Toyota Floor Mat Recall Is the Largest Ever

September 2009

Toyota has launched its largest recall ever due to sliding floor mats that may have caused a fatal crash in Texas. The automaker has warned the owners of 3.8 million Toyota and Lexus vehicles to remove the driver's side floor mat immediately.

The federal government says it has received 102 reports of jammed accelerators in Toyota and Lexus models, including 13 crashes, five deaths, and 17 injuries. Four people died in a late August car accident when a Lexus crashed at about 120 mph. In a 911 call, the passengers said the accelerator was stuck and they couldn't turn off the engine. The following are models affected by the recall:

• 2007-10 Camry
• 2005-10 Avalon
• 2007-10 Tundra
• 2005-10 Tacoma
• 2004-09 Prius
• 2007-10 Lexus ES 350
• 2006-10 Lexus IS 250/350

The company has asked owners to completely remove the driver's side mat – even replacing it with a paper mat could be dangerous, since it can slide and jam. Toyota is working on a replacement mat or other solution.