Earlier this week, Toyota announced a special service campaign for all 2000-2003 Tundras to replace or repair certain frame components that suffer from rust. Specifically, the campaign covers the rear cross member, the brake line attachment points, and the fuel tank straps, and it supposed to be a national expansion of the existing regional Tundra frame rust recall for the U.S. North East.

However, according to comments from numerous 2000-2003 Tundra owners, Toyota’s existing recall is lacking in transparency and consistency.

1. Toyota has made some 00-01′ Tundra owners a buy-back offer, while others are only being offered repairs. The buy-back offers – based on reports from owners and conversations with dealers – seem to hover right around KBB’s Private Party Value for a vehicle in ‘fair’ condition and/or the average between NADA retail and wholesale.

Vehicle buy-backs are problematic when it comes to customer satisfaction. Some owners would rather have their vehicle fixed, while others expect more than Toyota is willing to offer. Toyota previously offered many 1994-2000 Toyota Tacoma owners 150% of retail to buy-back their rusting trucks, but they seem unwilling to make that same generous offer to Tundra owners…begging the question, Why Not?

It’s also difficult to understand why some owners are made a buy-back offer and some are not. While it’s clearly cheaper for Toyota to buy-back these old trucks than it is to pay for a full frame replacement, the lack of transparency is frustrating for both dealers and owners. Toyota’s latest announcement likely means that buy-backs are no longer available, but we really can’t be sure.

2. Toyota dealers are offering different degrees of assistance. Some Toyota dealers in Maine and Massachusetts have repaired dozens of trucks, while others claim to have “never heard” of this recall. Here’s why the dealers are so inconsistent:

Most auto manufactures have a somewhat convoluted customer service process (including Toyota). Basically, 90% of customer service decisions are made at your local dealership. The national customer service hotline is nothing more than an answering service and tracking system that measures the performance of dealers. The graph below shows the basic customer service process that Toyota and most large auto manufacturers follow.

It’s a little bit of an oversimplification…but not much. The process really is circular. It might seem stupid, but this is by design. Some phone jockey can’t possibly figure out how to solve your problem – only your local dealer can. SO, if you want results, your local dealer better know how to work the system.

This, unfortunately, is the problem. While most dealership service managers are hard-working and knowledgeable, some are lazy and/or don’t understand how the system works. Dealerships can’t approve major customer service actions (like a frame replacement), but they DO have the cell phone numbers of the people that can make that decision. If your local dealership service manager is motivated, he or she can often get your problem resolved in a few days with nothing more than some phone calls.

The trouble is, some dealership service managers don’t have the ambition to solve your problem. Maybe they’re busy, maybe they’re lazy, or maybe you’ve done something to irritate them or their staff. Whatever the case, you would be wise to follow our recommended tips for getting your problem solved. If you’re persistent and pleasant, you’ll often get the best possible customer service.

Of course, it also helps to work with a good service manager. If the dealership you’re talking to has done a few frame repairs and/or replacements, odds are good they’ve got a good service manager. If they say they’ve “never heard of it,” drive to a different dealer.

In any case, we’re pleased to see Toyota expand this recall. Good luck to any first-gen Tundra owners that are working thru this issue.

Check out this list of available Toyota Tundra shocks

Sources at Toyota’s sales division have told us to expect a major announcement from Toyota today that details the official unintended acceleration recall repair. As we reported last week (a full two days before the Automotive News made a similar report), the fix will be a type of shim that will prevent the pedal mechanism from getting hung up on the friction pad inside the accelerator assembly.

Accelerator pedal recall repair diagram

This shim will be a quick, easy fix, and according to Toyota dealers we’ve spoken with, parts will begin arriving as soon as the middle of the week. While Toyota has yet to detail the order that vehicles will be repaired in, here’s what we’ve learned so far:

1. Dealers will fix the brand-new cars first. Toyota has to start selling their new cars again – partially so they can start making money, and partially because re-starting sales will get this news off the front page.

2. Toyota is advising customers with sticking or “slow to return” pedals to contact their dealer for an inspection. Depending on the results of the inspection, your local dealer may or may not perform the recall immediately.

3. All Toyota owners will receive recall notices in waves. Toyota will send out recall notice letters in batches, but it seems like this is going to be a wasted effort. Toyota’s advice to “schedule an inspection” all but assures that dealers will be overwhelmed with customers.

