Dealers swamped with recall questions

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - After a morning bombarded by phone calls, Toyota dealerships, including those in New Mexico, finally got a call from the automaker on Wednesday afternoon.

Toyota told them there may be a solution to the major gas pedal glitch that led to a massive recall.

“It has something to do with the shim,” said JR Malouff, general manager of Larrry H. Miller American Toyota. “The shim is an adjustment to the accelerator that they feel they can fix.”

The recall was announced last week. On Tuesday, Toyota went a step further and told dealers to stop selling eight of its most popular models.

By Wednesday morning customers were calling and stopping by Albuquerque dealerships looking for answers. Malouff said they didn’t have much to say until the afternoon when Toyota told them they found the problem.

However, before Malouff can order his service department to begin fixing the glitch, the solution has to be approved by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

“They should make an agreement with NHTSA tomorrow (Thursday) afternoon, and then shortly thereafter, all of our customers will be notified to come into the dealership to get the proper fix to that vehicle,” Malouff said.

Malouff said affected Toyota owners should get the notice by mail in the next few weeks.

General Motors is hoping to cash in on Toyota's woes. The company said it's now offering incentives to Toyota owners who want to switch to GM vehicles.

American Toyota was passing out flyers to affected customers on Wednesday with instructions on what to do if your accelerator pedal sticks while driving:

• Step on the brake pedal with both feet, but do not pump brakes.
• Shift transmission to neutral position
• If unable to shit to neutral, turn off engine but do not remove key from ignition as this will lock the steering wheel.

Recall list

2009-2010 RAV4
2009-2010 Corolla
2009-2010- Matrix
2005-2010 Avalon
Certain 2007-2010 Camry
2010 Highlander
2007-2010 Tundra
2008-2010 Sequoia