Toyota Misled Consumers with Recall Information

Back in September of last year Toyota announced a massive recall saying that the floor mats on certain cars could cause the accelerator to get stuck. They offered an easy fix putting new floor mats in and taking your old ones out. Toyota said this in their statement on November 2, 2009 "no defect exists in vehicles in which the driver's floor mat is compatible with the vehicle and properly secured."

The NHTSA said that press release "inaccurately stated NHTSA has reached a conclusion." They also said that "NHTSA has told Toyota and consumers that removing the recalled floor mats is the most immediate way to address the safety risk and avoid the possibility of the accelerator becoming stuck. But it is simply an interim measure. This remedy does not correct the underlying defect in the vehicles involving the potential for entrapment of the accelerator by floor mats, which is related to accelerator and floor pan design."

According the NHTSA Toyota tried to cover up the problem with the accelerator sticking to the floor of the car. This has led to the Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood to have said this "While Toyota is taking responsible action now; it unfortunately took an enormous effort to get to this point. We're not finished with Toyota and are continuing to review possible defects and monitor the implementation of the recalls."

A DOT official said the agency is considering filing a civil suit against Toyota. There is a chance Toyota would have to pay a penalty of up to 16.5 million dollars for the delay of fixing the problem. How long ago was this problem known about? There were reports that Toyota first identified the problem in 2007. Toyota tried fixing the problem without the NHTSA knowing only to have it back fired on them. More on this as it develops.