WASHINGTON, Sept. 29 (UPI) -- Tokyo-based Toyota Motor Corp. told owners of 3.8 million Toyota and Lexus vehicles to remove floor mats that could cause the accelerator pedal to get stuck.
The mats can force the accelerator pedal down even after the driver's foot is removed, causing a fatal crash, Toyota and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said Tuesday.
Toyota said a fatal crash involving a family in a 2009 Lexus in San Diego could have been caused by a floor mat interfering with the accelerator pedal because of a faulty mat installation.
"There is an urgent matter," U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said in a statement. "For everyone's sake, we strongly urge owners of these vehicles to remove mats or other obstacles that could lead to unintended acceleration."
The advisory, which did not give the number of reported problems with the floor mats, applies to these models: 2007-2010 Camry; 2005-2010 Avalon; 2004-2009 Prius; 2005-2010 Tacoma; 2007-2010 Tundra; 2007-2010 Lexus ES 350; 2006-2010 Lexus IS 250 and Lexus IS 350.
