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Investigators believe the accelerator of a Lexus sedan loaned to Saylor by an El Cajon dealership became stuck as the vehicle traveled downhill on northbound 125 and went more than 100 mph through the T-intersection at the foot of the Mission Gorge Road offramp, landing in the bed of the San Diego River.
Toyota plans to recall as early as next week 3.8 million U.S. Toyota and Lexus models -- its largest ever -- to fix floor mats that may snag gas pedals and cause vehicles to accelerate at high speeds.
In the meantime, U.S. regulators are urging owners of the seven affected nameplates to remove their driver-side floor mats. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said it issued the warning because of continued reports of vehicles accelerating rapidly after drivers released the accelerator.
“This is an urgent matter,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said in a statement. “We strongly urge owners of these vehicles to remove mats or other obstacles that could lead to unintended acceleration.”
The recall was sparked by an Aug. 28 accident in San Diego during which four people were killed in a Lexus, said Irv Miller, a spokesman for Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. Inc.
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The Toyota vehicles involved are 2007 to 2010 Camrys; 2005 to 2010 Avalons; 2004 to 2009 Priuses; 2005 to 2010 Tacomas and 2007 to 2010 Tundras. Lexus models are 2007 to 2010 ES 350s and 2006 to 2010 IS 250s and IS 350s.
I know things happen and recalls are common. But this is a glaring oversight. I'm shocked it was not caught during road tests.
Why are people still buying Toyota-built vehicles?
Because a defective floor mat is not a big deal, definitely not something to consider when buying a car. If I was going to buy a new Lexus, I would just remove the driver's side floor mat...problem solved.
I'm not talking about the ease of getting around the issue. I'm talking about how such an issue could have passed QA. Another thread made a good point - that Toyota's quality has gone severely downhill since 96 for some reason. Nobody would ever expect that a floor mat could cause such a dangerous condition to happen, and the Cash for Clunkers program only accelerated the amount of vehicles on the road that are subject to it.
I would be extremely worried about buying a Toyota-built car, not because this is an easy problem to get around, but because they allowed such a thing to happen in the first place.
I'm not talking about the ease of getting around the issue. I'm talking about how such an issue could have passed QA. Another thread made a good point - that Toyota's quality has gone severely downhill since 96 for some reason. Nobody would ever expect that a floor mat could cause such a dangerous condition to happen, and the Cash for Clunkers program only accelerated the amount of vehicles on the road that are subject to it.
I would be extremely worried about buying a Toyota-built car, not because this is an easy problem to get around, but because they allowed such a thing to happen in the first place.
Ok, I get your point now, and I agree with you. You are also one of the few people that understand that the newer Toyota's are junk. I laugh at the idiots who think new Camry's are good, reliable cars. Especially considering the reviews are 90% bad!!!
Well, this is what happens when a good car starts being assembled in America. It will be interesting to see how long it is before they pull it out of the US.
Well, this is what happens when a good car starts being assembled in America. It will be interesting to see how long it is before they pull it out of the US.
So, did the brake pedal get stuck as well or something?
The brake will slow down a car enough before it gets to 100 MPH and a speed limiter as long as that driver does not panic and the fit hits the shan.
Just a thought.
On another note, drive-by-wire sucks? My '03 F150 still has a cable throttle.
The problem is reaction time, and in a V6 it's multiplied.
In the case of what happened in Santee, it's a downhill grade, it ends at a T intersection, facing the flat. If you slam the brakes at high speed they will lock up and you will skid directly into the intersection - trust me, I know...I've done it in my mother's car on one occasion (a Camry). Also, 100MPH on a city street or offramp is faster than you think it is. Your reaction time might not be up to snuff. In that accident they were elderly. Someone who is elderly is not going to be fast enough on the trigger to apply the brakes.
A better question to ask would have been why they were not in the process of trying to slow the car down well before the offramp. That the pedal was on the floor in the first place screams of cruise control...a common thing to do on long stretches.
In any case, I still do not understand how this was not caught in either QA or road tests. They had to have benchmarked the speed rating, so either it didn't happen then or they ignored it as a fluke. But to affect that many vehicles? Something stinks.
Well, this is what happens when a good car starts being assembled in America. It will be interesting to see how long it is before they pull it out of the US.
Not quite true. They have been assembled in America for many years... even back when they were "good" cars.
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You are also one of the few people that understand that the newer Toyota's are junk. I laugh at the idiots who think new Camry's are good, reliable cars. Especially considering the reviews are 90% bad!!!
