How to Save Your Family if Your Accelerator Pedal Gets Stuck
In case there are dads and moms who have not heard: Toyota has issued a recall of several models because the accelerator pedal sticks. The stuck accelerator has resulted in several deaths. I’m not going to blog about the recall. Instead, I’m going to focus on what you should do in the event your accelerator sticks. BTW, the recall does not involve the Sienna mini-vans.
Toyota’s Recommendations
- If you need to stop immediately, the vehicle can be controlled by stepping on the brake pedal with both feet using firm and steady pressure. Do not pump the brake pedal as it will deplete the vacuum utilized for the power brake assist.
- Shift the transmission gear selector to the Neutral (N) position and use the brakes to make a controlled stop at the side of the road and turn off the engine.
- If unable to put the vehicle in Neutral, turn the engine OFF. This will not cause loss of steering or braking control, but the power assist to these systems will be lost.
- If the vehicle is equipped with an Engine Start/Stop button, firmly and steadily push the button for at least three seconds to turn off the engine. Do NOT tap the Engine Start/Stop button.
- If the vehicle is equipped with a conventional key-ignition, turn the ignition key to the ACC position to turn off the engine. Do NOT remove the key from the ignition as this will lock the steering wheel.
Consumer Reports’ Recommendations
According to Consumer Reports, the best strategy to stop a runaway car is to press and hold the brakes and shift into neutral. Pumping the brakes at full throttle can make a bad problem even worse. Power brakes rely on engine vacuum to provide additional brake pressure. At full throttle, the engine doesn’t generate any vacuum. So as soon as you remove and reapply pressure to the brake pedal, the power assist will disappear and stopping the car will become hopeless. Because a lot of people have never had a reason to shift to Neutral, Consumer Reports recommends you practice shifting to Neutral at a low speed while driving in a large empty parking lot or other safe area. That way, you will know how to handle a stuck accelerator in the event you are faced with that emergency.
Toyota Models Affected by the Recall
- 2009-2010 RAV4
- 2009-2010 Corolla
- 2009-2010 Matrix
- 2005-2010 Avalon
- Certain 2007-2010 Camry
- 2010 Highlander except hybrid models
- 2007-2010 Tundra
- 2008-2010 Sequoia
[Disclosure: This public service announcement was brought to you by the letter K.]
|
| ||
|
|
15 Comments
Leave a Comment
Subscribe to Daddy Forever
I read about this recall yesterday. We have a Scion so I was hoping we wouldn’t be affected and at least for now we aren’t. This was great advice. Thank you for sharing it. I’m going to share it friends as well. Even a bad driver like myself can do those simple things. Thank you :)
I think my wife prefers the screaming technique, but I don’t that works so well…because cars have no ears.
LOL!
Thank you for this post. I wondered about this after I heard about the recall. I was surprised to learn from your post that the vehicle can be controlled by stepping on the brake pedal with both feet using firm and steady pressure. Good to know!
Don’t forget, the other key part is shifting to neutral (in addition to using both feet to firmly apply the brakes).
I heard that rental car places are having to pull their affected Toyotas, too. That will make for a shortage for car renters. Better inconvenienced for a while than dead!
That’s why people should ride ponies. I have never heard of a recall on ponies.
You mean you haven’t heard of the great pony recall of 1775? Hardly a man is now alive who remembers that famous pony recall year. LOL Sorry -I couldn’t resist :)
I’m not that old. What are you, a 200+ year old vampire?
Wow…. I did hear about it. I am so glad we didn’t purchase the Rav-4! I would also prefer the screaming technique.
I drive a Camry, but it’s a 1998 model. It’s a good thing I didn’t trade it in for a new one.
i knew about this and was very glad my Highlander is not on that list. but wow. kinda scary eh? makes you wonder how may accidents were caused by this glitch.
It’s a good thing they finally figured out how to fix the problem.
Lucikly for us our Toyota’s are not affected by this defect. I have a gorgeous new Toyota Highlander.
So they used different pedals down under. Didn’t know that.