Toyota to recall 3.8 million vehicles

Toyota Motor Corp. will recall more than 3.8 million Lexus and Toyota vehicles, its largest ever U.S. safety recall, after drivers reported that floor mats slid forward and in some cases jammed the accelerator pedal, the company and the U.S. government said Tuesday.

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and Toyota officials urged owners of seven vehicle lines, including Toyota's best-selling Camry sedan, its Tundra truck and three premium Lexus models, to immediately remove driver-side floor mats, particularly if they are not secured.

"This is an urgent matter," LaHood said in a statement. "For everyone's sake, we strongly urge owners of these vehicles to remove mats or other obstacles that could lead to unintended acceleration."

The impetus for the safety advisory, which will be followed by a recall, appears to be a crash in San Diego last month that killed four people riding in a Lexus ES 350. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which sent investigators to review the wreckage, was preparing to open an investigation into the issue if Toyota hadn't agreed to the recall. More at Detroit News