their warnings. Concord NH Toyota dealers had always stressed that drivers should check that their vehicles floor mats were the proper size and designed for their specific model to ensure safety and functionality.

As an interim measure, the NHTSA issued a recommendation to owners stating they should remove the floor mats from their vehicles completely until Toyota delivers a more appropriate solution. Rather than escalating the issue, Arlington Car Loans says Toyota did acknowledge that removing the floor mats completely was indeed a reasonable position. Toyota also agreed that a recall is in the works to ensure each vehicle has the correct floor mats with the appropriate fit.

The floor mat controversy was originally sparked by an accident in Southern California that resulted in the death of four people. According to San Diego Used Cars, the vehicles identified for necessary inspection and/or replacement include the 2007-2010 Camry, 2005-2010 Avalon, 2004-2009 Prius, 2005-2010 Tacoma, and 2007-2010 Tundra.

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