Toyota Orders Inspection of All Lexus Floor Mats After Fatal Accident

After improperly fitting all-weather floor mats in a Lexus sedan were named as a possible cause of a fatal car accident near San Diego, Toyota is ordering its dealers to inspect the mats in all Lexus and Toyota vehicles.

Plastic floor mats that were not the right size for the 2009 Lexus ES 350 are suspected of causing the August 28 accident that claimed the lives of an off-duty California Highway Patrol officer, his wife, their daughter, and his brother in law.

CHP Officer Mark Saylor was driving the loaner vehicle from a Lexus dealer while his car was in the shop when the accident occurred. A preliminary investigation into the wreck concluded that all-weather floor mats in the vehicle were not the proper size for the vehicle and may have slid forward and pinned the vehicle’s accelerator to the floor, causing it to speed out of control.

Saylor’s wife called 911 seconds before the crash to say the vehicle was out of control and traveling in excess of 120 miles per hour. The vehicle rear-ended another vehicle on the freeway before launching off the road, investigators said.

NHTSA Investigation Fingers Floor Mats

A National Highway Traffic Safety Administration investigation found the all-weather floor mat recovered from the wreckage of Saylor’s Lexus was a few inches longer than the mat that is supposed to be installed in that vehicle and could not be properly attached to the floorboard. Such mats are installed by dealers or car owners as accessory items in vehicles.

In a “specific order” notice sent to all dealers today, Toyota ordered mandatory inspections of all Lexus and Toyota vehicles to determine whether the floor mats in the vehicles are the right size and that they are properly fastened to the floor to prevent them from sliding out of place.

The car maker also called on other auto industry professionals to help ensure that floor mats are the right size and model for the vehicle.

“We urge all other automakers, dealers, vehicle owners, and the independent service and car wash industries to assure that any floor mat, whether factory or aftermarket, is correct for the vehicle and properly installed and secured,” Toyota Motor Sales USA said in a statement.

All new, used, and loaner Lexus and Toyota vehicles are covered by the mandatory inspection order.

Earlier Recall of Floor Mats

In November 2007, Toyota recalled its all-weather mats in the 2007 and early 2008 ES 350s and Camrys after owners complained that the mats could slip forward and entrap the gas pedal if they were not properly attached to the floor. It is unclear whether the floor mat being looked at in the Saylor accident were among those previously recalled.

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