4. The recall will take 30-60 days to complete. We’ve been told that Toyota has produced in excess of 1 million shims over the last 10 days, so the bottleneck in repairs isn’t going to be due to a lack of parts. The issue will be dealers being able to get all the work done.

Toyota Dealers Vow To Work Day and Night

More than one dealer we spoke to plans to operate their service department for extended hours in order to try and repair as many vehicles as possible. While this sacrifice is noteworthy – and will be much appreciated by Toyota and consumers alike – it’s important to note that Toyota dealers stand to make a small fortune performing this repair. We don’t know what the labor time will be, but most dealers expect to have a profitable month as a result of performing hundreds or thousands of recall repairs.

More info on the repair:

Toyota has pinpointed the issue that could, on rare occasions, cause accelerator pedals in recalled vehicles to stick in a partially open position.  The issue involves a friction device in the pedal designed to provide the proper “feel” by adding resistance and making the pedal steady and stable.  The device includes a shoe that rubs against an adjoining surface during normal pedal operation.  Due to the materials used, wear and environmental conditions, these surfaces may, over time, begin to stick and release instead of operating smoothly.  In some cases, friction could increase to a point that the pedal is slow to return to the idle position or, in rare cases, the pedal sticks, leaving the throttle partially open.

Toyota’s solution for current owners is both effective and simple.  A precision-cut steel reinforcement bar will be installed into the assembly that will reduce the surface tension between the friction shoe and the adjoining surface.  With this reinforcement in place, the excess friction that can cause the pedal to stick is eliminated.  The company has confirmed the effectiveness of the newly reinforced pedals through rigorous testing on pedal assemblies that had previously shown a tendency to stick.

Check out this list of available Toyota Tundra shocks

The “fix” is rumored to be nothing more than a simple shim that will keep the accelerator mechanism from getting stuck. It’s anticipated that Toyota can manage to repair most of the effected vehicles within the month. Sources say that recall repairs could begin as early as next week, meaning that Toyota’s sales freeze could be over in just a few days.

Check out this list of available Toyota Tundra shocks

“In recent months, Toyota has investigated isolated reports of sticking accelerator pedal mechanisms in certain vehicles without the presence of floor mats,” said TMS Group Vice President Irv Miller.  “Our investigation indicates that there is a possibility that certain accelerator pedal mechanisms may, in rare instances, mechanically stick in a partially depressed position or return slowly to the idle position. Consistent with our commitment to the safety of our cars and our customers, we have initiated this voluntary recall action.”

The impact here is clear – floor mats may or may not be the problem, and judging by the wording of Toyota’s press release, this newest recall of accelerator mechanisms in certain Toyota vehicles may or may not be the problem either. Vehicles included in this newest recall include:

• 2009-2010 RAV4
• 2009-2010 Corolla
• 2009-2010 Matrix
• 2005-2010 Avalon
• 2007-2010 Camry
• 2010 Highlander
• 2007-2010 Tundra
• 2008-2010 Sequoia

Questions that we have about this newest recall:

The text of the release says “The condition is rare, but can occur when the pedal mechanism becomes worn” – how “worn” does the mechanism have to be? The oldest vehicle in the recall is the 05′ Avalon, how much wear and tear could a 5 year old throttle mechanism have? Not to mention the wear that most 07’s would have…

Was the floor mat recall necessary? When this issue was on the public’s mind six months ago, some pointed out that many specific incident investigations showed the floor mats weren’t the cause of unintended acceleration. Did Toyota recall the floor mats because they felt it was necessary, or because they felt compelled to do something?

What was NHTSA’s role in all of this? NHTSA is supposed to safeguard the American public – did they discover (or help discover) this issue, or did Toyota find this on their own? The recall is voluntary, but that doesn’t always tell the whole story.

Why didn’t we find out about this sooner? It’s easy to Monday-morning-quarterback this thing, but Toyota definitely didn’t handle the unintended acceleration issue correctly. Whether it was a case of mismanagement or simply a matter of investigations needing time to generate results, Toyota clearly jumped the gun when announcing the floormat recall.

The only thing worse than recalling millions of vehicles for a potential safety issue is doing it twice in the span of 6 months.

Comments?

Check out this list of available Toyota Tundra shocks

We’ve obtained a copy of the defect information report from Toyota to NHTSA, which contains information about Toyota’s frame rust recall that, as far as we know, has not yet been disclosed to the mainstream media. What follows are snippets from this letter.

