Toyota Suspends U.S. Sales of Eight Models Including Camry, Corolla and RAV4 to Deal with Accelerator Pedal Issues

Only a few days after announcing that it would recall approximately 2.3 million vehicles to correct sticking accelerator pedals on specific Toyota Division models, the Japanese automaker said today that it will temporarily suspend sales of eight Toyota vehicles that are on the recall list in the USA. No Lexus or Scion models are included in the sales suspension. The affected Toyota models are listed below:

• 2009-2010 RAV4
  
• 2009-2010 Corolla
  
• 2009-2010 Matrix
  
• 2005-2010 Avalon
  
• Certain 2007-2010 Camry
  
• 2010 Highlander
  
• 2007-2010 Tundra
  
• 2008-2010 Sequoia
  

For the record, the Toyota models not affected by the temporary sales halt are the Prius, Tacoma, Sienna, Venza, Solara, Yaris, 4Runner, FJ Cruiser, Land Cruiser and select Camry models, including all Camry hybrids, which will remain for sale.

According to the company, the new sticking accelerator pedal recall is separate from the on-going recall of around 1.7 million Toyota and Lexus vehicles to reduce the risk of pedal entrapment by incorrect or out of place accessory floor mats.

In this latest recall, the Japanese automaker said that it has investigated isolated reports of sticking accelerator pedal mechanisms in certain vehicles even without the presence of floor mats.

According to Toyota, there's a possibility that certain accelerators may, "in rare instances, mechanically stick in a partially depressed position or return slowly to the idle position."

"Helping ensure the safety of our customers and restoring confidence in Toyota are very important to our company," commented Group Vice President and Toyota Division General Manager Bob Carter.

"This action is necessary until a remedy is finalized. We're making every effort to address this situation for our customers as quickly as possible."

Because of the sales halt, the company said that it will stop producing vehicles on certain production lines for the week of February 1. The affected factories are listed below:

--Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Canada (Corolla, Matrix, and RAV4)

--Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Indiana (Sequoia and Highlander)

--Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky – Line 1 (Camry and Avalon)

--Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc. (Camry)

--Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Texas (Tundra)

Fatal Accident Prompts Toyota and Lexus to Warn Drivers to Remove Floormat Due to Risk of Accelerator Getting Stuck

The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Toyota have eleased an official announcement to warn drivers of seven Toyota and Lexus models that there's a possibility that the accelerator pedal may get stuck in the full open position due to an "unsecured or incompatible driver's floor mat." Even though it may not sound serious at first, Reuters reported that the U.S. government said it has received reports of 100 incidents related to this problem including 17 crashes and 5 fatalities involving Toyota and Lexus vehicles.

In one of these accidents, it was reported that an off-duty California state trooper and three members of his family were killed in a 2009 Lexus ES350 crash in San Diego. Reuters said that before the crash, a passenger of the ES350 has called the police to inform them that the accelerator was jammed and the car had reached 120mph (193km/h) at that time.

Although the San Diego incident is still under investigation, meaning that it is not yet confirmed that the floormat is to blame, Toyota said that it wanted to take precautionary measures on the matter.

"Obviously the tragic accident in San Diego was certainly an eye opener for all of us and we've paid very, very diligent attention to moving forward to try to make sure autoofcars2011.blogspot of us will be reliving that kind of a very tragic situation," said Toyota spokesman Irv Miller.

Overall, Toyota is planning to issue a safety recall on around 3.8 million vehicles due to the issue with the driver's floor mat.

The affected Toyota models are the 2007-2010 Camry, 2005-2010 Avalon, 2004-2009 Prius, 2005-2010 Tacoma and 2007-2010 Tundra.

The Lexus modes affected by the recall are the 2007-2010 ES 350 and 2006-2010 IS 250 and IS 350 sedans.

Surprisingly, this is not the first time that Toyota has faced a problem with the driver's floormat as in September 2007, the firm recalled an accessory all-weather floor mat sold for use in 2007 and 2008MY Lexus ES 350 and Toyota Camry sedans because of similar issues.

The Japanese company said that until it "develops a remedy", it is asking the owners of the above models to "take out any removable driver's floor mat and NOT replace it with any other floor mat."

