Toyota is recalling cars for defective accelerator pedals do you know hwat to do if your accelerator sticks?

Show some compassion folks. It's one thing to say "yeah easy, put it in neutral, or downshift, or turn the car off, or whatever" when you're thinking about it under zero stress while sitting on your quite stationary butt, when you're reading the story in the news, whatever.

It's quite another when it's unexpectedly happened to you without warning, in a car that you don't own and have never driven before just then, when the car is running away and accelerating, when you're in heavy traffic on the highway, have your hysterical family in the back, the adrenaline pumping, etc.

Are you quite sure you would have handled it any better?

And even if you are - a man and his family are dead. I don't want to hear one thing that suggests it was in any way his fault or that he somehow should have done better.

Well yeah I knew what to do. You put it in neutral, steer off the road, and then shut off the ignition. You want to steer off the road first because switching off the ignition will cut off the power steering. Also want to make sure you put on the hazard lights, and when the ignition is off start braking.

Add: Richard not everyone drives a Manual, in fact I'd say the majority of Americans don't anymore(saying over 50%, not saying 90% don't or something). When driving an Automatic you can't shift to 5th, so the advice doesn't really work. I wouldn't give you a thumbs down since you have a legit suggestion for some, but won't work for a lot. Since I don't think this problem is specific to Manuals.

That is a major reason why many of Toyota's vehicles are being recalled. I heard about this story as well and it was quite tragic. However, for those who have the models with the floor mats that have been the cause for the accelerator sticking, owners are required to remove the floor mat. By removing the floor mat you are at least getting rid of the source of the problem. But it also hurts Toyota as an organization because they have to recall vehicles which means a loss in revenue. Its better that they fix the problem than to have more injuries and deaths as a result. The death of the individual in that story is an example of how to make sure that your vehicles are safe and not hazardous.

Shut down the engine. ( your steering will not lock).

Press down on the brake with both feet. (this will immediately tell you if you were pressing the wrong pedal)

Reach down and pull the floor mat back.

BTW the person on the phone was in the back seat not the driver.

I think you are right to say this has to be thought about in advance, all the proper actions can be taken in less than a couple of seconds if you have a plan. The driver in the story just freaked out in a panic.

Well, yeah. But it's only happened a few times, maybe four. One time in the middle of nowhere and I had to drive five miles to find a service station. (key off == coast . . . key on == accelerate.) Just like brake failures happen. Once lost my service brakes and had to drive for a week using engine braking and the hand brake. More of an annoyance than an emergency.

Shift to neutral (if you have automatic transmission) or depress the clutch (if you have manual transmission). Do not turn off the engine, because doing so will also stop the power steering and power brakes from working for very long.

Stick it in 5th and get on the brakes.

edit: haha, thumbs down because you'd rather blow the engine than do something safe for both you and the car? Ok.

For now what all owners should do is just remove the front floor mat and take the vehicle to your local Toyota dealership.................

If the driver had a brain, all he had to do was turn off the motor. DUH!!