Attorney General Gansler Announces Accommodations by Toyota

BALTIMORE, MD ( February 26, 2010) - Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler announced today that Toyota Motor Sales USA, Inc. (“Toyota”) has agreed to make certain accommodations for Toyota vehicle owners affected by Toyota’s recent safety recalls.

Toyota will advise Toyota and Lexus dealers to make accommodations appropriate to each consumers’ circumstances, at no cost to the consumer or the dealer, to address consumer concerns. These include: (1) expedited scheduling of repairs of recalled vehicles; (2) pickup and return of recalled vehicles by a dealership representative or by flatbed truck; (3) transportation of the consumer to the dealership and/or to the consumer’s place of work; and (4) providing, at no cost to the owner, alternative transportation (such as a rental car, loaner, or taxi reimbursement) for the reasonable period that the consumer is unable or unwilling to use the recalled vehicle.

Toyota and Lexus dealers and Toyota call center staff also are being advised to inform consumers with vehicles subject to the January 21 or February 8 recalls NOT to wait for a letter before scheduling repair of the vehicles.

The current offer of accommodations applies to the following recalls: September 29, 2009 recall for floor mat pedal entrapment; January 21, 2010 recall for sticking accelerator pedal; February 8, 2010 recall for anti-lock brake system software update; and February 12, 2010 recall for drive shaft repairs for Tacoma 4WD trucks.

Maryland consumers who experience difficulty obtaining accommodations from their dealerships can contact the Consumer Protection Division at (410)528-8662.