Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Latest News Toyota Recall - letter to dealers

To: All Toyota Dealer Principals, Service Managers, Parts Managers

Subject: Safety Recall (Special Service Campaign) – A0A

Accelerator Pedal Modification Campaign

Vehicles Equipped with Accelerator Pedals Manufactured by CTS Corporation

On January 21, 2010, Toyota filed a Defect Information Report (DIR) with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) informing the agency of our intent to conduct a voluntary Safety Recall on vehicles equipped with certain accelerator pedal assemblies manufactured by the CTS Corporation (CTS accelerator pedals). This action is separate from the on-going recall (SSC 90L) of approximately 4.2 million Toyota and Lexus vehicles to reduce the risk of pedal entrapment by incorrect or out of place accessory floor mats.

Background

There is a possibility that certain accelerator pedal mechanisms may mechanically stick in a partially depressed position or return slowly to the idle position. Over time, the internal mechanisms in the accelerator pedal 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 and/or slow
to return or, in the worst case, stick in a partially open position, increasing the risk of a crash.
Toyota dealers are requested to install precision-cut steel reinforcement bar (“reinforcement bar”) that will increase the clearance in between the internal mechanisms in the pedal assembly. This increased clearance will reduce the friction caused by wear and environmental conditions and allow the pedal to operate smoothly for the life of the vehicle. The safety recall remedy will be performed at no charge to the vehicle owner.

(Affected Pedals)
Note:
• The name of the manufacturer is printed (Denso) or embossed (CTS) on the upper sensor housing on the brake pedal side.
• This safety campaign addresses the potential for a CTS accelerator pedal to mechanically stick in a partially depressed position or return slowly to the idle position.
• This condition is separate from the (DIR) filed in early October, 2009, in reference to the potential for an incorrect or improperly installed floor mat to interfere with the accelerator pedal.

The following vital information is provided to inform you and your staff of the owner notification phase of the campaign and your degree of involvement.

SSC A0A - D - Page 2
1. Owner Notification Mailing Date
The owner notification will begin in late February, 2010.
Please note that only owners of the affected vehicles will be notified. If you are contacted by an owner who has not yet received a notification, please verify eligibility by confirming through Dealer Daily/TIS prior to performing repairs. Dealers should perform the repair as outlined in the Technical Instructions found on TIS.

2. Vehicles in Dealer Stock
As required by Federal law, dealers are not to deliver any new vehicles in their inventory, which are involved in this safety recall. Dealers must perform the safety recall on all new vehicles in stock prior to sale or lease. Vehicle safety recall completion can be verified through TIS.
In order to assure established customers receive priority for the safety recall, we request that this campaign remedy be performed on in-stock vehicles just prior to vehicle delivery where possible.
A VIN list containing vehicles in dealer stock will be provided shortly.

3. Dealer Summary Reports
The following SSC A0A Summary Reports will be provided shortly:
• The suggested initial parts order quantities
• A VIN list containing vehicles in dealer stock
• Dealer Reports will no longer contain a PMA VIN list. However, they will contain the number of involved vehicles registered in each dealership’s primary marketing area and initial suggested parts order quantities, where applicable.

