Toyota could be investigated over Lexus floor mat recall

6/29/2012

The Toyota recall scandal dominated the automotive world for several months toward the end of 2009 and early 2010. The problem was eventually found to be a mix of driver error and pedal entrapment due to faulty floor mats. Now, Toyota is back on the hot seat after pedal entrapment issues were found with the 2010 Lexus RX 350 and RX 450 H, according to the International Business Times.

Toyota announced it would be recalling 154,000 of these vehicles for issues related to the floor mats trapping the pedal in place. However, the company could soon be under investigation from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Toyota was not ultimately punished for having issues with its cars - all automakers have flaws and recall the vehicles. However, the Japanese automaker drew the ire of safety advocates several years ago when it delayed recalls and covered up the issues with its floor mats. Now, the NHTSA says it may investigate Toyota for doing the same thing again, as the manufacturer may not have notified customers of the problem in a timely manner.

The Toyota recall scandal ultimately resulted in the NHTSA being granted more power and oversight over automakers than ever before, and the agency may now use that power against the Japanese automaker once again.

Drivers can't avoid flaws in the design of a vehicle, but they can keep up with scheduled maintenance, like brake service, to avoid accidents.