First and foremost, Toyota has acknowledged that ALL first generation Tundras may be subject to the same rust problems that are found on 00-03 Toyota Tundras currently under recall. Therefore, Toyota will be offering rustproofing to 2004-2006 Tundra owners in the near future.

…while Toyota has not determined a defect exists in 2004 through 2006 model year Tundras, Toyota plans on initiating a field action in the near future to prevent future corrosion on those vehicles…at no cost to the owner

Obviously, Toyota would not be offering to rust-proof 04-06 Tundras unless they believed these vehicles also have this issue.

All in all, this is excellent news for first generation Tundra owners. Toyota will begin contacting 2004-2006 Tundra owners in the effected areas at the beginning of next year. Just like the current recall, the offer to rust-proof all 04-06 Tundras will be limited to vehicles currently registered in CT, DE, IL, IN, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, VA, VT, WI, and WV.

The letter we obtained also outlines the chronology of events leading up to the official Tundra frame rust recall announcement. It turns out that Toyota had evidence of spare tires falling off of Tundras in late 2008 – 6 months prior to the news story in Boston that got this story rolling. While we’re inclined to give Toyota the benefit of the doubt here, we can’t help but wonder: How long was Toyota going to sit on this info?

More to the point – why didn’t Toyota do something earlier? They could have prevented a lot of bad publicity and looked like heroes had they announced a voluntary recall 9 months ago.

The letter describes Toyota’s investigation of the frame rust problems and their conclusions. Specifically:

the root cause is a combination of factors, including usage in areas where road salt is applied, inadequate vehicle maintenance (i.e., not following the recommendations in the Owner’s Manual), the design of the rear cross member, and manufacturing issues

Toyota spokesperson Brian Lyons said earlier this week that Dana was not responsible for the Tundra frame rust issue, yet Toyota’s official letter to NHTSA seems to indicate otherwise.

Finally, this letter offers the most encouraging sign yet that Toyota will honor their commitments to the owners of 2000-2003 Tundras with frame rust. If a dealer inspection finds that:

In those relatively rare cases where the rear cross member is significantly corroded and can no longer safely support the spare tire, but the rear cross member assembly cannot be replaced due to excessive frame corrosion at the mounting location (e.g., if the side rails are too damaged), Toyota will develop an appropriate remedy for those vehicles.

While the phrase “appropriate remedy” can mean many things, Toyota spokesperson Brian Lyons did recently confirm to PickupTrucks.com that Toyota has bought back some Tundras. It sounds like Toyota has promised NHTSA that anyone who owns a Tundra with severe frame rust can expect Toyota to go above and beyond replacing the rear cross member.

So, if you’re a Tundra owner with severe frame rust, it sounds like you’ve got a case for arguing for a buy-back.

Check out this list of available Toyota Tundra shocks

Toyota's official recall includes new gas pedals for all and brake-to-idle failsafe upgrade for some.

For those who don’t know, “brake-to-idle failsafe” is a computer control that cancels accelerator inputs while the brakes are being depressed. Therefore, with brake-to-idle failsafe it’s impossible for a stuck accelerator to cause an accident, because one touch of the brakes tells the engine computer to ignore the gas pedal. It’s a simple and idiot-proof countermeasure the will overcome any stuck accelerator, and all it requires is a programming updated to a vehicles ECU (engine control unit).

When Toyota officially announced their plans to re-size accelerator pedals on many newer Toyota’s today, they also announced that they would be re-programing the Camry, Avalon, ES350, IS250, and IS350 to include the brake-idle failsafe system.

This is great news for Toyota owners and a great example of Toyota doing the right thing. Good work, Toyota!

Some of you may be wondering about the vehicles that won’t receive the brake-to-idle failsafe programming, but the fact is the Tundra, Tacoma, and Prius simply aren’t that likely to suffer from a stuck accelerator because of a jammed floormat.

The Tacoma and the Tundra have a lot of clearance between the gas pedal and the mats, and the new accelerator pedals that Toyota will install are going to enhance that clearance. It’s still possible to get jammed up, but much less likely. The Prius also has a fair amount of clearance, and unlike all the other vehicles mentioned, the Prius really is not powerful enough to overpower it’s own braking system.

