Have you removed your driver's side floor mat?

I live in San Diego where this tragedy occurred and I believe it was a passenger who called 911. The CHP officer who was driving specialized in safety inspection of vehicles.

 

I pulled mine!

 

I'll let the mat decide for itself whether it should stay or go. If it is able to wriggle out of the clips, unstick itself from the floor, open the door, and slither out, then maybe I'm better off without it. Such a restless mat is surely a danger to me.

 

I think the key word here is "Supposed".

Both my wife & I have the Prius all weather mats similar to those in the NHTSA photo. They are properly clipped in place. The accelerator pedal never comes closer than 1 inch from any part of the mat.

I have checked the mats and clips, and everything is properly secured. I do not plan to remove the mats as long as the clips are intact.

 

should my all-weather mat decide to defy the laws of physics, i'll be sure to spread the word. for now, it's hooked down and unable to lock down the accel pedal from its current position. just like it has been for 72k miles. i'm not concerned.

now if it starts occupying two places at the same time...

 

My wife drives our '06 Sienna. She decided in the winter that she needed some plastic mats, and bought after-market "all weather" mats with little spikes on the bottom to keep them from slipping. Those things were always rolled up behind the gas and brake pedals, and were dangerous...I pitched them. We have never had our Toyota mats move at all, and are happy with the clip system in place. We're leaving them in place, with vigilance.
I still haven't seen what the "recall" will involve...new clips, new mats, or just removing mine when I bring the cars in for service?

 

I use the all weather mats from Toyota year around in my 07 Prius. I gave up on using the clips as thay are so hard to get in and out. They aren't really even necessary IMO because the mat is relatively stiff and the foot rest and the small nubs on the back side work together to keep the mat from moving.

My mat has never moved even without using the clips. When I first got car I used the clips and they are so tight I got tired of fighting to get them to release the mat for washing every time I washed the car. I see no way in Hell that they will ever let go unless you have a faulty (cracked) clip. Plus as i said the mats wont move even without the clips, as they are essentially so tight fitting as they ar wedged in somewhat with the foot rest.

Anyway mine are staying in, and the dealer better not even think of removing the drivers side mat when I come in for service.

 

I have Toyota's regular carpet mats, not the all weather version and they are clipped to the retaining clip and don't move. I think this situation was traggic for sure, but I have a lot of clearance to the pedal. In the 2010 Version and I assume any other PUSH BUTTON start Prii, press and hold the Power Button for 3 secs or more....is what we should adhere to. Of course that's after looking to see if the mat is stuck...

I think that aftermartket Mats, or bulky rubber all weather could ride up to any Model/Make accelerator pedal or brake pedal.

We all just need to be cognizant and check them for "Creeping". I used to check that in all my cars all the time since 1974!

 

Because of the way the bottom edge of the accelerator touches the floor when floored, it's conceivable that if there's a mat there it could get wedged between the accelerator and the floor. It's also possible other cars don't touch this way. Looking at a friend's Mazda, there's still a 3/4" gap between the bottom edge and the floor.

All this depends on the mat getting loose from its hooks, of course. I don't know if Toyota has had a problem with the hooks breaking or coming loose.

 

No, there is no way that the OEM mats can become engaged with the GO pedal on my 2005 unless I unhooked them from the anchoring hooks - which I'm not going to do.

I do need new mats now after 130K miles so any donations from Toyota will be greatly appreciated....

 

Someone asked if the 2010 mat system is different from the 2004-2009. It isn't. The mats are different, but both models have ferrules in the carpet, with hooks installed in the ferrules. The mats have ferrules that the hooks connect to. I just had a good look at the local dealership. I'm still keeping my mats. I'm still using the Weathertech mats in the winter. Even though -they- are not using the hooks.

 

I can't believe that this is actually a recall. I have had many cars with the similar floor mat system and have never had a problem. The other thing is you really must have to mash the gas pedal down to get it to go that low that it will hook on the edge of the mat. I will not remove the mat.

 

FWIW, today I had a 30k oil change and wheel rotation done for my
'08 at a local dealer. I kept my OEM carpet mats in place to
see if they would generate any comment on the "recall."

Nary a word, either on these mats or the all weather type. This of
course could just be the dealership/Service Writer/Techs not yet
getting the word through "official channels," whatever they might be.
I thought there would be a great hue and cry, given the numerous
warnings in the Owners Manaul for "biggies" like being careful not
to hit your head when the overhead sunglasses holder door is open.


I'm standing pat on my belief that the OEM carpet mats with the
clips and studs on the back don't present a problem, and they'll stay.

I have no experience with or opinion about the heavy all-
weather/rubber mats.

[EDIT: Hmm, come to think of it, my OEM carpet mats were part of a
port installed, Take-it-or-no-sale options package that I didn't want;
also included the rear bumper cargo step graphic and the first aid kit.


Given the recall, I wonder if I should demand my money back for the mats?
I'll even surrender the as yet unopened first aid kit to sweeten the deal.
]

 

I don't get it. Even if the pedal gets stuck why can't they stop the car. The breaks are more powerful than the engine. If you hold the power button the car turns off or if you switch to neutral it goes into neutral.

 

Reminds me of an old George Carlin routine about words that you didn't want to appear in your obituary. "Lingering" was one of the words, "ironic" was another, because he said that it meant you died doing something you were supposedly good at.

 

I don't know if this link was posted yet or not.
Explaining the Toyota Floormat Recall - KickingTires

 

In fairness to the officer the car was a loaner while his vehicle was being serviced at the dealership. I have serious doubts that the floormat was the problem.

 

No, nor do I plan on. I regularly check the hooks to make sure they are in place. Funny thing.... before all this recall BS happened I got my new '09 Prius and this little bag was on the floor when I drove it from the dealership. Turned out to be the clips with no instructions. I figured out what they were and installed them. I'm glad I did. Why didn't my dealership? I wonder if the car where the 5 people died had these clips installed or if they were in a bag and the family had no idea what they were for??

 

Even if the accelerator was stuck, why could the person not just turn the power off?

 

http://www.sdnn.com/sandiego/2009-09-03/news/local-county-news/memorial-for-chp-officer-mark-saylor-family-set-for-saturday

Apparently these weren't the first deaths attributed to this issue. http://news.yahoo.com/s/prweb/20091005/bs_prweb/prweb2992294_1

Since Toyota settled the case, I think they should have at least issued a warning so that people would know to take preventative measures and how to respond in the event of an emergency.

Who knows - maybe the Saylor family would be alive today.

In any event, I for one am glad to have this information now. My 4 year granddaughter rides in our Priuses (or is it Prii) on a regular basis and I hate to think about this happening to us and whether I'd have been able to prevent a catastrophe without knowing what I know today.