Toyota Educates Customers as Floor Mat Alert Ignored

Toyota Motor Corp.’s U.S. sales chief said many owners still ignore warnings not to stack floor mats beneath accelerator pedals and wants dealers to familiarize buyers with model features so they’re not mistaken for flaws.

The world’s largest automaker has discussed unintended acceleration concerns with as many as 7,000 owners in the months following record vehicle recalls for floor mats that could slip, jamming accelerators, and for sticky gas pedals, said Jim Lentz, president of Toyota’s U.S. unit. In some cases, people weren’t familiar with how automatic cruise control worked, didn’t know air-conditioners could boost engine revving or failed to remove extra mats, he said in an interviewyesterday.