Toyota dealers fixing 50,000 sticky pedals daily, 220,000 fixed so far

Speaking today at the launch of the 2011 Avalon, Toyota’s U.S. vice president Bob Carter said that dealers are fixing about 50,000 sticky accelerator pedals per day. About 220,000 fixes have been completed, he said.

Toyota recalled 2.3 million vehicles to install a metal shim on the pedal to prevent sticking, avoiding unintended acceleration.

The fix involves a “precision-cut steel reinforcement bar” that is installed into the assembly, reducing 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.

– By: Omar Rana

Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required)