Last week, Toyota issued a recall on some vehicles, due to a mechanical problem that causes the accelerator to sometimes stick, making the cars difficult to stop. There have been reports of several accidents resulting from stuck accelerators, and according to one report, these accidents have resulted in 19 deaths in the USA.

The recall affects the 2007-10 Camry, the 2009-10 Corolla, the 2009-10 Matrix hatchback, the 2008-10 Sequoia SUV, the 2009-10 RAV4 crossover, the 2010 Highlander crossover, the 2007-10 Tundra pickup and the 2005-10 Avalon.

Only one of over a dozen drivers of cars on this recall list mentioned a problem with the car. One respondent, who requested anonymity, said the accelerator of her 2008 Corolla stuck once as she pulled up in the parking lot at her workplace. She said, “The engine began to rev excessively when I pulled up, and wouldn’t stop until I pulled the key out. I thought little of it at the time, but now with this recall I am somewhat intimidated, and must have the car checked.”

The other drivers, most driving late model Camrys, said they never experienced a problem. But, Mitch Savage said he is not taking anything for granted. Although he hasn’t received a recall letter, he made an appointment with his dealership in Miami-Lakes to get the car checked out, as he heard the relevant parts are on the way.

Another Camry owner said she called her dealership in Kendall, but was told unless she received a recall letter she should not be concerned. “But, this troubles me,” she said. “I am still going to take the car in and have the problem corrected if there is one.”

Almost all the Toyota dealerships contacted since the recall was announced said they had been flooded by calls from concerned customers. Bert, a maintenance representative at Kendall Toyota, said that the company will be “bending over backwards” to assist customers with cars on the recall list when the dealership gets the parts. Toyota announced on Monday that they have secured the parts to remedy the problem, and they will begin distributing them to dealerships immediately. Bert said Toyota representatives have had regular conference calls with the dealership on how to cope with the problem and repair vehicles.

A sales associate at Toyota of South Florida said there was no noticeable fall-off in the demand for late model Toyotas since the recall. “Of course customers are concerned about the accelerator problem, but when we assure them that all the cars in question will be adequately repaired before they are sold, their concerns fade.”

Bertram Nation was intently looking over Toyotas at Kendall Toyota on Monday.  He said he was not bothered by the recall. “I have been driving Toyotas since 1987, and had no problems. It’s a safe and reliable car. I am impressed that the company is risking huge financial losses by recalling and fixing the affected cars. Not many companies would do this.”

On the other hand, Beth Enriques found looking at cars in a Ford dealership, said she wanted a change from her Toyota Rav 4, which she drove for the past eight years. “If the company has to recall cars for a serious problem as a stuck accelerator, it means there is a quality control problem. I am going to try an American model. American manufacturers should have better quality control to improve their sales.”

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