More Toyota Recalls: Corolla Electric Steering Problems now...

[Brock Samson]

 

8 million vehicles recalled from 12 model lines.

today they recalled the new  '10 Prius.

now this...

http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100209/RETAIL05/100209863/1290

[tan top]

thats a lot of cars being  re called  
  thats a big embarrassment for them
 bet the service departments are loving all this work ,  

[Arthu®]

It's odd, you know if this would happen to some of the western companies I wouldn't feel bad. It would almost be fun to see a couple of Germans wonder around at a press conference trying to explain the faults in their Germanish way. But whenever a Japanese manager needs to come up to the press to explain a problem it looks like he will commit suicide as soon as he comes home. They have made humbleness an art and every time they do something wrong they look like that small pup that has just ruined your shoe and it looks at you with the guilty eyes and you just can't get mad at them.

Arthur

[Mike DC]

Everyone is looking at these stories as if Toyota fell off the wagon. 

But that's not what I'm thinking.  I'm thinking something more like: "If a pillar of consistent quality like TOYOTA can't even make this stuff safe . . . " 





The auto industry can either stop trying to drive the whole goddamn car by-wire, or else they can look forward to a future of this stuff on a yearly basis. 

The airline industry can make fly-by-wire the standard thing.  But the auto industry is not the airline industry.  The auto industry doesn't have the trained vehicle operators, the expense invested per-vehicle, the system redundancy, the consistent maintinence schedules, nor the willingness to refrain from cutting corners. 

 

[squeakfinder]

Had an 84 Camry I just got rid of 3 months ago. It had 320,000 miles on it and still running strong. It's pretty sad to see this happening.

[Brock Samson]

 I've been following these Toyota stories doggedly since last Nov. It would appear the problems were hushed up about as long as could possibly be done, now the dam has burst with reports of several suppressed problems.
My feeling and it is just my opinion is that with the quest for industry domination R&D took a backseat to the quest to unseat GM and bottom line numbers.
As I recall the major magazines were warning about some of these issues two and three years ago.
Still yet to be resolved are the hybrid battery issues which will be cropping up shortly.
Scion hasn't yet been named but I know in Europe joint ventures between Renault and Toyota has led to these cars being recalled and of course the Joint venture here in the Bay area with the Pontiac Vibe in a soon to close NUMI plant is problematic with a few thousand folks are being laid off as we speak along with the parts suppliers.
of course the older Toyotas are pretty much immune from these problems.
Might be a good time to buy with their stock and inventory being devalued.
Personally I've all ways preferred Nissans over Toyotas which seem far more driver and enthusiast oriented.  
but I'd allways look for a Chrysler way before I'd buy anything else.
I'm not the typical car buyer by any means though...

[Silver R/T]

I say it's good time for Big 3 to get their crap together and take over while concurrent is down. We need to bring jobs back and stop depending on foreign products, including cars

[resq302]

I say it's good time for Big 3 to get their crap together and take over while concurrent is down. We need to bring jobs back and stop depending on foreign products, including cars

Silver,

I agree with you 100% but you know as well as I do, the Big 3 will never do something that smart.  Hell, look at that wonderful new dodge charger commercial during the superbowl.

[moparjohn]

As a devoted Chrysler fan, who has seen and put up with people, automotive press, and the most hated (IMO) consumer reports, bash Chrysler ever since I can remember (late 70's).   I am smiling watching the smug giant get some negative press. Sorry, I know they build "good" cars, but NEVER will I find myself in one.  Now toyata fans can defend their marque as I have mine.  Again I will dream of the America that celebrates the American car, like in the 50's and 60's, maybe this will open some eyes to the possibility of how much Detriot has changed, still not making new cars I would like, but more in tune with current demands. PLEASE! don't respond to my rant, I'm just enjoying the monent, let me have that. MPJ

[Silver R/T]

I say it's good time for Big 3 to get their crap together and take over while concurrent is down. We need to bring jobs back and stop depending on foreign products, including cars

Silver,

I agree with you 100% but you know as well as I do, the Big 3 will never do something that smart.  Hell, look at that wonderful new dodge charger commercial during the superbowl.
[/quo

I say it's good time for Big 3 to get their crap together and take over while concurrent is down. We need to bring jobs back and stop depending on foreign products, including cars

Silver,

I agree with you 100% but you know as well as I do, the Big 3 will never do something that smart.  Hell, look at that wonderful new dodge charger commercial during the superbowl.

I know...unfortunately everyone, starting with government has their head up their ass.

[chargergirl]

Sounds like they should stop buying Jaguar wiring harnesses...jk!

[resq302]

As a devoted Chrysler fan, who has seen and put up with people, automotive press, and the most hated (IMO) consumer reports, bash Chrysler ever since I can remember (late 70's).   I am smiling watching the smug giant get some negative press. Sorry, I know they build "good" cars, but NEVER will I find myself in one.  Now toyata fans can defend their marque as I have mine.  Again I will dream of the America that celebrates the American car, like in the 50's and 60's, maybe this will open some eyes to the possibility of how much Detriot has changed, still not making new cars I would like, but more in tune with current demands. PLEASE! don't respond to my rant, I'm just enjoying the monent, let me have that. MPJ

And you shall John.  For as, this is America, where we have the freedom of speech!   

[The70RT]

The old mechanical stuff worked fine. The rusty truck frame took it's toll first then went on a huge production spree when the big three were down. I'm sure more is to come. Now they have apologetic commercials. That still wont bring back the ones that lost their lives due to their shoddy craftsmanship.

