As of Tuesday January 26, Toyota Motors Corporation (NYSE: TM) suspended U.S. sales and production of 8 different models. This is the recall list:
2009-2010 RAV4,
2009-2010 Corolla,
2009-2010 Matrix,
2005-2010 Avalon,
Certain 2007-2010 Camry,
2010 Highlander,
2007-2010 Tundra,
2008-2010 Sequoia
Toyota stated that the sales suspension would not affect any of its Scion or Lexus vehicles. Additionally, Toyota said that the 4Runner, Land Cruiser, Solara, Venza, Sienna, Prius, Tacoma, FJ Cruiser, Yaris and select Camry Models (including all the Camry Hybrid Models) would continue on sale.
Toyota car owners are welcome to call the Toyota Customer Experience Center at 800-331-4331.
Lastly, this announcement follows the recall of 4.2 million Lexus and Toyota vehicles a few months ago that had gas pedals becoming trapped under floor mats and causing sudden acceleration.
The Issue
Safety Research and Strategies, a Massachusetts-based safety research firm, identified 2,274 incidents of sudden unintended acceleration in Toyota vehicles causing 275 crashes and at least 18 fatalities since 1999. There has also been a recent accident (December 26th 2009) where an Avalon careened off a road and into a lake in Southlake, Texas.
At first, Toyota believed the problem was derived from floor mats getting jammed against the gas pedal; however, it has recently stated that its accelerator assembly’s electronics could be a cause as well.
Accumulating evidence has forced Toyota to put safety in front of profits and suspend sales of 8 different vehicle models.
“This action is necessary until a remedy is finalized,” said Bob Carter, Toyota’s group vice president and general manager. “Helping ensure the safety of our customers and restoring confidence in Toyota is very important to our company.”
This action is likely to affect the firm’s profits. The eight models in the sales suspension represents 57% of Toyota’s 2009 U.S. sales, according to the Wall Street Journal.
The halt will affect plant production in Lafayette, Ind., Georgetown, Ky., San Antonio and Cambridge, Ontario, Princeton, Ind., and Woodstock, Ontario, in Canada.
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