Dealer Cut My Pedal Without Asking!

[JRA2000TL]

I had to take a short business trip this week and stopped in at one of the local dealers while out of town (Ernie Palmer Toyota of Jacksonville, FL). The service advisor came out and told me they were finishing up my oil change and tire rotation and that I'd had a recall they went ahead and performed--ok. I remember getting something in the mail about it and vaguely remember it being about the acceleration deal but thought nothing more of it.

I got my truck back and my pedal was cut in half! I was pissed! I left because I spent enough time there, but thought more about it, got online, did some research, etc. I remember the 4Runners not being recalled orginally because they were made in Japan and came with a different Denso pedal; then realized they were added to the recall list because why, yet another sorry government agency got involved NHTSA, so Toyota voluntarily added it.

In NO WAY was the previous pedal unsafe NOR was the mat an issue. If people crashed their cars, it was user error. If there was a fault in the ECM that caused it accelerate unexpectedly and requred a re-flash, then recall that software portion only! Pedals interfering with mats is user error and a common sense preventative measure. I called Toyota Customer Service to complain. They said they'd open a case, which all they do is notify the service manager. I called and spoke with him and told him I was pissed that they did this without asking me and had I known, I would have declined the repair.

I told him I want another 4-1/4" pedal reinstalled, and he said he can no longer get them as Toyota has quit making them or selling them. He said he could put a new pedal in to fix the "look" factor, but that it would be shorter.

I'm going to take the newer pedal for the look factor, but in the meantime, I'm going to hunt down a salvage yard for an uncut pedal. This short pedal sucks--it's a stub and my foot wants to keep slipping off of it. I hate it! I am going to talk with a district manager and see if they can find a NOS one or swap it out with an uncut one in a used vehicle on a lot somewhere. I will sign their stupid waiver or what not.

I am livid that they did this without asking or explaining to me what they were doing first. Now I will probably have to pay out of pocket and hunt down an unmodified pedal from a salvage yard and install it myself. I'm sure Toyota won't put it back the way it was.

They're getting 0's on their CSI if I get one. I used to write service, so the only way I can make my point is there I guess.

[MAToyotaSales]

You're right to be pissed. If someone cut my pedal I'd demand a new one. Hold off on giving them 0's on the CSI though. Once you do that, good luck getting any help from them.

[JRA2000TL]

The problem is that I'm in Jacksonville until tomorrow; then I head back home---they don't have a new pedal in stock and won't be able to get one by Saturday. As a result, if I get a new pedal, it will have to be at a dealership in my home area. They will just install the new shorter version though. It won't look as tacky but will still drive me nuts because its short length.

If I want my old one back, it looks like I'll have to find an un-modified one at a salvage yard and pay out of MY pocket. I think Toyota should let me locate my own pedal and send me a check for the amount that I pay at a salvage yard and be done with it.

I have no issue with them doing an automatic recall replacement for something minor--a connector or switch that will not alter the performance or appearance of the car. In this case, lopping off 1/2 the pedal is both a feel and appearance issue, especially with my foot wanting to slip off of it now. I would have been ok with them doing an ECM reflash to update the software, but for God sake, the actual pedal itself was fine!