[Silver R/T]

No offense but don't Americans build them Toyotas here, right on the U.S. soil? Sabotage? lol

[Ghoste]

They're built all over the world but that is beside the point.  Toyota has been one of the most ruthless about demanding their suppliers do it cheaper and cheaper all the time.  All of the automakers are guilty of that and sooner or later that strategy comes home to roost.  If it's designed or made by men it is subject to failure and for years now I've had to endure people telling me that Toyotas were the greatest cars on the planet and superior to everything else with wheels.  Turns out bad things can come from Japan too.  I am not happy about any injuries or deaths that have resulted from this but I can't say I feel the slightest sympathy for Toyota the corporation.

[Silver R/T]

I have to agree. Here at work they're doing these Japanese style events where they try to run company Japs would with "Lean" program and crap like that. You can only cut so much cost out of product before it's quality goes to shit. Toyota is good example. We've been supposedly saving money etc, but none of the employees have had any raises for the past 3 yrs or so.

[Belgium R/T -68]

I see 2 things to be the reason for this. First of all the culture and awarness in Japan is changing, in the past it was an honor for a Japanese
to work at one of the famous companys overthere. They were married moore or less to their company, their family was taken care of etc.
They worked moore or less like robots for a much smaller paycheck then we were used to but that has changed. The younger generation is
influenced by Europe and the US, they want the lifestyle we have and demands on sallary and workinghours gets higher.

Secondly, the competition in the carindustry is ofcourse also hitting the Japaneses, costreductions and improoved quality doesn't always walk
hand in hand.

I've been working for Volvo Cars for 28 years and been involved in several studies over "the Japanes wonder", "leanmanufacturing" or whatever
it has been called and according to my opinion we in the west has past them in many areas when it comes to those issues.

Same thing will happen in china, when the big mass overthere wants moore then the 250$ a month a worker on the assemblyline has today they
will also start to face big problems.

Per

[Sweet T]

Gentlemen (and Ladies) before we get nasty about the "Japan Car Company" and the recent deficiencies the media is exploiting into a God Damn Carnival remember these cars are built by your neighbours and family members.  This company is as much of an asset to the North American economy as any of the big 3.  Almost every vehicle is built on North American soil.  This includes almost every part being supplied by a North American supplier.  Jobs for us and our families.  Toyota has gotten where it is for producing quality.  If we are hearing this crap about Toyota now, just wait and see what you hear about your Big 3 next.......

[Arthu®]

That still wont bring back the ones that lost their lives due to their shoddy craftsmanship.

I only know of the incident with the Lexus where the floor mat jammed the throttle wide open. In which case they had the time to call 911 and talk to them for over a minute, a minute in which they could have done a lot of things that could have unstuck the throttle, take the car out of gear, or whatever. I wouldn't go as far as saying they deserved to die, but I do believe in a thing called natural selection. A stuck throttle is nothing serious, we have had an old Mini that would do that when ever its throttle position sensor would be too dirty, the Lada did it after it finally unfroze after months and for some reason got stuck in the full throttle position, you naturally take the car out of gear stop and look at why the throttle is jammed. Even my mom knew how to do that the first time it happened in the old Mini. This doesn't mean that there is not a problem with the Toyota cars, and I do believe they should be recalled, but we have come to a point where no one in society has any common sense anymore, we fully rely on other things and when they fail we tend to be helpless.

[Belgium R/T -68]

That still wont bring back the ones that lost their lives due to their shoddy craftsmanship.

I only know of the incident with the Lexus where the floor mat jammed the throttle wide open. In which case they had the time to call 911 and talk to them for over a minute, a minute in which they could have done a lot of things that could have unstuck the throttle, take the car out of gear, or whatever. I wouldn't go as far as saying they deserved to die, but I do believe in a thing called natural selection. A stuck throttle is nothing serious, we have had an old Mini that would do that when ever its throttle position sensor would be too dirty, the Lada did it after it finally unfroze after months and for some reason got stuck in the full throttle position, you naturally take the car out of gear stop and look at why the throttle is jammed. Even my mom knew how to do that the first time it happened in the old Mini. This doesn't mean that there is not a problem with the Toyota cars, and I do believe they should be recalled, but we have come to a point where no one in society has any common sense anymore, we fully rely on other things and when they fail we tend to be helpless.

Good point Arthur It's the same as blaming the GPS that you didn't find your way. We tend moore and moore to have to big trust in modern
stuff.

Per

[Ghoste]

If we are hearing this crap about Toyota now, just wait and see what you hear about your Big 3 next.......

The media has already been exploiting "my Big 3" for decades, I still am firmly of the opinion that I have absolutely no sympathy for Toyota whatsoever.

[The70RT]

People also fail to recognise most of the parts are made in Japan by well...Japanese. They are assembled here by low paid Americans.

[Troy]

I can tell you from personal experience that *at least* Toyota is doing something about the problems with the cars and trying to keep the customers happy/satisfied. Generally, it seems that the customer is the first to get royally screwed when the company needs to pinch pennies (especially in this economy). I see it happen almost every day.

My experience with my (newer) cars, warranties, and dealerships:
Toyota A+ (8 vehicles)
Chevy B
Nissan D (they at least try but stuff is still broken)
Dodge F- (I'm not sure my experiences could be any worse without involving an explosion or severe bodily injury of some sort)

Your experiences may differ of course. I'll probably be trying a Ford next but I haven't picked one yet.

Troy

[Brock Samson]

 The peddle assembly. is made in Canada - I don't know about the other parts, what amazes me is how they tried to blame the floor mats, one lady had a minor low speed accident where the car sped up and her mats were in the trunk.
but at some point we have to differentiate exactly which problem we're discussing because there seem to be at least five or six separate issues. The trucks seem to have a tie rod failure issue as well.

[Brock Samson]

 Well the Ford midsized fusion is getting pretty high marks Troy, their hybrid is superior according to the tests I've read.