FIRST ON 3: NC Toyota owners get more help

North Carolinians who drive recalled Toyotas should now be able to get quicker repairs, free pickup and delivery of their cars, and free rental or loaner cars to drive, Attorney General Roy Cooper announced Wednesday.

“We rely on our cars to get us where we need to go, and we expect them to get us there safely,” Cooper said. “These additional steps will give concerned drivers more peace of mind.”

At the request of state attorneys general, Toyota has agreed to provide the following services free-of-charge to drivers in North Carolina and other states:

* 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 of repairs for certain problems, such as sticking accelerators and antilock brake software recalls.

In a letter to Cooper and other state attorneys general, Toyota said these services will be provided at no cost to customers and that Toyota will reimburse dealerships for the costs of the accommodations. The services are effective immediately.

Toyota is notifying dealerships across the country about the new services available to drivers of recalled cars.

According to Toyota, 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 toll-free numbers are available 8:00 AM. to 9:00 PM EST on weekdays and 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM EST on weekends.

A list of vehicles impacted by the recall is available from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

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