4. Number of Vehicles Involved
There are approximately 2.23 million vehicles equipped with a CTS pedal in the U.S.
5. Parts Ordering
The necessary parts can be ordered through your dealership’s facing PDC. Please refer to the table below and the Technical Instructions (located on TIS) for part number information.
To support the repair of customer vehicles the North American Parts Operation (NAPO) will initially allocate reinforcement bars to all Toyota dealerships from their facing parts distribution centers (PDC) starting February 3, 2010. All part numbers will be on manual allocation until further notice.
The initial quantities were determined based on the following:
• Size estimation required for the repair – Low/Medium/ High.
• Dealership’s estimated UIO by affected model.
Each dealership will be sent a minimum of one 10 piece bag for each of the reinforcement bar part numbers.
Any questions, request or concerns regarding the parameters established above should be
directed to your regional representative.
Accelerator Pedal Reinforcement Bar Model Part Number Part Name and Size Repair Volume
Estimate By Size
78112-07010* Accelerator Pedal Reinforcement Bar
Size: 1.4 mm Low
78112-07020* Accelerator Pedal Reinforcement Bar
Size: 1.6 mm Low
78112-07030* Accelerator Pedal Reinforcement Bar
Size: 1.8 mm High
78112-07040* Accelerator Pedal Reinforcement Bar
Size: 2.0 mm High
78112-07050* Accelerator Pedal Reinforcement Bar
Size: 2.3 mm High
78112-07060* Accelerator Pedal Reinforcement Bar
Size: 2.6 mm Medium
All
Applicable
Models
78112-07070* Accelerator Pedal Reinforcement Bar
Size: 2.9 mm Medium
* One unit order = 10 piece bag.
NOTE: To determine the correct size of accelerator pedal reinforcement bar needed, refer to the Technical Instructions located on TIS.
To help ensure correct parts distribution, all part numbers listed above will be on manual allocation control (MAC) until further notice.
NAPO will place and release orders for the initial quantities to be allocated to each dealer over the first two weeks of the campaign (subject to change), and will cancel dealer initiated orders during this period.
If there are special circumstances, dealership associates should go through their normal channels for resolution (e.g. PDC, Dealer Parts Call Center for TMS Region Dealers, DSPMs).
The associate should have the following information ready to expedite research of the order status:
1. Dealer Information (Dealer Code, Contact Name, Telephone Number)
2. Order Reference Number
3. Customer Name and Vehicle 17-digit VIN (if applicable)
SSC A0A - D – Page 7
(Parts Ordering Continued. . . )
IMPORTANT PARTS ORDERING REMINDER
Effective March 1, 2009, Safety Recall, Service Campaign (SSC/LSC) and Customer Support Program (CSP)
parts do not earn Parts Return Credit Accrual and are not returnable under the Monthly Return Program.
It is recommended that you order these parts based on appointments or immediate customer needs using a
"Sell One-Buy One" ordering pattern. Please refer to PANT Bulletin 09-12 for additional details.
In the event the accelerator link arm support cover (thin metal cover on the back of the accelerator pedal) is damaged during the repair, please utilize the part number listed below.
7. Repair Procedures Refer to TIS for the appropriate Technical Instructions. Conduct all applicable, open Special Service Campaigns on the vehicle during the time of appointment.
8. Warranty Processor Instructions
Please note the following for this campaign:
The operation codes to be used for this campaign are:
SSC Op. Code Description Flat Rate Hour
A0A 0501B1 Install the Accelerator Pedal Reinforcement Bar 0.7 hr / vehicles
A0A 0501B2 Install the Accelerator Pedal Reinforcement Bar in
conjunction with SSC 90L 0.4 hr / vehicles
• The above flat rate time includes 0.1 hour for administrative cost per unit.
• Rental Car: Use "RT" sublet type for Op. Code 0501B1 and 0501B2. Customer rental car through the Toyota-Rent-A-Car (TRAC) Program is available for a maximum of one day at a maximum rate of $35 per day. Special accommodations, not outlined above require DSPM authorization.
• Claims made for Op Code 0501B1 or 0501B2 must be filled in with accurate part numbers
(according to reinforcement bar thickness).
Model Part Number Part Name Qty/Unit
All Applicable Models 78211-07010 Accelerator Link Arm Support Cover 1
SSC A0A - D – Page 8
9. Customer Handling
Please consider this campaign a great opportunity to focus on assuring customers that their safety remains Toyota’s highest priority. Customers who receive the owner letter may contact your dealership with questions regarding the letter and/or campaign remedy. Please welcome them to your dealership and answer any questions that they may have. A Q&A is provided to assure a consistent message is communicated.
• Customers with additional questions or concerns are asked to please contact the Toyota Customer Experience Center (1-888-270-9371).
• If an owner has previously paid for their vehicle’s accelerator pedal and/or floor surface to be
modified to address this specific condition, they are requested to mail a copy of the repair order, proof-of-payment, and proof-of-ownership to the following address for reimbursement consideration Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc
Toyota Customer Experience Center, WC10
19001 South Western Avenue
Torrance, CA 90509
7. Media Contacts
For News media inquiries only:
Due to the nature of this Safety Campaign, it is imperative that all media contacts (local and national) receive a consistent message. In this regard, all media contacts must be directed to Brian Lyons (310) 468-2552, John Hanson (310) 468-4718, in Corporate Communications. (Please do not provide these numbers to customers or direct dealership associates to call).
Please review this entire package with your Service and Parts staff to familiarize them with the proper step-by-step procedures required to implement this Special Service Campaign.
Thank you for your cooperation.
TOYOTA MOTOR SALES, U.S.A., INC.
Safety Recall A0A - (MODEL) Vehicles
Accelerator Pedal Reinforcement Bar Installation