In the case that drivers are confronted with a jammed accelerator pedal, here's what Toyota recommends that they do:

From Toyota and Lexus Press Release: Should the vehicle continue to accelerate rapidly after releasing the accelerator pedal, this could be an indication of floor mat interference. If this occurs, Toyota recommends the driver take the following actions:

First, if it is possible and safe to do so, pull back the floor mat and dislodge it from the accelerator pedal; then pull over and stop the vehicle.

If the floor mat cannot be dislodged, then firmly and steadily step on the brake pedal with both feet. Do NOT pump the brake pedal repeatedly as this will increase the effort required to slow the vehicle.

Shift the transmission gear selector to the Neutral (N) position and use the brakes to make a controlled stop at the side of the road and turn off the engine.

If unable to put the vehicle in Neutral, turn the engine OFF, or to ACC. This will not cause loss of steering or braking control, but the power assist to these systems will be lost.

-If the vehicle is equipped with an Engine Start/Stop button, firmly and steadily push the button for at least three seconds to turn off the engine. Do NOT tap the Engine Start/Stop button.

-If the vehicle is equipped with a conventional key-ignition, turn the ignition key to the ACC position to turn off the engine. Do NOT remove the key from the ignition as this will lock the steering wheel.

Via: Toyota & Lexus, NHTSA and Reuters

2010 Toyota Tundra and Sequoia SUV Facelift with new 310HP 4.6L V8 and Higher Prices

Ah yes, yet another 2010MY vehicle is being launched in the U.S. This time it's Toyota and its full size 2010 Tundra pickup truck and Sequoia SUV models that will begin arriving at dealerships at the end of the month. Both models benefit from the introduction of a new 4.6-liter V8 engine with 310HP and 327 lb-ft of peak torque that's mated to a six-speed automatic transmission.

Compared to the previous 4.7-liter V8, the new engine delivers 34 additional horsepower with a preliminary EPA fuel efficiency rating of 15 mpg city and 20 mpg highway on the Tundra 4x2 models and 14 mpg city and 19 mpg highway on the Sequoia.

Furthermore, all 2010MY Tundra pickups receive a redesigned front grille and tail lamps while there's also an all-new Platinum Package for the CrewMax Limited models equipped with the 5.7-liter V8 and Flex Fuel powertrains. This package adds an array of features such as heated and ventilated seats, sunroof, and wood grain trim, and carries an MSRP of $4,662.

Prices for the 2010 Tundra range from $22,960 for the Regular Cab 4x2 standard bed with a V6 engine to $42,155 for the range-topping CrewMax Limited 4x4 with a 5.7-liter V8 engine. The new MSRPs reflect an average overall increase of $557 over the previous model.

The 2010MY Sequoia SUV has been enhanced with a higher level of standard comfort and safety features such as driver and front passenger knee airbag and the new standard audio system that has been upgraded to include Bluetooth, satellite radio capability and MP3 interface with an auxiliary audio jack and USB port.

The base MSRP for the Sequoia ranges from $38,530 for the SR5 4x2 with a new 4.6-liter V8 engine to $58,905 for the Platinum 4x4 with a 5.7-liter V8. According to the Japanese automaker, the new MSRPs reflect a significant average overall increase of $3,361 for all Sequoia models.

Toyota Recalls Over 15,000 MY 2007 Tundra Pick-Up Trucks

Toyota USA is recalling 15,616 MY 2007 Tundra 4-wheel drive pickup trucks due to the improper heat treatment of the slip yokes that had been reworked during the manufacturing process. In this condition, there is a possibility that the yoke may break causing the propeller shaft to separate at the joint and come into contact with the road surface or the fuel tank which could result in a loss of vehicle control or even a fuel leak. Toyota dealers will inspect the slip yoke and replace the propeller shaft if necessary.

2008 Toyota Sequoia: L.A. Show Debut For Tundra Based SUV

Toyota officially announced that it will stage the world premiere of the all-new 2008 Sequoia full-size sport utility vehicle (SUV) at the upcoming L.A. Show on November 14. According to the Japanese carmaker’s austere press release, the completely redesigned 2008 Sequoia (based on the new Tundra pick-up truck), will be more spacious and powerful than the current model.

