Toyota 'planning recall of Prius' in US and Japan

[ingac70]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8502894.stm

"Toyota is to recall the latest model of its flagship Prius cars because of a possible fault with the brakes, reports from Japan say.

The firm did not comment on the reports, but said it would be announcing soon what action it would take over problems with the Prius.

Toyota has already recalled about eight-million vehicles with faulty accelerator pedals."

more at the link....

[ingac70]

1. Why an unrec?

Not my fault they are making shit.

[TheCowsCameHome]

2. "Unrec" feature should be eliminated.

[NYC_SKP]

3. Does the word "recall" have a different meaning for automobiles? What about TSB's?

Generally, a recall is when a product is returned for repair or replacement, you're going to do without the thing.

A Technical Service Bulletin, TSB, let's dealers and owners know that there is a defect in need of attention.

Are any DUer's in the business?

What is the reality of a recall for an automobile?

Search the NHSTA.gov site here for your vehicle: http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/recalls/results.cfm

I did a search of my 2007 Prius with these results:

Make: TOYOTA Model: PRIUS
Model Year: 2007
Manufacturer: TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC. Mfr's Report Date: OCT 05, 2009
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 09V388000 NHTSA Action Number: N/A
Component: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
Potential Number of Units Affected: 4260319
Summary:
TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004-2010 PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL CAN GET STUCK IN THE WIDE OPEN POSITION DUE TO ITS BEING TRAPPED BY AN UNSECURED OR INCOMPATIBLE DRIVER'S FLOOR MAT.
Consequence:
A STUCK OPEN ACCELERATOR PEDAL MAY RESULT IN VERY HIGH VEHICLE SPEEDS AND MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO STOP THE VEHICLE, WHICH COULD CAUSE A CRASH, SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.
Remedy:
TOYOTA FILED AN AMENDED DEFECT REPORT ON NOVEMBER 25, 2009, STATING THAT DEALERS WILL MODIFY THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND, ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, ALTER THE SHAPE OF THE FLOOR SURFACE UNDER THE PEDAL. THESE CHANGES ADDRESS THE RISK OF PEDAL ENTRAPMENT DUE TO INTERFERENCE WITH THE FLOOR MAT. REDESIGNED ACCELERATOR PEDALS WILL BECOME AVAILABLE BEGINNING IN APRIL 2010 AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE ANY MODIFIED PEDAL WITH THE NEW PEDAL IF DESIRED. ALSO, DEALERS WILL REPLACE ANY GENUINE TOYOTA OR LEXUS ALL-WEATHER FLOOR MATS WITH REDESIGNED ALL-WEATHER MATS, OR REPURCHASE THE PREVIOUS MATS FROM OWNERS WHO DO NOT WANT THE NEW ONES. ADDITIONALLY, SOFTWARE MODIFICATIONS WILL BE INSTALLED ON CAMRY, AVALON AND LEXUS ES 350, IS 350 AND IS 250 MODELS THAT WILL ENSURE THAT THE BRAKE OVERRIDES THE ACCELERATOR IN THE EVENT BOTH BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDALS ARE APPLIED. TOYOTA WILL BEGIN MAILING LETTERS TO OWNERS IN DECEMBER 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331, LEXUS AT 1-800-255-3987.
Notes:
TOYOTA RECALL NO. 90L. OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV .

[ingac70]

4. The way I understand it...

A recall is when the government asks a company to take care of a problem. A TSB is sort of a self recall the businesses take care of before it gets to the point of the government getting involved.