Toyota dealers scramble to respond to customers after company suspends vehicle sales

Yoshikazu Tsuno/AFP/Getty Images

Customers check a Toyota Camry at the company's showroom in Tokyo on January 27, 2010. Japan's auto giant Toyota said the company suspended sales in the United States of eight mostly new models including certain 2007-2010 Camry models while it examines problems with sticking accelerator pedals.

A potentially faulty gas pedal has prompted Toyota to stop the sale of eight popular models. That's left Southland Toyota dealers with a lot of cars they can’t sell, and a lot of concerned customers.

Recent models of the RAV4, Corolla, Matrix, Avalon, Highlander, Tundra, Sequoia, and certain Camrys are unavailable for now. Their gas pedals can stay down longer than drivers intend, and can cause the vehicles to accelerate .

Paul Lunsford, general manager of South Coast Toyota in Costa Mesa, said his dealership has fielded a lot of calls from customers who already drive the affected models. He's dealing with them on a case-by-case basis.

"It’s a fluid situation," Lunsford said. "Toyota’s working on it promptly. I don’t have a part that if you bring it to me, I can replace it."

He applauded Toyota’s decision to address the problem directly.

"You know, nobody had to chase Toyota around. They are putting people before profits. As a human being, I feel great about that. As a business man, I know it to be the quickest fix to the situation."

Lunsford spoke to KPCC’s Patt Morrison, who also received many calls from concerned Toyota drivers.

“Jennifer” in Eagle Rock said her relationship with the automaker has changed. She believed Toyota was dragged into the decision to stop sales by media reports.

"My family has been a loyal Toyota customer forever, I drive a Toyota, I bought a Highlander to drive my baby around in. My mother drives a Toyota in Santa Cruz," she explained. "I’m devastated, I’m really disappointed. I don’t think Toyota has handled this well."

On its Web site, Toyota says that although the gas pedal condition is rare, the company must stop selling the vehicles until it has found an appropriate fix. As a result, Toyota will suspend the manufacture of the models next week.