All in all, this is a smart response by Toyota. Reshaping the gas pedal is a prudent idea that will likely eliminate most problems, and adding the brake-to-idle failsafe system to the Camry, ES350, IS250 and IS350, and Avalon will cover a LOT of people. Adding brake-to-idle failsafe to all the vehicles would have been the best move, but it was probably very expensive and mostly unnecessary. It also would have made it much harder for Tundra owners to do wicked smokey burnouts (video).

So, let’s recap this issue from beginning to end:

1. A group of 4 die in a Lexus that was speeding out of control in August, 2009. Investigations show that the Lexus crashed as a result of an accelerator that was stuck under a floormat that didn’t belong in the vehicle.

2. The Lexus crash highlights a large volume of unintended acceleration complaints directed at Toyota.

3. Toyota, in an effort to diffuse the situation, announces a floor mat recall. They say that they will be coming up with a more permanent solution later.

4. The vast majority of Americans hear about the floor mat recall and ask “Why didn’t the people in the Lexus shut off the engine or put the car in neutral?”

5. Toyota really starts to hear it from un-informed media, amplifying consumer fears and hurting Toyota’s image.

6. Toyota leaks plans to shrink and re-shape gas pedals as their final solution. We suggest Toyota fixes the problem by adding brake-to-idle failsafe systems to the effected vehicles.

7. A week after leaking their recall plans, Toyota makes the recall official. Unlike the leaked plans, the official plans include adding a brake-to-idle failsafe system in many of the vehicles that are effected.

It’s not a text-book example of handling bad publicity, but in the end Toyota got it just about right.

Check out this list of available Toyota Tundra shocks

Today, Toyota has recalled 110,000 1st generation Toyota Tundras due to frame rust concerns. Specifically, this recall requires dealers to inspect the rear cross member and rear brake line mounts on 2000-2003 Tundras for significant rust. If dealers find that the frame’s rear cross member or brake line mount has significant rust, the corroded parts will be replaced as soon as possible.

Toyota has recalled 2000-2003 Tundras over frame rust concerns. Hopefully, this is just a first step.

Toyota’s recall is great news for owners of 2000-2003 Tundras with frame rust, but it is only a half measure. Toyota will need to do more than replace one piece of the frame to completely satisfy 1st generation Tundra owners.

Toyota’s official announcement states that:

Certain 2000 through 2003 model year Tundra vehicles operated in cold climate areas with high road salt use, may exhibit excessive corrosion on the frame rear cross-member. In the worst case, the spare tire stowed under the truck bed may become separated from the rear cross-member. Spare tire separation will create a road hazard for following vehicles and increase the likelihood of a crash.

Eventually, excessive corrosion of the rear cross-member may also affect the functionality of the rear brake line at the proportioning valve. If this occurs, it can lead to the loss of the rear brake circuits which will increase vehicle stopping distances and the risk of a crash.

Toyota’s decision to recall these vehicles and replace rusting rear cross-members will likely satisfy NHTSA investigators. Unless NHTSA has uncovered other safety issues related to frame rust, this is likely the last time the federal government will be involved.

Unfortunately, this recall will not satisfy many owners of 1st generation Tundras with rusting frames. While it’s important to replace the rear cross member, many owners have related stories to us of Tundras that can not be aligned, broken suspension mounts, and a myriad of minor problems that are symptomatic of a rusted frame.

Stated simply, this is only the first step in taking care of this problem. Toyota still needs to recover the faith of their owners by either:

1. Offering to replace ALL portions of the frame with significant rust.
2. Offering to buy-back vehicles with significant frame rust.

As part of this recall, owners of 2000-2003 Tundras in the following states – CT, DE, IL, IN, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, VA, VT, WI, and WV – are advised to remove their spare tires immediately until such time that their vehicle can be taken to the dealership for inspection.

Check out this list of available Toyota Tundra shocks

Since many Toyota vehicles have electronic throttle controls, a software upgrade to the engine management system would cure this issue. A software upgrade that prevents a vehicle from operating at full throttle whenever the brake is depressed would almost completely eliminate the possibility that a vehicle could careen out of control because of a stuck throttle. Chrysler and Mercedes-Benz vehicles with electronic throttles already have this feature – it’s called a “brake to idle failsafe” – but Toyota, Lexus, and Scion vehicles do not.

Toyota's gas pedal "fix" isn't the best solution for preventing run-away throttles.

New gas pedals are probably a cheaper “solution” to this problem, but they’re not the best way to solve the problem.

