(Toyota 3.8M gas pedals)

Imagine driving and all of a sudden, the gas pedal gets stuck to the floor mat: that’s the scenario that is leading Toyota to recall over 3.8 million gas pedals. Think it’s uncommon? Think again. The United States government has cited unintentional acceleration (due to the floor mat causing the gas pedal to get stuck) in five deaths and two injuries, with reports of dozens upon dozens of cases of further incidents, specifically with these Toyota vehicles. While those few deaths are a tragedy, they are a drop in the bucket in the automobile industry: every year over 40,000 Americans die and millions are injured from car crashes. Motor vehicle accidents remain the leading killer of people aged 4 to 34.

The models specifically affected by the recall are: the 2007-10 model year Camry, 2005-10 Toyota Avalon, 2004-09 Prius, 2005-10 Toyota Tacoma, 2007-10 Toyota Tundra, 2007-10 Lexus ES350 and 2006-10 Lexus IS250/350.