Toyota Recalls 3.8 Million Vehicles; Largest In Company History

DETROIT (Detroit Free Press) -- Toyota Motor Co. is launching a recall of thousands of Toyota and Lexus models to immediately remove driver's side floor mats that can stick under accelerator pedals, causing the vehicles to surge forward.

In an unusual step, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration warned drivers of the affected models to not replace the floor mats in the affected models. The affected models include:

2007-2010 Camry

2005-2010 Avalon

2004-2009 Prius

2005-2010 Tacoma

2007-2010 Tundra

2007-2010 ES 350

2006-2010 IS 250 and IS350

NHTSA could not immediately say how many vehicles in total are affected.

Toyota recalled 55,000 vehicles in 2007 over the same problem affecting Camry and Lexus ES 350 models because of complaints of unintended acceleration caused by the mats sticking under the accelerator pedal. NHTSA said consumers continued to report instances of uncontrolled acceleration in Toyota models after that recall.

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