quinta-feira, 24 de fevereiro de 2011

Toyota recalls 2m US vehicles in stuck pedal inquiry


Toyota is recalling 2.17m vehicles in the US over reports that accelerator pedals could become stuck in floor mats and carpets.
The company has now recalled more than 14m vehicles globally since 2009 over safety concerns.
The US government recently cleared the company after an inquiry into reports its electronic throttle system had led to unintended acceleration.
The company said it was unaware of any injuries related to the recalls.
In a notice on Thursday, the company announced a voluntary recall of several model years of its Highlander, GS, RX, 4Runner, Lexus LX 570 and RAV4 models.
It warned that if the floor carpet surrounding the accelerator pedals were not placed properly, the pedals may become stuck in a depressed position rather than returning to idle.
Toyota and Lexus dealers will fix or replace the carpets at no charge to vehicle owners, the company said.
Following Toyota's announcement, the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said it closed an investigation into widespread complaints about unintended accelleration in Toyota vehicles.
A report earlier this month reported finding no electronic flaws to explain the phenomenon.
That 10-month probe, ordered by the US Congress, followed recalls of millions of Toyota vehicles in 2009 and 2010.
Part of the investigation, published in August, suggested driver error might have played a part in many incidents. BBC News