As you probably know, this all started when Toyota issued a voluntary floor mat recall in late September, 2009 asking owners to remove their driver’s side floor mats pending a more permanent fix. This voluntary recall was in response to a tragic accident involving an out-of-control Lexus that killed four people.

The Lexus that crashed was a loaner car provided by a California Lexus dealership. After a comprehensive investigation, NHTSA concluded that this accident was caused by an over-sized floor mat that interfered with the gas pedal. The floor mat (which was the actual cause of the problem) was not designed for the Lexus it was installed in, nor was it secured. While this accident was tragic, it was NOT a result of a design flaw. It was simply the wrong floor mat.

Nonetheless, NHTSA and/or Toyota have decided to make some sort of change to the design of the gas pedal. Perhaps there is evidence of a more severe problem, or perhaps Toyota feels this is the best way to resolve this issue with the public. While there’s no reason NOT to change the gas pedal design (it’s probably reduces the possibility of a stuck pedal), changing the engine computer software seems like a much better fix. After all, the notorious Lexus loaner car accident wasn’t caused by a poor gas pedal design. There were a number of factors at work:

1. The driver’s floor mats (one on top of another) were too large. It’s certainly possible a smaller pedal would have helped, but the news reported there were TWO floor mats installed, one of which was a big rubber all-weather mat designed for an SUV. Pedal size might not have mattered at all in this particular case.
2. The driver was unfamiliar with the vehicle he was driving (he didn’t know how to shut it off, nor how to put the vehicle in neutral).
3. The driver was in a state of panic.

In all likelihood, none of these problems could have been prevented by a smaller gas pedal. However, ALL of these problems could have been prevented by a software fix that prevented the engine computer from allowing simultaneous brake and throttle inputs. There aren’t any normal driving scenarios where a vehicle’s electronically-controlled throttle should stay open while the brakes are being depressed (that’s a racing-only situation).

In Toyota’s defense, this was a freak accident that could have been prevented any number of ways. If the driver had been more familiar with the car he would have known how to shift into neutral and/or kill the engine. Had the dealership been more careful about the floor mats they used, the pedal might not ever have gotten stuck in the first place. Toyota really shouldn’t have to do anything here…but the negative publicity from this incident has led Toyota to take action.

However, if Toyota is really wants to fix this problem, why not update the engine computers? Toyota is famous for quality, yet this is a half-ass fix.

What do you think – is Toyota doing too much here or not enough?

Check out this list of available Toyota Tundra shocks

NHTSA has officially announced a 2000-2001 Tundra frame rust investigation. According to multiple news sources, Toyota has begun to quietly replace frames and/or buy-out Tundra owners. Whether this is Toyota deciding to act in good faith or an attempt to avoid an embarrassing safety recall is hard to say, but the good news is that 2000-2001 Tundra owners with rusted frames are finally going to get consideration from Toyota.

Rusted frame on a 1st generation Tundra

PickupTrucks.com has a great story about this investigation with some info about Tundra frame replacements, as well as some communication from Toyota that indicates the root cause of the frame rust issue:

According to Lyons, 1995-2004 Tacoma pickups and 2000-01 Tundras shared the same frame supplier: Toledo, Ohio-based Dana Holding Corporation. In investigating the Tacoma’s rust complaints, Toyota discovered that Dana hadn’t properly prepped Tacoma frames to resist corrosion before they were shipped to Toyota’s NUMMI manufacturing plant, where the Tacoma was assembled

This information is consistent with Toyota’s previous statement on the matter when WCVB in Boston first broke this story. However, this isn’t consistent with owner reports of frame rust on 2002 and 2003 Tundras. If you’re a first generation Tundra owner with a rusted frame, you are strongly advised to visit your Toyota dealer. Now is the time to have your frame rust problem documented. If your local Toyota dealer does not respond quickly, by all means contact NHTSA. This is the only way to get Toyota to act.

The actual text of the NHTSA investigation announcement:

THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION HAS RECEIVED 20 REPORTS ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES THAT RELATE TO SPARE TIRE SEPARATION AND BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURES AS A RESULT OF SEVERE FRAME CORROSION. THERE HAVE BEEN 15 REPORTS ALLEGING THE UNDER BODY MOUNTED SPARE TIRE SEPARATED FROM THE REAR CROSSMEMBER AND FIVE REPORTS ALLEGING BROKEN BRAKE LINES AT THE PROPORTIONING VALVE LOCATED ON THE DRIVER’S SIDE OF THE REAR CROSSMEMBER AT THE UPPER SHOCK MOUNT.

