Toyota to Use Zip Ties to Fix Floor Mats

[Boo]

Reminds me of the poster whose dealer recommended using zip ties to stop would be thieves from stealing her wheel covers:



I hope in this case that Toyota dealers have enough good taste to use black-colored ties.

[Muhahahahaz]

Originally Posted by ggood

Toyota to Use Zip Ties to Fix Floor Mats - U.S. News Rankings and Reviews

Automotive News reports, "Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. Inc. is instructing dealers to attach floor mats to seat frames on the driver's side of select vehicles with self-locking wire ties to prevent the mats from snagging on gas pedals and causing unintended acceleration."

Toyota spokesman Brian Lyon told Automotive News that the decision to use zip ties to secure the mats was made in consultation with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. "We have reviewed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration what we're calling a semipermanent floor mat installation process, and we're providing these instructions to our dealers," Lyons told Automotive news. "This allows dealers to continue selling and delivering both new and used vehicles."

LOL... are you serious? I knew there was no sane reason to remove my *properly installed* floor mats.

Toyota "requests common sense." You know, I request that every day, but it never seems to make a difference... People will still continue to screw up in new and exciting ways...

Stupid is as stupid does, I guess.

[richard schumacher]

Several drive-by-wire cars have a brake-accelerator interlock: when the car is moving, if both the brake and accelerator are pressed the accelerator is ignored. That seems worthwhile for the PR value alone starting in the next model year. It's too expensive for any sensible recall, of course.

Somewhere out there is at least one idiot who will find a way to create a safety hazard with the zip ties. They'll tie the mat to the movable seat instead of the fixed seat mounting rails, or to the gas pedal itself, or some damn thing.

[The Electric Me]

Originally Posted by wildbottom

Where do you get zip ties for that price. Lowest I've seen are 500 for $9. If you could tell me where to get 1000 for $10, then I'll be darn happy.

Alright...you caught me, I was exgagerating a little. But my point is still the same, Zip Ties are cheap. I mean really, even if it's use, cut, clean and use new ones, how expensive is it EVER going to become? For the purpose of Mat Cleaning, a lifetime supply of zip ties are going to be easy to obtain and keep.

If and when Toyota comes up with a permanent solution great, but zip ties work and the fact that I might have to replace them everytime I clean the mat? Not a big deal.

Also the key to this "solution" is that it allows Toyota and Dealers to continue to sell all models (even past models) without a significant hardware change. My guess is that maybe "moving forward" no pun intended, Toyota might make a change in how the Mats are secured from a hardware standpoint, but I if the NHTSA accepts this as an acceptable solution for cars being produced immediately and in the past then I don't see Toyota making another change to already existing models. It's a whole lot cheaper to provide Zip Ties than physically have to recall millions of vehicles for a installed hardware change or update.

Also for those calling the solution Mickey Mouse? Why? If it works who cares? Is it better if it requires drilling into the floorboard? Is it better if it requires destruction of all existing mats and recreation of a totally new mat? This is a simple, inexpensive fix, if it works and is safe and solves the problem then give me a pair of ears and call me Cubby!

[mgb4tim]

someone will cry foul when they explain how much these things will pollute the environment when they get tossed. We'll need to find a semi-permanent green solution.

[DaGeek]

Originally Posted by The Electric Me

Alright...you caught me, I was exgagerating a little. But my point is still the same, Zip Ties are cheap. I mean really, even if it's use, cut, clean and use new ones, how expensive is it EVER going to become? For the purpose of Mat Cleaning, a lifetime supply of zip ties are going to be easy to obtain and keep.

If and when Toyota comes up with a permanent solution great, but zip ties work and the fact that I might have to replace them everytime I clean the mat? Not a big deal.

Also the key to this "solution" is that it allows Toyota and Dealers to continue to sell all models (even past models) without a significant hardware change. My guess is that maybe "moving forward" no pun intended, Toyota might make a change in how the Mats are secured from a hardware standpoint, but I if the NHTSA accepts this as an acceptable solution for cars being produced immediately and in the past then I don't see Toyota making another change to already existing models. It's a whole lot cheaper to provide Zip Ties than physically have to recall millions of vehicles for a installed hardware change or update.

Also for those calling the solution Mickey Mouse? Why? If it works who cares? Is it better if it requires drilling into the floorboard? Is it better if it requires destruction of all existing mats and recreation of a totally new mat? This is a simple, inexpensive fix, if it works and is safe and solves the problem then give me a pair of ears and call me Cubby!

Because if it sounds Mickey Mouse, and it appears Mickey Mouse in my Prius then... you know the rest...

[DeadPhish]

Reality check. This is for show.

The carpetted floor mats are not the problem. Doing this to the carpetted mats is an ( unnecessary ) redundancy because these mats are very very unlikely to cause the problems that the AWM's cause. But something has to be done.

This will accomplish the 'something has to be done' goal at little or no cost.

[wildbottom]

Originally Posted by Boo

I hope in this case that Toyota dealers have enough good taste to use black-colored ties.

Wonder if they sell gray color zip ties. The zip ties might scuff the plastic cover because it has teeth in on the inside. I

[Tech_Guy]

If Toyota took this issue seriously, they would not have used zip-ties. A more permanent solution would be to take a 3/8" drill and drill 4 holes through the carpet (2" from each corner) and chassis. Secure the carpet to the chassis with 2" x 3/8" bolts (Grade 8), 2" washers, and locknuts. Tighten the bolts to 40 foot-pounds with a calibrated torque wrench.

Now I dare any lawyer to file a lawsuit against Toyota due to carpet slippage.

Keith

[msirach]

Originally Posted by richard schumacher

Several drive-by-wire cars have a brake-accelerator interlock: when the car is moving, if both the brake and accelerator are pressed the accelerator is ignored. That seems worthwhile for the PR value alone starting in the next model year. It's too expensive for any sensible recall, of course.

Somewhere out there is at least one idiot who will find a way to create a safety hazard with the zip ties. They'll tie the mat to the movable seat instead of the fixed seat mounting rails, or to the gas pedal itself, or some damn thing.

You win the prize Richard!
Smart Gas Pedals May Solve Floor-Mat Problem