Sample letter to be mailed to Toyota customers:

SAFETY RECALL NOTICE
Dear Toyota Customer:
This notice is being sent to you in accordance with the requirements of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act.
Toyota has decided that a defect, which relates to motor vehicle safety, exists in (MY) model year (Model) vehicles.
What is the condition?
There is a possibility that certain accelerator pedal mechanisms may mechanically stick in a partially depressed position or return slowly to the idle position. Over time, the internal mechanisms in the accelerator pedal 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 and/or slow to return
or, in the worst case, stick in a partially open position, increasing the risk of a crash.
What will Toyota do?
Any authorized Toyota dealer will install a precision-cut steel reinforcement bar into the accelerator pedal assembly, which will increase the clearance in between the internal mechanisms in the accelerator pedal assembly. This increased clearance will reduce the friction caused by wear and environmental conditions and allow the pedal to operate smoothly for the life of the vehicle. The safety recall remedy will be performed at no charge to the vehicle
owner.
What should you do?
This is an important Safety Recall Please contact your authorized Toyota dealer to install the precision-cut steel reinforcement bar into the accelerator pedal assembly as soon as possible. The installation will take approximately 30 minutes. However, depending upon the dealer’s work schedule and the inspection results, it may be necessary for you to make your
vehicle available for a longer period of time.
We request that you present this notice to the dealer at the time of your service appointment.
If you would like to update your vehicle ownership or contact information, please go to
www.toyota.com/ownersupdate. You will need your full 17-digit Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) to input the new information.
What if you have other questions?
Your local Toyota dealer will be more than happy to answer any of your questions and set up an appointment to perform this important Safety Recall. If you require further assistance, you may contact the Toyota Customer Experience Center at 1-888-270-9371 Monday through Friday, 5:00 am to 6:00 pm, Saturday 7:00 am through 4:00
pm Pacific Time.
If you believe that the dealer or Toyota has failed or is unable to remedy the defect within a reasonable time, you may submit a complaint to the Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue S.E., Washington, DC 20590 or call the toll free Vehicle Safety Hot Line at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153),
or go to http://www.safercar.gov.
What if you have previously paid for your vehicle’s accelerator pedal to be replaced to address the specific condition described above?
If you have previously paid for your vehicle’s accelerator pedal to be replaced to address the specific condition described above, please mail a copy of your repair order, proof-of-payment, and proof-of-ownership to the following address for reimbursement consideration:
Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc, Toyota Customer Experience, WC10
19001 South Western Avenue, Torrance, CA 90509
If you are a vehicle lessor, Federal law requires that any vehicle lessor receiving this recall notice must forward a copy of this notice to the lessee within ten days.
We have sent this notice in the interest of your continued satisfaction with our products and we sincerely regret any inconvenience this condition may have caused you.
Thank you for driving a Toyota.
Sincerely,
TOYOTA MOTOR SALES, U.S.A., INC.

6 comments:

  1. Well from that letter one thing is claer that Toyota is very much worried about its faulty models. I have also faced the same problem of my RAV4 model and suddenly informed to my dearler about this.

    ReplyDelete
  2. It's some late but at last Toyota taken some good steps to take care of consumers concerns hope they will address all the problems reported by consumers so that they can rebuild their trust.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I am really satisfied with this posting that you have given us. This is really a stupendous work done by you. Thank you and looking for more posts by you.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Toyota acted late but it's shown a new way to deal with problems by halting the production, giving the free upgrades to consumers utilizing the internet technology to patch their reputation & consumers trust.

    ReplyDelete
  5. toyota dealers in dubai, suprisingly I didn’t know this. I have been previously reading your web site a lot moscow and rome full week as well as earned a spot inside bookmarks. Done well

    ReplyDelete
  6. Thank you for sharing valuable information. Nice post. I enjoyed reading this post. The whole blog is very nice found some good stuff and good information here Thanks..Also visit my page. recall letters RecallLetters gives you a fast easy way to get a recall clearance letter to import your car into Canada. Visit now get approved or your money back!

    ReplyDelete