Toyota recall to impact Indiana dealers

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - News of Toyota's decision to stop production on eight of its most popular models will have a huge impact on local dealers. But just how big is hard to gauge.

The gas pedal problem is potentially dangerous. It affects more than $2.5 million Toyota owners. So you'd think getting information would be easy.

But it's not, Indianapolis area Toyota dealers told 24-Hour News 8 they are inundated with phone calls from car owners. 24-Hour News 8 called five dealers. None would talk on camera.

Not because they didn't want to, but because they said, Toyota told them not to talk.

The dealers referred 24-Hour News 8 to Brian Lyons of Toyota Engineering in California.

He admitted Toyota told dealers to contact him before they talked to the media. He also said the company is zeroing in on the problem.

"We feel we've identified the pedal itself. It's one of our two manufacturers. And we feel we've identified the cause of the pedal to become sticky," he said.

Beck Service Center on the south side of Indianapolis repairs all brands of vehicles. Russ Dillard who works there said, while he doesn't know specifically what the Toyota problem is, a gas pedal problem may include more than just the pedal itself.

Dillard said, "A big misconception a lot of people have about an automobile is that they think when they give it the accelerator that they are giving it gas. You give it no gas. The computer controls all the fuel."

For Toyota owners like Billy Henry the scope of the problem is just beginning to sink in.

"I'm very unhappy. They'll come out. They'll fix it. Whatever the problem is, they'll fix it."

Owners of the recalled Toyota's should call a local dealership. They will talk to customers about the situation.

Brian Lyons of Toyota said the company doesn't yet have enough parts to fix all of the vehicles.

However, the company is saying it is safe to drive the vehicles so long as there are no "tell tale signs" of a sticking accelerator.