What Causes an Accelerator Pedal to Stick?

The accelerator pedal is the pedal that is responsible for increasing a vehicle’s speed. This pedal is also often called the gas pedal. When accelerator pedals are working correctly, they cause a vehicle to increase or maintain speed. However, according to consumer reports, many Toyota vehicles may be affected by a defect that causes the accelerator pedal to stick. When the accelerator pedal sticks, it may cause unintended acceleration. Consumers have reported their vehicles increasing in speed and being unresponsive to attempts to slow down or stop.

Over the past decade, Toyota has issued multiple recalls regarding accelerator pedal problems. In 2010, Toyota reportedly halted sales of many of the company’s popular vehicle models due to potential pedal defects after more than 2,274 incidents of unintended acceleration were reported. The company also announced that it would fix approximately 4 million vehicles that were affected by a defect resulting in unintended acceleration.

What Causes an Accelerator Pedal to Stick?

According to reporting by Scientific American, it is unknown what exactly may be causing stuck gas pedals in Toyota vehicles. There are many theories. Floor mats in these vehicles may be bunching up close to the pedals, causing them to become stuck. The brake mechanism may be worn and damaged. The electronic control system may be defective. No matter what is causing the defect, it may be dangerous to drivers and passengers.

While some auto manufacturers have added smart throttles to vehicles to allow the brakes to override the accelerator, many Toyota models reportedly do not have this feature and may be susceptible to sticking pedals.

What Happens if an Accelerator Pedal Sticks?

Accelerator pedals that stick may result in dangerous situations for drivers.

In one case, a woman was reportedly driving near Los Angeles with her family when her car suddenly increased in speed. Although she attempted to brake, and felt the brake pedal depress, the car did not slow down, even when she pulled the emergency brake. The driver reportedly swerved around other cars on the freeway, attempting to make it to an exit ramp before causing an accident. However, on the exit ramp her car hit another vehicle stopped at an intersection, resulting in the deaths of five people including the driver’s grandson.

According to another report, a consumer who experienced a faulty gas pedal was unable to stop her car but was eventually able to put it into neutral and pull off the road. Although her defective pedal did not result in an accident, she claims to still be afraid every time she gets into her vehicle.

What Should You Do If Your Accelerator Pedal Sticks?

If your gas pedal sticks while you are driving, it is important not to panic. First, attempt to unstick the pedal by pulling it up with your toe. If this does not fix the problem, firmly hit the brakes. If this does not halt or reduce the speed of the vehicle, next put the car in neutral while holding your foot down on the brake. Once your vehicle comes to a full stop, turn the engine off, and then remove your foot from the brakes. If you release the brake before the car is brought to a stop, your brakes may become stiff and will not halt the vehicle.

If you own or lease a vehicle that has a safety defect and has not been the subject of a recall, you may be eligible to hire a qualified attorney and file a class action lawsuit if your vehicle’s defect is not covered by a warranty, and has resulted in an injury to you or someone else. Even if the defect was covered in a recall, you may still be eligible to file a lawsuit against the vehicle manufacturer if the defect resulted in an injury.

Join a Free Vehicle Safety Class Action Lawsuit Investigation

If you own a vehicle that you believe has a safety defect and you are outside of the warranty period or you believe the defect should be covered by the warranty and it’s not, or you or a family member have been injured by a safety related defect, you may qualify to join this vehicle safety defect class action lawsuit investigation.

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This article is not legal advice. It is presented
for informational purposes only.