NHTSA says park suspicious Toyotas

WASHINGTON, Feb. 3 (UPI) -- The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says drivers of recalled Toyotas should park their cars if they notice stiffer than normal gas pedals.

Toyota recalled 2.3 million U.S. vehicles in January due to problems with sticking gas pedals that can result in runaway vehicles. The NHTSA advised "if their accelerator pedal is harder to depress than normal or slower to return, it may be a precursor to a stuck pedal."

The official differed from U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood's remark at a House appropriations hearing Wednesday. LaHood initially said, "if anybody owns one of these vehicles, stop driving it, take it to the Toyota dealer," only to later call that "obviously a misstatement."

LaHood then advised, "if you are in doubt, take it to the dealership today," The Wall Street Journal reported.

Officially, the NHTSA said Monday drivers of 2007-2008 Tundra, 2008-2010 Sequoia, 2005-2010 Avalon, 2007-2010 Camry, 2009-2010 Corolla, 2009-2010 Matrix, 2009-2010 RAV4, 2010 Highlander and 2009-2010 Vibe vehicles should park their cars if they notice irregularities with their gas pedals.

Drivers caught in a car that will not slow down were advised to depress their brakes "firmly and steadily," but not to pump the brake pedal; shift transmissions into neutral; steer toward "a safe location"; and shut the engine off. Once the car stops "do not drive it," the advisory said. Instead, from there call a Toyota dealership.

The agency said it was unaware of injuries or deaths associated with the problem, although there were confirmed reports that five people in two separate accidents had died as a result of gas pedals that become tangled with floor mats, a recall announced in October for which the NHTSA advised owners to remove or secure driver's side floor mats.