Ford floor mats probed

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is opening an investigation into For d Motor Company’s 2010 Ford Fusion and similar Mercury Milan models to examine complaints about pedals becoming stuck in the depressed position due to floor mats.

The agency said it has verified three complaints in the 2010 Ford Fusion in which the auto maker's optional "all weather" mat, when laid on top of the secured, standard carpeted floor mat, slipped forward and trapped the accelerator pedal. The event usually occurred after the driver "substantially" pressed the accelerator pedal, according to a NHTSA statement. There have been no reports of crashes or injuries.

"We do not recommend stacking floor mats in any vehicle from any auto maker," said Ford spokesman Said Deep. "Our all-weather floor mats already come with instructions advising not to place them on top of existing floor mats. We are cooperating with the NHTSA investigation."

Toyota Motor Corp. in September announced the recall of 3.8 million vehicles, the biggest recall in its history, to address a problem with removable mats. The mats could slip over the accelerator, causing the pedal to be trapped in the depressed position.

Toyota subsequently found issues with the design of its accelerator pedals. The company was forced to replace the pedal in about 5.8 million vehicles in the U.S. and was fined $16.4 million by NHTSA

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