Vehicle Mat - Weather Tech Floor Mats

Vehicle mats, also known as "automobile floor mats", are designed to protect a vehicle's floor from dirt, wear, and salt corrosion.

One major use of a vehicle mat is to keep the car looking clean. Most mats can be easily removed for cleaning and then replaced. Some require fixation points to ensure they remain fixed in position.

Overview

Vehicle mats are an interior car parts accessory that dealerships generally include with the purchase of a vehicle. However, with the surge in leasing organisations and sales through such channels, some cars are offered without them.

Vehicle floor mats come in a variety of shapes and materials. They may feature spikes, grooves, or caps to capture dirt and water, and be made from the synthetic rubber (often referred to as "vinyl" or "thermoplastic") or textile materials.

Floor mats should be distinguished from floor liners. Floor liners feature molded bottoms and edges that run along the walls of vehicles' foot wells, while floor mats are flat on the bottom and are fitted between foot well walls.

Materials

Vehicle mats generally come in two options: either rubber or carpet fabric. These differ in a number of ways, and each material provides advantages and disadvantages when compared to the other. For instance, carpet mats are generally tufted and have a rubberised anti-slip backing, while rubber mats are heavier duty and more durable.

Also, some car mats are the plain colour of rubber, while many others contain branded company logos, cartoon characters, or advertisements. They can also come in a wide range of colours.

The terms "universal" and "custom fit" differentiate between floor mats that will fit a multitude of different cars versus those that are specifically designed to fit only one chassis.

Some styles of mats may feature small, flexible spikes on their underside to grip carpeting underneath better, and many makeshift vehicle mats are becoming more popular, often taking the form of PVC alternatives, but rubber vehicle mats are still seen as the safest option.

Regulations

Car mats produced by original equipment manufacturers must follow stringent regulations in the US, especially due to recent recalls of Toyota car mats that posed safety hazards. Factors that are regulated include odour release, durability, performance in various heat levels, etc.

Safety systems are also increasingly common in rubber mats; for example an anti-slip bottom side and a heel pad for added safety and wear.

Market changes

Original equipment manufacturers are now starting to develop non-OEM channels to offer reduced cost vehicle mats and to expand their markets.

Recalls

On September 26, 2007, Toyota recalled 55,000 sets of heavy-duty rubber floor mats for the Toyota Camry and Lexus ES 350 sedans. The recalled mats were of the optional "all-weather" type. The NHTSA stated that the recall was due to the risk that unsecured mats could move forward and trap the gas pedal.

On August 28, 2009, a two-car collision killed four people riding in a Lexus dealer-provided loaner ES 350 in San Diego, California; the accident was caused by the Lexus' incorrectly having been fitted with all-weather rubber floor mats meant for the RX 400h SUV, and the fact that these mats were not secured by either of the two retaining clips. Additionally, the brake hardware showed signs of heavy braking consistent with a stuck accelerator pedal. The investigators' report stated that the accelerator pedal's hinge did not allow relieving of obstructions, and the dashboard lacked directions for the three-second emergency press of the push button keyless ignition. NHTSA investigators also recovered the accident vehicle's accelerator pedal, which was still "bonded" to the SUV floor mat.