NHTSA Complaint #10401728 — 2008 TOYOTA YARIS

I WAS DRIVING MY YARIS AND ATTEMPTED TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE ON A 4-LANE ROAD. I PRESSED ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AS I ENTERED THE LEFT LANE AND NOTHING HAPPENED. THE PEDAL WENT HALFWAY DOWN, BUT THE ENGINE DID NOT RESPOND. AS I QUICKLY TRIED TO DECIDE WHAT TO DO AS A CAR IN THE LEFT LANE BEHIND ME CAME UP FAST, THE ENGINE RESPONDED UNEXPECTEDLY AND I SURGED FORWARD. THE NEXT TIME I DEPRESSED THE PEDAL, IT RESPONDED NORMALLY AT THE TOP OF ITS TRAVEL. HOWEVER, IT HAPPENED AGAIN ABOUT 3 WEEKS LATER WHEN I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. THE LIGHT CHANGED AND I PRESSED ON THE ACCELERATOR. AGAIN, NO RESPONSE. THIS HAPPENED ON AND OFF UNTIL LAST WEEK WHEN IT STARTED TO BECOME MORE COMMON THAN THE NORMAL RESPONSE. SINCE I DIDN'T WANT TO PAY TOYOTA FOR AN EXPENSIVE FIX ONLY A FEW THOUSAND MILES AFTER MY WARRANTY RAN OUT, I RESOLVED TO GET USED TO IT. I ADJUSTED MY ACTIONS SO I DIDN'T EXPECT AN IMMEDIATE RESPONSE FROM THE CAR UNTIL THE PEDAL GOT PART WAY DOWN TO THE FLOOR AND, THOUGH I'M SURE IT AFFECTED MY GAS MILEAGE, I COULD DEAL WITH IT. THEN YESTERDAY, AS I PULLED INTO MY GARAGE, THE PEDAL RESPONSE SUDDENLY WENT BACK TO NORMAL AND I ALMOST WENT THROUGH THE BACK OF THE GARAGE. I BOUGHT THIS CAR (AND ONE FOR MY WIFE AS WELL) BECAUSE OF TOYOTA'S REPUTATION FOR RELIABILITY AND ITS FUEL ECONOMY. NOW I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT. I HAVE READ THAT LEXUS OWNERS HAVE REPORTED THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS ANNOYING, REDUCES GAS MILEAGE, AND COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS.