Auto Trends

2010 Lexus IS 350C - interior, originally uploaded by Zane Merva - AutoInsane.com

A few weeks ago we reported on the largest Toyota recall in history, covering 3.8 million of their vehicles, including the 2007-2010 Camry, 2005-2010 Avalon, 2004-2009 Prius, 2005-2010 Tacoma, 2007-2010 Tundra, 2007-2010 Lexus ES350, 2006-2010 Lexus IS250, and IS350. The problem behind these recalls is a floor mat which is a bit to large for the floor board area, which can cause it to snag on the accelerator, forcing unwanted acceleration.

The idea behind an accelerator becoming stuck is nothing new. There was even a made-for-TV movie based on such a phenomenon, many years ago. These threats have changed a bit over the years. Back in the days of old, not only was the petal capable of becoming jammed underneath a carpet, but there were also cases of the carburetor itself jamming under full acceleration.

Today’s vehicles, with their fuel injection and computer technology have less chance of becoming jammed, but a pedal becoming snagged on the carpet, or jammed by a maladjusted floor mat is always a danger. Toyota has found this out the hard way, and while they have told consumers to remove their mats for the time being and not to replace them, they still have to come up with a permanent solution.

Toyota has already declined the possibility of replacing each of the suspected defective floor mats with a redesigned mat. Instead they are considering installing new software. How it would work, is the accelerator and brake pedal would both be monitored by the vehicles inboard computer while driving. If at anytime during active acceleration, the computer senses the brake is also being applied, it will shut down the accelerator in favor of the brakes.

Quite simply, the brake system takes precedence over the accelerator. There are a couple manufacturers who have been using this drive-by-wire technology for several years now, such as BMW, Volkswagen, and Audi. BMW in fact, has a slightly more complex system which allows the driver to hold the brake while accelerating, as long as the vehicle is not in motion (power braking, spinning out, hard launching, showing off, etc.). Once the vehicle is moving however, the accelerator and brake will not work simultaneously.

Toyota would become one of the few manufacturers in the world who incorporate this type of software as part of their standard safety equipment. This could put a bit of a positive spin, on what has been a very negative few weeks for Toyota’s consumer morale.

Source: New York Times