Your Floor Mats Could Be Hazardous to Your Health

Floor Mat Safety

Reality TV star Savannah Chrisley of Chrisley Knows Best was seriously injured in a car accident in 2017. She has since recovered. The connection here is that she reported that the accident occurred when her floor mat got stuck behind the pedals of her car and she looked down to move them.

She used the accident as a call to reconnect with her maker. We’ll use it to speak instead of floor mat safety.

That’s right, safety. The lowly floor mat can be a massive hazard if it does not fit the car or is not properly installed and secured.

A poor fitting mat can be carelessly placed over the gas pedal itself. A carpeted mat draped over the pedal could easily get snagged between the pedal and the side wall or simply not allow the pedal to return when foot pressure is removed. And if not placed properly beneath the gas pedal, a mat can snag a the pedal while driving if it has slipped too far up the side.

Look for Mounting Clips

Nearly every vehicle manufactured for the last 15 to 20 years has mounting clips just in front of the seats, front and back. The driver’s location is clearly the most important. Factory-made mats attach to these clips in order to ensure they are placed properly. Many of the more expensive aftermarket mats also use these clips but only if they are made for a specific make and model.

The most common attachment style is simply pressed into place and lock with a snap. Another common style is a hook that needs to be approached from behind. A Nissan we examined used the hook style, but the back side of the mat stuck to the carpet below like Velcro. This made the mat very difficult to position and a user may quit on it. However, that stickiness will likely keep the mats away from the pedals.

You might remember that some years ago Toyota and Lexus were involved in what was a far reaching recall for unintended acceleration. What is not widely realized is the primary fix was to first, raise the gas pedal and second, replace the factory floor mats with new ones cut short of the pedals. The originals needed to be slipped beneath the gas pedal, and unfortunately, they were often simply draped over the pedal itself, something I saw first hand.

To its credit, Toyota never blamed a driver or overzealous car wash employee or anyone else — they simply removed the potential for the problem at a cost exceeding billions of dollars. However, a teaching moment was missed.

So, be vigilant. Stay away from aftermarket mats, particularly long ones that do not attach to the car. If you’re coming out of a car wash, check that the driver’s mat is re-attached — it often isn’t. And when cleaning your own car, be sure to replace the mats properly. They’ll look better and keep you safer as well.

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Remember that only proper service and repair procedures will ensure the safe and reliable operation of your car. In addition, proper safety procedures and precautions, such as the  use of safety goggles, the right tools and the equipment should be followed at all times to eliminate the possibility of personal injury or improper service which could damage the vehicle or compromise its safety.

These posts are for information sharing purposes only, and should not be used in lieu of an OEM service manual or factory authorized service procedure. We are not in the auto repair business nor do we publish automotive service manuals. Nothing we include on these pages and posts has been reviewed, approved or authorized by any vehicle manufacturer.

Technology is always changing and what is current and accurate today may be literally out-of-date and inaccurate tomorrow. And when it comes to the current state of flux in the auto industry, nothing is more true.