If NHTSA officially determines the frame rust is a safety issue they can force Toyota to repair the defect in all vehicles – meaning every 2000 and 2001 Tundra will need either a replacement frame or some sort of undercoating. Often times, in order to avoid a recall, a manufacturer can work with NHTSA to find a solution that solves the problem without issuing a recall. This is similar to the way Toyota handled the frame rust issue on 1995-2000 Tacomas (Toyota extended the warranty on these trucks). Extending the warranty forced Toyota to replace or buy-back the bad trucks without having to issue a recall, and we would expect a similar move IF NHTSA determines Toyota needs to take action.

However, in order to avoid the whole situation, it sounds like Toyota is taking action now. Here’s a list of rumored actions Toyota has taken to make this right with 1st gen Tundra owners:

• Frame replacement. It might sound crazy, but Toyota is replacing entire frames piece-by-piece for some first generation Tundra owners. This is an expensive option for Toyota, but it satisfies any government requirements.
• Cash payment buy-backs. Buying back the trucks with the rusted frames (and subsequently junking them) is a cheap way for Toyota to fix this problem…but some owners expect more than fair value. If you find yourself in this situation, expect Toyota to offer you retail replacement value according to the NADA or KBB used vehicle pricing guides. If you try and hold Toyota up for a lot of money, they’ll simply replace your frame (and you’ll get nothing).
• Purchase credit towards a new Toyota. Toyota has also offered credits towards new vehicles, with the rumor being the credit was $10k. $10k almost buys a new Yaris or Corolla, and it’s a fine down payment on a new Tundra.

If you have any first-hand experience, or if you know of anyone who’s been offered a new frame, a cash payment, or a credit towards a new Toyota, please comment below.

Check out this list of available Toyota Tundra shocks

This recall announcement is due in large part to a tragic accident that happened last month. There’s a very accurate news story about the accident that’s worth a look (see the YouTube clip after the break).

This was aired on Good Morning America on September 16th, 2009

Click here to view the embedded video.

The clip has a factual error – at 1:02, the reporter says that the “issue is mats that aren’t anchored down.” She then shows one floor mat on top of another. While she is correct- this can be an unsafe condition – two driver’s side floor mats is not a standard factory configuration.

First of all, all driver’s side factory floor mats (from all manufacturers) have a basic fastening system. There’s a metal eyelet at the back of the mat (the side closest to the driver). There’s a hook embedded in the carpet that attaches itself to the eyelet. As long as the eyelet is attached to the hook, the mat can’t slide out of position…unless the carpet fails or the mat somehow detaches from the hook.

The more common issue is that some people put an aftermarket mat on top of the factory carpeted mat. Floor mats are a popular after-market option for a lot of obvious reasons, but they’re not supposed to be placed on top of the factory mat. Cheap after-market rubber floor mats can slide right over the accelerator, and that can lead to obvious problems.

The Lexus push button starter

Another issue at play here is the increasing popularity of push-button starters. Unlike good old-fashioned “keys” that can be yanked out of the ignition when the engine races, a lot of drivers don’t know how to shut off their push-button engines.

Finally, there’s the fact that the hook and loop system is pretty cheap. It’s supposed to work, but obviously it doesn’t sometimes. Like the news report says, this is an issue the affects all vehicles. Having said that, it’s a pretty basic system. If we can’t rely upon a hook and loop…we’re in trouble.

Here’s what you can do if your accelerator gets stuck:

• Don’t panic
• Without losing control, lift your feet up, reach down, and grab the mat
• Put your vehicle in neutral
• Shut off the ignition (pull out the keys or hold down the ’start’ button for three seconds)
• Stomp on the brakes with a firm, steady push (don’t pump)
• Stay calm and don’t panic

It will be interesting to see what Toyota comes up with for the recall. In the meantime, be safe – this can happen to any vehicle. Here are the vehicles affected:

• 2007 – 2010 Camry
• 2005 – 2010 Avalon
• 2004 – 2009 Prius
• 2005 – 2010 Tacoma
• 2007 – 2010 Tundra

Read the official Toyota press release.

Check out this list of available Toyota Tundra shocks