TORRANCE, Calif. -

More than 2 million Toyota and Lexus vehicles are being recalled in the U.S., including about 1.38 million units that have been added to the floor-mat entrapment recall from 2009.

Overall, approximately 2.17 million vehicles are being recalled in three separate actions by Toyota Motor Sales USA.

There are two new recalls that deal with floor carpet issues, plus the addendum to the floor-mat issue.

Breaking down the numbers, about 20,000 Lexus GS 300 and GS 350 all-wheel drive units from 2006 and early 2007 are being recalled. This action is to adjust the shape of the plastic pad found in the floor carpet on the driver’s side of the vehicles.

“In the event that the floor carpet around the accelerator pedal is not properly replaced in the correct position after a service operation, there is a possibility that the plastic pad embedded into the floor carpet may interfere with the operation of the accelerator pedal,” Toyota said in a statement.

“If this occurs, the accelerator pedal may become temporarily stuck in a partially depressed position rather than returning to the idle position,” the automaker added.

Early next month, Toyota will start sending first-class mail notifications to affected owners.

In another floor-carpet issue, Toyota is recalling about 372,000 Lexus RX 330, RX 350 and RX 400h units from model years 2004, 2005, 2006 and early 2007; as well as about 397,000 Toyota Highlander and Highlander HV units from model years 2004, 2005 and 2006.

These RX and Highlander units are being recalled so that Toyota can swap out the floor carpet cover on the driver’s side of these models, in addition to the two retention clips on the cover.

“If the forward retention clip used to secure the floor carpet cover, which is located in front of the center console, is not installed properly, the cover may lean toward the accelerator pedal and interfere with the accelerator pedal arm,” the automaker noted.

“If this occurs, the accelerator pedal may become temporarily stuck in a partially depressed position rather than returning to the idle position,” it added.

Toyota said that soon it will send an interim notification via first-class mail to affected RX and Highlander owners. In that note, owners can learn how to determine if their vehicle has this condition. The note will also let owners know that local dealers can inspect the vehicle.

The second notification will be sent out when the replacement covers arrive.

This particular recall on the RX and Highlander models also affects other regions as well, Toyota spokersperson Brian Lyons confirmed to Auto Remarketing on Thursday. The numbers are as follows:

—37,000 units in Europe
—20,000 units in Asia
—1,100 units in the Middle East
—225 spread throughout South America, Oceana and Africa

Moving on to discuss the amended November 2009 recall, three additional models are now included in that recall, which was for potentially “unsecured or incompatible floor-mat entrapment of the accelerator pedal.”

Toyota added the following three models to that recall:

—Approximately 603,000 4Runner units from 2003-2009
—Approximately 17,000 Lexus LX 570 units from 2008-2011
—Approximately 761,000 RAV4 units from 2006-2010

The company is sending out an interim notification soon to let affected owners know about the issue. When recall preparations have been finished, a second notification will go out.

The automaker stressed that the new and amended recall remedies will be conducted for free for the owners of affected vehicles.

Reaction to Recalls

In comments released Thursday, one analyst, in particular, suggested that Lexus could be hurt especially by the recall involving the RX, which is a high-volume model.

“This latest recall hits Lexus, particularly its huge volume RX. Lexus barely held onto the top ranking for luxury sales in 2010 and was beat in January by Mercedes-Benz and BMW,” pointed out Michelle Krebs, Edmunds.com senior analyst.

“The luxury crown could easily be lost by Lexus this year, and this recall doesn’t help,” she added.