NHTSA Complaint #10305726 — 2009 TOYOTA CAMRY

CNN IS GIVING BAD ADVICE ON TOYOTA GAS PEDAL PROBLEM I DISAGREE WITH THE ADVICE PROVIDED BY OMAR PANJSHIRI, A CERTIFIED TOYOTA TECHNICIAN AT THE CHANTILLY REPAIR CENTER IN CHANTILLY, VIRGINIA. ACCORDING TO THE REPORT, HE STATED THAT: "IF THE PEDAL IS STUCK IN A DEPRESSED POSITION, HERE IS WHAT THE DRIVER CAN DO: (I) SHIFT THE TRANSMISSION TO NEUTRAL; (II) TURN OFF THE IGNITION SWITCH; AND (III) APPLY THE BRAKES AND PULL OVER." MR. PANJSHIRI EXPLAINED THAT WITH THE ENGINE CUT OFF, "YOU WILL LOSE SOME POWER STEERING ASSIST, BUT YOU WILL STILL BE ABLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE TO A SAFE STOPPING POSITION." THIS IS VERY BAD ADVICE. THE TRANSMISSION SHOULD NOT BE SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL. IF THE PEDAL IS STUCK IN A DEPRESSED POSITION, THE DRIVER SHOULD TURN OFF THE IGNITION SWITCH AND APPLY THE BRAKES. THE DRIVER SHOULD NOT SHIFT THE TRANSMISSION INTO NEUTRAL. THE TRANSMISSION KEEPS THE ENGINE GOING, HELPING TO SLOW DOWN THE CAR, AND IT KEEPS THE POWER STEERING ASSIST WORKING. A FEW YEARS AGO THE GAS PEDAL RETURN SPRING BROKE ON MY CAR WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF THE IGNITION SWITCH AND APPLIED THE BRAKES. THIS RESPONSE SHOULD BE TAUGHT IN DRIVING CLASSES. *TR