2008 Toyota Tundra – Prices announced, 13 New Model Variations Added

Toyota has released pricing on the 2008 Tundra which features minor revisions, equipment upgrades and a choice of 44 model variations (13 more than the '07 MY) in three cab styles. The biggest change for the 08 MY is the increased availability of Double Cab and CrewMaxn the newly named "Tundra Grade” which is positioned below the SR5. According to Toyota, prices kick off from $22,290 for the Regular Cab 4x2 V6 and go up to $42,070 for the CrewMax Limited grade 4x4 5.7L V8. Just in case you’re wondering, the Tundra pictured above is equipped with the optional Sport Appearance Package that includes color-keyed front and rear bumpers, upper color-keyed grille surround and fog lamps. -Details & high-res images after the jump

Press Release

Toyota Announces 13 More Models And Pricing For 2008 Tundra Lineup

October 2, 2007 - Torrance, CA - Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A. (TMS), Inc. expanded the Tundra full-size pickup truck lineup for 2008, adding 13 new model variations and enhancing standard equipment levels to create a greater value. The 2008 Tundra now offers a choice of 44 model variations in three cab styles. Since its introduction in February 2007, Tundra's share of the half-ton full-size pickup truck segment has more than doubled, going from eight to 17 percent.

"Tundra has been an outstanding success for Toyota and its dealers, and additions to the 2008 model line are intended to maintain our momentum," said Bob Carter, Toyota Motor Sales group vice president and Toyota Division general manager. "Despite tough market conditions, Tundra retail sales were up 57.9 percent through September YTD, and we are on track to achieve our goal of 200,000 unit sales for 2007."

The biggest change for the 2008 Tundra is the increased availability of the two most popular cab styles – Double Cab and CrewMax – in the newly named "Tundra Grade," to increase their appeal to price conscious customers. Previously, these four-door models were available only in the intermediate SR5 and top-line Limited Grades. The new Tundra Grade, positioned just below the SR5, is equipped with all of the key standard features consumers expect in their truck, adding up to a great value.

Toyota is bolstering the value of the Tundra SR5 Grade Double Cab and CrewMax by increasing standard equipment. For 2008, these models include the previously optional power bucket front seats, AM/FM stereo with 6-disc CD changer, cold kit, heated mirrors, and mud guards as standard, at a lower price than for a similarly equipped 2007 model.

The Tundra Limited Grade Double Cab and Crew Max models add the formerly optional front and rear parking sonar, cold kit, and mudguards to the standard equipment list, all at a lower price. Finally, the Tundra Grade regular cab model features more rugged work truck styling for 2008, with a new chrome bumper and matte-black grille surround replacing the shiny black front bumper and grille surround.

The Tundra line-up sets a new benchmark in the full-size pickup truck segment for performance, capability, and standard safety features. The 2008 Tundra is available with 4x2 and 4x4 drivetrains and offers three cab styles, three wheelbases, three bed lengths, three engines, and three trim levels.

The Double Cab is the top-selling volume Tundra configuration, accounting for 68-percent of non-fleet sales. The larger CrewMax accounts for 26 percent of Tundra sales. Tundra's available 381-horsepower i-Force 5.7L V8 is one of the most powerful engines available in a half-ton full-size pickup and is chosen by 72 percent of customers.

All Tundra models feature the Toyota STAR SAFETY SYSTEM™ as standard equipment, giving Tundra one of the most comprehensive suites of standard safety technology in the full-size pickup truck category. The system includes ABS, Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist, Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) and Traction Control (TRAC).

The manufacturers suggested retail price (MSRP) for the 2008 Tundra Regular Cab ranges from $22,290 for the Tundra grade 4x2 with V6 engine and five-speed automatic transmission, to $27,770 for the long-bed 4x4 with 5.7L V8 engine and six-speed automatic transmission.

Tundra Double cab MSRP ranges from $24,715 for the Tundra grade 4x2 with V6 engine and five-speed automatic transmission, to $38,770 for the Limited grade 4x4 with 5.7L V8 engine and six-speed automatic transmission.

Tundra CrewMax MSRP ranges from $27,685 for the Tundra grade 4x2 with V8 engine and five-speed automatic transmission, to $42,070 for the Limited grade 4x4 with 5.7L V8 engine and six-speed automatic transmission.

2008 Tundra will begin arriving in dealerships in mid-October. The addition to the Tundra lineup consists of 13 all-new "Tundra grade" models for each of the Tundra SR5 Double Cab and CrewMax models.