Toyota fixes faulty accelerator pedals

Toyota Motor Corp said yesterday that it has found the remedy for the nearly 4.45 million vehicles recalled last week in the US and Canada, because of defective accelerator pedals that cause the vehicles to accelerate unintentionally.

In a statement released yesterday, the world's biggest carmaker said that condensation resulting from cold-weather, use of the heater or other causes, may have formed on the worn surface in the accelerator-pedal assembly of the affected vehicles, resulting in the accelerator pedal returning slowly or not returning to its idle position.

Toyota said that the remedy involved installing a precision-cut steel reinforcement bar into the accelerator-pedal assembly that creates a space to reduce the surface tension between the friction device and a component called the pedal arm.

The bar also strengthens the reaction force of the spring that returns the accelerator pedal to its non-pressed position.

Toyota dealers will receive the fixed part during the course of this week that would take about 30 minutes to repair. Although the remedy for the problem is relatively simple, it will take months for Toyota dealers to fix all the 4.45 million vehicles.

Toyota was forced to recall a total of 4.45 million vehicles late last month, including its popular Camry and Corolla sedans. It had also temporarily suspended sales of 8 models in the US and Canadian and stopped producing vehicles at its 5 production lines in the US and Canada. (See: Toyota recalls another 2.3 million vehicles and  Toyota suspends sales of 8 models in the US, may close 5 plant lines)

Later the problem expanded to Europe and China, affecting another 2 million vehicles in Europe and 75,552 in China. (See: Toyota's vehicle recall expands to Europe and China)

This unprecedented recall by Toyota, the largest in its history, may cost the carmaker nearly $1 billion and another $160 million a week in lost sales, according to an industry analyst.