Friday, January 29, 2010

Letter from the General Manager

Dear Valued Berlin City Toyota of Portland Toyota Customer:
Toyota Motor Sales recently announced that it will temporarily suspend sales and production of eight Toyota models affected by a sticking accelerator pedal mechanism. In rare instances, accelerators may mechanically stick in a partially depressed position or return slowly to the idle position.
Toyota made this decision on their own and not at the specific direction of a government agency – demonstrating it is a manufacturer committed to quality, reliability and customer safety.
Only vehicles manufactured in North America are involved. The vehicles involved are : 2005-2010 Avalon, 2009-2010 Matrix, 2009-2010 Corolla, 2009-2010 Rav4, 2007-2010 Tundra, 2008-2010 Sequoia, 2007-2010 Camry, and 2010 Highlander. VIN numbers that start with “JT” are not involved. We currently have over 150 new Toyotas available that are not affected by this campaign.
The condition is:
Over time, some accelerator pedal mechanisms may become worn. As a result of this wear combined with certain operating and environmental conditions, friction in the mechanism may increase and intermittently result in the accelerator pedal being hard to depress, slow to return or, in the worst case, stick in a partially open position. Toyota is in the process of preparing the remedy for the involved vehicles.
If you experience a sticking accelerator pedal while driving, Toyota recommends:
If you need to stop immediately, the vehicle can be controlled by stepping on the brake pedal with both feet using firm and steady pressure. Do not pump the brake pedal as it will deplete the vacuum utilized for power brake assist.
Shift the transmission gear selector to the Neutral (N) position and used the brakes to make a controlled stop at the side of the road and turn off the engine.
If unable to put the vehicle in Neutral, turn the engine off. This will not cause loss of steering or brake control, but the power assist to these systems will be lost.
If the vehicle is equipped with an Engine Start/Stop button, firmly and steadily push the button for at least three seconds to turn off the engine. Do NOT tap the Engine Start/Stop button.
If the vehicle is equipped with a conventional key-ignition, turn the ignition key to the ACC position to turn off the engine. Do NOT remove the key from the ignition as this will lock the steering wheel.
Contact us for assistance.
If you have further questions regarding this recall you can contact the Toyota Customer Experience Center at 1-800-331-4331
We at Berlin City Toyota of Portland want to make sure you know we are here to resolve any service issues involving your vehicle. You are the most important aspect of our business. Please don’t hesitate to contact us at Berlin City at 207-321-3477.
Once again we are here to serve you, answer any of your questions and resolve any issues to your complete satisfaction. We appreciate your business, patience and loyalty.
Sincerely,

Eric Johnson
General Manager
Berlin City Toyota Scion Lexus of Portland