Update on this topic:
<a href="http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-toyota-recall26-2009nov26,0,3295310.story">http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-toyota-recall26-2009nov26,0,3295310.story</a>
"Toyota expands recall to target gas pedals in 4 million vehicles
A September recall had focused on floor mats as a cause of runaway acceleration. Now the company says starting in January it will fix or replace pedals in selected 2004-2010 Toyota and Lexus models.
Toyota Motor Corp. said today it would reconfigure or replace the gas pedals in about 4 million Toyota and Lexus vehicles to prevent the episodes of runaway acceleration that prompted the largest vehicle recall in the company's history.
The announcement dramatically expands the scope and likely expense of the recall, which was announced on Sept. 29. Toyota had initially focused on the possibility that improperly installed floor mats might be causing the unintended acceleration problems, and urged owners of affected vehicles to remove the mats until they could be replaced.
Now, beginning in January, Toyota dealers will start reconfiguring the gas pedal "to address the risk of floor mat entrapment."
The recall affects the 2007-2010 Toyota Camry, the 2004-2009 Toyota Prius, the 2005-2010 Toyota Avalon, the 2005-2010 Tacoma, the 2007-2010 Toyota Tundra, the 2007-2010 Lexus ES 350 and the 2006-2010 Lexus IS 250 and IS 350.
For the ES 350, Camry and Avalon models involved, not only will the gas pedal be revamped but the shape of the floor surface underneath will also be reconfigured to increase the space between the accelerator pedal and the floor, the automaker said.
As an extra safety measure, Toyota will install a brake override system on the Camry, Avalon, and Lexus ES 350, IS 350 and IS 250 models. This system cuts engine power in case of simultaneous application of both the accelerator and brake pedals."