Toyota has announced an expanded recall of more than two million vehicles to correct problematic floor mats and accelerator pedals. The move comes following an investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The Chicago Tribune reports the recall affects popular models, such as the Toyota Highlander and RAV4 (see link for full list).
The announcement comes just weeks after a NHTSA report looking into Toyota’s vehicle electronic systems found no problems and concluded driver error was the most likely cause of a number of serious accidents. Based on that conclusion it was widely perceived that Toyota’s problems were finally behind them. However, this expanded recall has energized critics and refuels thousands of pending lawsuits, according to Rueters. As previously reported on this blog, plaintiff’s lawyers have vowed to push ahead with Toyota cases.
Toyota is no stranger to problems surrounding floor mats and sticky accelerator pedals. The company has recalled millions of vehicles and paid record fines since the issues were first discovered.
The move by the NHTSA officially ends the government’s probe into Toyota. The company has recalled nearly 15 million vehicles because of safety concerns in the last two years.
The Personal Injury Law Update is a service of D'Amore Law Group
