Toyota Prius Among Vehicles on Recall List
Toyota announced that several of their vehicles are subject to recall, including the Toyota Prius model years 2004-2009. The recall is the result of a safety issue with the removable mats on the drivers side of the vehicle. Reports state that the removable mat inside the hybrid car could interfere with the vehicle's accelerator and cause an accident. Drivers are urged to remove the mat and not replace it. **IMPORTANT UPDATE** - Please scroll to the bottom of this page to learn about important developments to this story since it was first published. The Prius has been a major celebrity amongst green car enthusiasts, hollywood stars, and environmentalists, as it pioneered hybrid technology worldwide. A mixture of gasoline and electric power reduces emissions and results in better gas mileage. Since the birth of the prius, auto manufacturers worldwide have developed hybrid cars, hybrid SUVs, and the like. The new 2010 Toyota Prius boasts the highest MPG for a hybrid to-date, but is quickly being outdone by electric cars, such as the Chevy Volt, now claiming 250 MPG. Will this recall affect 2010 Prius sales? It's unlikely, but Toyota definitely has a lot of damage control to do, especially since they had a major recall only 4 years ago due to steering problems. Other vehicles on the recall list include 2007-2010 Toyota Camry, 2005-2010 Toyota Avalon, 2005-2010 Toyota Tacoma, 2007-2010 Toyota Tundra, 2007-2010 Lexus ES350, 2006-2010 Lexus IS250, and 2006-2010 Lexus IS350. **UPDATE** According to an L.A. Times article published on Oct. 18, 2009, there may be more to this recall than floor mats. In San Diego, a family of 4 was driving a loaner vehicle from a dealership when the vehicle suddenly accelerated to speeds upwards of 100 MPH. Unable to stop the vehicle, one of the passengers called 911 on his cell phone. Unfortunately, they were unable to stop the vehicle and all aboard died in the resulting car crash. In this case, it wasn't a Toyota Prius, but it was a Toyota manufactured vehicle. It was a 2009 Lexus ES3500. There have been five other instances of fatal runaway car crashes (notice we've said fatal, as there are runaway car incidents where people have survived, thankfully) in the last 2 years. Lawsuits abound, and accusations have risen that the ignition, transmission, and braking systems potentially contribute to these runaway vehicle incidents and deaths. Some accusations have also stated that the computerized engine lacks safety mechanisms to stop a runaway vehicle in the event of sudden acceleration. For more information on this tragedy, please watch the video below.
Emergency Procedures for Runaway VehiclesIn the event you're in a vehicle that has suddenly accelerated beyond your control and you are unable to stop the car by applying the brakes, shift the car into neutral and shut off the vehicle. It's important to note, however, once you shift and turn off the vehicle, you will lose power steering, so you will need to be ready to handle that as well.Also, it would be good to let everyone know you're in trouble, if they haven't noticed based on your blazing speeds. Lay on the horn so people will get out of your way. If you have any passengers, have them call 911 immediately.
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