NHTSA And Toyota Disagree On The Floor Mat Problem

Miscellaneous | Dean | November 5, 2009 at 16:32

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has said that they declare war.. on Toyota. Well, not really war, but they said that the Japanese automaker was pretty inaccurate about the information which effects about 3.8 million vehicles.

The NHTSA said that Toyota was wrong by saying that there are no defects in “in vehicles in which the driver’s floor mat is compatible with the vehicle and properly secured.”

It was said that removing the floor mats “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.”

Toyota tried to reply to this statement by saying that, “It was never our intention to mislead or provide inaccurate information. Toyota agrees with N.H.T.S.A.’s position that the removal of the floor mats is an interim measure and that further vehicle-based action is required. We are in the process of developing vehicle-based remedies to help avoid the potential for an unsecured or incompatible floor mat to trap the accelerator pedal.”

It was said that Toyota started sending letters to owners which stated that they should just remove the floor mats and this will solve all problems. The NHTSA seems to disagree.

…AND FIGHT!