Toyota denies Prius recall coming

Toyota Motor Corp. Tuesday denied reports by the Wall Street Journal that the automaker plans to recall the Prius model involved in Monday's high-profile case of unintended acceleration in San Diego.

The Journal report had quoted — but not identified — a Toyota spokesman as saying the only reason the hybrid Prius hasn't been recalled is that there is no remedy at the moment for what the company calls a floor-mat problem.

But in a news release later in the day, Toyota said no new recall is planned. It said a recall of Prius models from 2004 to 2009 was announced on November 2, 2009, to deal with the issue of floor mats which made the accelerator stick. 

In the meantime, owners of those Prius models are being advised to remove the car's floor mats to prevent any chance the accelerator pedal could become trapped. In early February, Toyota recalled 270,000 Prius hybrids over brake problems in the U.S. and Japan.

On Monday, James Sikes, 61, of California reported that his 2008 Prius suddenly began racing to more than 151 km/h as he drove along a highway. Sikes said he was virtually standing on the brakes but the car would not slow down.

He called 911. A California Highway Patrol officer responded and used a bullhorn to instruct Sikes on how to reduce his speed. The officer then eased the patrol car in front of the Prius to ensure the car came to a stop.

No one was hurt, but the case continues to spotlight Toyota's problem with drivers experiencing unintended acceleration.

More than 8.5 million cars recalled

More than 8.5 million of its cars have been recalled globally because of the problem. Toyota has blamed floor mats for jamming accelerators. It also says worn accelerator pedals could be a cause.

On Monday, the Japanese automaker presented engineering data that it said rebutted claims that unintended acceleration could be caused by an electronic throttle. Electronic throttles use computer chips to control speed, rather than mechanical connections.

Last month, Illinois engineering professor David Gilbert testified before Congress about how he was able to rev Toyota engines simply by short-circuiting the wiring.

On Tuesday, James Sikes's wife, Patty, said there was no way floor mats were involved in her husband's acceleration.

"It wasn't the floor mat," Patty said. "The floor mat we have has hooks on it."

Patty Sikes said the family's 2008 Prius appeared to have an accelerator malfunction a few weeks ago but it was brief.

"It took off for a second, and then it just stopped," she said. "It was like a little hiccup or something."

The family got a recall notice and took it to Toyota of El Cajon about two weeks ago but the dealership refused to examine the car, Patty Sikes said.

"They said it must be a mistake because we weren't on the [recall] list," she said.

The dealership declined to comment and referred requests for comment to Toyota's corporate representatives.

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration sent two investigators to examine the car after Monday's incident, said Olivia Alair, a spokeswoman for the Department of Transportation, which oversees the agency.

Toyota Motor Corp. spokesman Brian Lyons said the automaker is sending three of its own technicians to investigate.

Toyota owners have filed at least 89 class-action lawsuits in the U.S., according to a review of cases by The Associated Press.

The owners claim that the spate of safety-related recalls has caused the value of their cars to fall. They cite a recent move by Kelley Blue Book to lower the resale value of recalled Toyota models by $300 US to $750.