Recall Letter on Floormats -- What'd we decide to do?

Got my second letter. Decided it's mostly a hysterical fantasy, with little bit of legal CYA mixed in. Figure that it might matter when I go to sell the car. Hated the experience of going to the dealer for the last recall, which was for an actuall problem. Not going to the dealer for this if I can avoid it. Can probably avoid it for years.

 

Since the 2G Prius accelerator pedal/all-weather floor mat notification letter is silent on the question of reflashing any ECU, and we know that an ECU reflash was part of the recall on other Toyota models (including skid control ECU reprogramming on the 2010 Prius), my guess is that the person who completed the repair invoice made an error.

 

I took my 2006 Prius in for a cruise control problem and asked them about the recall. The service guy said that if it was his car, he'd keep the floormats because they aren't really a problem if you have them installed properly and the floormates are really much thicker, better than the new ones but he would recommend taking 1/4" off the bottom of the gas pedal so that's what I did. I'm happy and don't really notice any change in using the shortened pedal.

 

That's exactly what I thought as well, hence the reason I asked them about it. I made sure they realized that I had a Prius, and we even discussed whether or not the computer would have to "relearn" the way I drive!

The next time I'm in, I'm going to ask them to verify whether or not it was a mistake. However, it probably won't be for a couple weeks before I need to get my oil changed.

Chuck

 

I have the el cheapo model floormats bought at a gas station when I picked up the car since it didn't come with any. They do not secure anywhere, and constantly move around and fold up. Sometimes they rotate 90 degrees and squish themselves in various places. Even with the matts folded and cramped, neither pedal even comes close to being restricted. This is complete hooey, and I too ignore my warning.

 

Toyota---How can such a smart company act so dumb? When the recall was first announced I noticed on the NHTSA website that Prius was not included in the software reprogramming. After two letters asking why not, I got a phone call from Toyota HQ in Torrance, CA and was advised no reprogramming would be done as the Prius already has a brake override (which my '08 does in certain applications). Fintonissimo's experience now casts much doubt on what Toyota told me about reprogramming. My floor mats are just fine, so I don't need my gas pedal sawed off. However, if there's reprogramming to be done, that's a different story. So, for what it's worth I phoned my local dealer and asked about reprogramming. I was told that in some models there is reprogramming to provide a brake override for speeds over 35 mph. Are there some Gen II models without the override? David

 

That's how I remember the first letter, but IIRC the second letter seems to say that even with original mats the work should be done. I don't have it with me to confirm, but that's how I read it this time around. I think it says they will do the work and then clean the mats. My floor mats are kind of dirty and the dealer is walking distance to my work so I'm probably going to get the recall done just to get my mats cleaned and also to have a clear record when/if I ever sell the car.

Jeff

 

"They can have my gas pedal when they pry it from my cold dead hand."

 

+1.

 

I have the original mats secured with hooks and do not want any modifications performed. I am taking my car in for an oil change and will tell them this. Has anyone had floor mats removed and replaced against your wishes? I received the letter also, and wondered if they might try to make changes whether you wanted it or not. I know, sounds crazy.

 

I recall seeing one or two posts to that effect.

I wouldn't have a problem with the recall if a new accelerator pedal assembly was installed and the new all-weather mats looked more robust. I'm not interested in having a tech practice his/her whittling skills on my pedal or having really cheap-looking mats installed...

 

Exactly how I feel.

 

Yes, if the engineers designed a new assembley, then I would get it done.
but altering the design of the existing assembley just seems wrong.
I have visions of someone with a cut off wheel going after that leaving a rubber pad that now keeps falling off.

 

Wish I had your dealer. I had them do the pedal mod for the "clear record", but got my dirty floormat back.

As for the mod, I noticed the difference immediately, and thought I had made a mistake, but quickly got used to it, and now can't remember what it was I didn't like about it.

 

I bought an '05 for my wife last June after getting an '04 for myself in April last year. I told the dealer I didn't want to have the work done on her car, but he said the previous owner had already had the mod done.

I looked at what they had done to her car vs. my unmodified pedal. I don't think they did much more than make a couple of diagonal cuts on the bottom edge. When I drive her car, I can't really tell that there's any difference in feeling.

Still not getting it done on mine. :rockon:

 

Ok, I went to a different dealership to have the oil change and asked about this. They said that they check the computer for error codes as part of the recall and reprogram it if necessary. I doubt my computer had any error codes, and I also doubt they reprogrammed it. However, I will never know for sure!

 

I have the original mats, hooked in, and have cheap mats on top of those since new. The only thing I need to do is vacuum it more than once in three years. The original mats have a cutout for the pedal already so I don't see any reason to hack the pedal end down.