NHTSA Recommendations for Handling Unintended Acceleration
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently issued a press release advising Toyota, Lexus and Pontiac owners how to react in the event they experience unintended acceleration in their vehicles.
The five steps recommended by the NHTSA are:
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Brake firmly and steadily – do not pump the brake pedal.
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Shift the transmission into Neutral (for vehicles with automatic transmissions and the sport option, familiarize yourself with where Neutral is – the diagram may be misleading).
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Steer to a safe location.
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Shut the engine off (for vehicles with keyless ignition, familiarize yourself with how to turn the vehicle off when it is moving – this may be a different action than turning the vehicle off when it is stationary).
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Call your dealer or repair shop to pick up the vehicle. Do not drive it.
To get more information about unintended acceleration in your Toyota, Lexus or Pontiac , contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Hotline at 1-888-327-4236, the Toyota Experience Center at 1-800-331-4331, the Lexus Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-255-3987, or Pontiac at 1-800-762-2737.
The NHTSA, along with Toyota and Lexus, are advising owners of the 2010 Prius, Lexus HS 250h, and the 2101 Camry to be aware of potential braking issues.
The Prius and Lexus HS 250h are being recalled due to braking safety issues associated with momentary loss of braking power. Further, some 2010 Camrys prone to brake fluid leaks are also on recall. The NHTSA advises drivers of these vehicles who experience any braking problems to park their cars and contact their local Toyota dealer or Toyota’s North American headquarters at 1-800-331-4331.
