Total recall....enough already!

So Toyota now admit that their infamous accelerator pedal fault may be more widespread than they first thought, with seven of their UK range now under recall including their relatively new Aygo (automatic) and iQ models. The recall is reportedly going to cost them over £1.2 billion and it has no doubt made a significant dent in their share price too.

Interestingly, a manufacturer’s decision to recall a vehicle is made under a “voluntary” code of conduct where they must first have found “substantial evidence” of a particular defect and then consulted with VOSA, the Vehicle & Operator Services Agency set up to improve the roadworthiness of cars. Once all are in agreement the recall is sanctioned and issued under the category of either “safety” or “non-safety”.

In 2009 there were over 665,000 cars recalled in the UK, with the average usually being around 1m. Wow, that’s a lot of cars! But to put this into context, there were over 942,000 total recalls in the UK made up of both cars and other components, such as fridges and freezers. And more importantly, particularly for the second-hand car buyer, safety recalls are not recorded on the vehicle V5 registration document so the reliance is on the main dealership entering the details in the service book and this being passed on when a vehicle is sold.

But whilst everyone else is heavily debating Toyota’s failings over their own perfections, or else they’re wondering whether their treasured RAV4 is going to be next on the hit list, I thought it might be more helpful to talk about what you should actually do if your accelerator pedal gets stuck.

Well the first thing to remember is that it doesn’t mean your brakes don’t work…okay that is unless you’re unlucky enough to own a Prius! The perception is to the contrary of course, brought on by sheer panic. But by pressing the brake firmly and then the clutch to take your car out of gear (or to go into neutral in an automatic), this will disengage the drive. And as you can still steer too, it’s then just a matter of finding somewhere safe to pull over, stop and turn the ignition off. So a stuck accelerator pedal isn’t necessarily the disaster is sounds - easier said than done in an emergency situation I know - but at least you’ll know what to do if and when it happens, as well as of course remaining as calm as possible.

I actually take my hat off to Toyota, where they have had the balls to put driver safety above profit and reputation. Until now, their reputation has been one of solidness and reliability; and it will be again.

Renault (among others I could mention) with their bonnet catch fiasco do not deserve such a grand gesture from me in this cold weather when I prefer my woolly hat to remain firmly on my head.

Some of my customers started contacting me with concerns over their Renault Clio II over two years now. The problem being when you’re happily driving along minding your business and then suddenly your bonnet flies open, shattering your windscreen and thus obscuring your vision. Not funny when you’re doing 70mph on the motorway! After Toyota’s brave move, the pressure is now growing for Renault to follow suit, although to date both Renault and VOSA have denied that there is a significant fault, blaming the bonnet catch fault (where it remains open if pulled hard) on “driver error”. Nice!

Renault has, however, written to owners asking them to take their Clio into the dealership to have the catch examined. Now call me stupid, but isn’t that a recall?