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DES MOINES, IOWA -- Statement of Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller:

On behalf of Iowa and 48 other states, the Iowa Attorney General’s Office asked Toyota to extend to consumers in every state the accommodations Toyota agreed to provide to New York consumers in an agreement with the N.Y. Attorney General’s Office.  We made the request in Iowa’s capacity as Chair of the Autos Working Group of the National Association of Attorneys General.

Toyota provided a letter Friday that we have shared with the other 48 states, as well as a letter Toyota said it is providing to its dealers. 

I am pleased that Toyota has assured us and assured consumers that it is making these accommodations available to Iowans and consumers all across the nation.

Toyota’s letter to the Attorneys General said “Toyota is committed to making the recall campaigns proceed in a way that helps to ensure the customers’ safety and satisfaction.  To that end, as requested, Toyota will accommodate customers subject to these recalls, who have a concern about driving their car to the dealership or using the vehicle until the repair has been completed.  Toyota will advise its dealers to address each customer’s concerns on a case-by-case basis.”

Toyota’s letter to the Attorneys General said accommodations will be provided at no cost to the customer, and Toyota will reimburse the dealerships for the accommodations, which are effective immediately.

Accommodations pledged by Toyota nationwide include providing consumers, free of charge:

·                     Pickup and return of the vehicle by a dealership representative or by flatbed truck.

·                     Driving the customer to the dealership and/or to his or her place of work.

·                     Providing other alternative transportation, such as a rental car, a loaner vehicle, or taxi reimbursement, for the reasonable period that the customer is unable or unwilling to use his or her vehicle.

·                     Expedited scheduling. 

According to the letter to the Attorneys General, consumers with questions may contact a Toyota dealership, call the Toyota Customer Experience Center at 1-800-331-4331, or call the Lexus Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-255-3987.  The hours of operation for the toll-free numbers are Monday through Friday, from 7:00 a.m. CST to 8:00 p.m. CST and from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. CST on Saturdays and Sundays. 

Click here  to read the full letter.