Toyota To Recall 2.3 Million More Vehicles As Its Troubles Continue

[Purveyor]

The bad news just keeps rolling in for Toyota. Even with some $29.6 billion in cash (as of Sept. 30) the company can’t seem to buy a break. On Jan. 21, the company said it is voluntarily recalling 2.3 million Toyota brand vehicles to correct a sticking accelerator pedal. This recall is in addition to the 4.2 million Toyota and Lexus vehicles that are being recalled to correct problems with floor mats sticking on the accelerator, the company said in a statement. The recalls came amid claims from some vehicle owners that either floor mats or the accelerator pedals were causing the car to lurch forward unexpectedly, causing accidents.

Plaintiffs’ attorneys have already been lining up. But for Toyota, the bigger damage could be done in the court of public opinion. Even though problems with the recalled models are not common, according to Toyota’s statement, this is just the latest in a series of large and embarrassing recalls. For its part, Toyota explained in its press release that, “the condition is rare, but can occur when the pedal mechanism becomes worn and, in certain conditions, the accelerator pedal may become harder to depress, slower to return or, in the worst case, stuck in a partially depressed position. Toyota is working quickly to prepare the correction remedy.” Here is the list of cars being recalled: 2009-2010 RAV4, 2009-2010 Corolla, 2009-2010 Matrix, 2005-2010 Avalon, 2007-2010 Camry, 2010 Highlander, 2007-2010 Tundra, 2008-2010 Sequoia.

Toyota is voluntarily recalling those cars to head off major problems or potential accidents. The company is known for handling recalls well. But the more pressing problem for Toyota is that these recalls and quality snafus can threaten the company’s reputation for quality. That image for great reliability is the foundation of the company’s sales success. For all of its prowess, Toyota is simply not known for having great styling or grin-inducing performance. Toyotaphiles appreciate the company’s quality, engineering and fuel-efficient technology.

Quality was supposed to be a given. And when problems started to appear, Toyota vowed it would make quick amends. Back in July 2006, former Toyota President Katsuaki Watanabe bowed deeply in apology at a press conference, according to a report in the New York Times. The company launched an initiative to solve quality problems, examine customer service and look at costs. After Toyota’s headlong expansion in the ‘90s and most of this decade, it seems they had lost control of some of the basic principles that made it such a great company. Watanabe was trying to reaffirm the company’s commitment to quality.

http://www.businessweek.com/autos/autobeat/archives/2010/01/toyota_to_recal.html

[madrchsod]

1. toyota`s quality claims are suspect...

sludging engines,left tracking vehicles,bad suspension parts....today ford and gm are making better autos and trucks than honda and toyota.

[Atman]

4. A couple of years ago Consumer Reports stopped recommending Toyotas

They issued a statement a while back that they would no longer automatically give positive reviews to a car simply because it came from Toyota. They said the quality and reliability has deteriorated to the point where they start out at "zero" just like every other car, and have to earn a rec from there. The South Koreans are kicking Toyota's ass with their American-built Hyundais. Great cars, much less expensive, very reliable.

.

[lefthandedlefty]

8. My brother has 06 Hundai he bought new

He is not a happy camper although he hasn`t had any major trouble yet itonly has 50,000 miles on it the air bag light stays on and the interior is falling apart not to mention it hydro plane so bad they afraid to drive it in heavy rain.

[Atman]

10. We have an 06 Hyundai Elantra and an 07 Santa Fe

Hyundai admitted to the glitch with the Elantra air bag light when we bought the car. The relay from the pressure sensor on the passenger seat sometimes failed to turn the light off (which is very small and unobtrusive anyway), but they fixed it for us. Ours is great in snow and rain -- if you're hydroplaning that badly, maybe you should invest in some decent tires! We've had no issues at all with fit and finish. It's a great car. In fact, when we first got our five-door, most people thought thought it was a Saab 93.

We liked it enough to take advantage of the owner-loyalty discounts and rebates and purchased a new 07 AWD Santa Fe; excellent vehicle! Our friend bought his wife the Infiniti SUV (for $50,000) and was shocked when he first rode in our Santa Fe - it was so nice he was sorry he pissed away the extra $25,000 instead of just buying her a loaded Santa Fe.

Just sayin'. Results may vary -- but the fact remains, Elantra and Santa Fe are now on CU's top picks list. The 06 was a completely different car, from the drive-train up. Hyundai's not going backward like Toyota, they're constantly improving their products.

.

[WinkyDink]

14. Because of the rear passenger seat-belts.

[LWolf]

7. I can't speak for the rest, but my 3 small trucks

have, for 4 decades now, outperformed their American counterparts.

The '79 did 360K trouble-free miles before my youngest son bent the frame running it into a hill. The engine, 13 years later, is still operating equipment at a family member's boatyard. All without a single breakdown.

The '94 has 227K miles today and is still running great for that same son, who is now 30. It has had one new clutch and one new set of brakes, and has never let anyone down.

My '04 has 57K miles, and gets regular oil changes. Never a hitch, at any time, and I expect to get at least 300K without anything more than reasonable maintenance.

The same cannot be said for the American cars I drove over the same periods of time: the '72 Ford Pinto; the 2, because I loved them even if they were mechanically unsound, '69 Cougars; the '71 full-sized pickup; the 70s vintage Buick; and finally, the '91 Dodge Shadow.

Constant mechanical problems, most gave up the ghost by the time they hit about 80K miles, even after repeated rebuilds, replacements, etc..

Of course, it's been almost 2 decades since I bought, or drove, an American car. 2 decades of trouble-free, economical reliability.

If I could afford to buy a full-sized truck, though, I'd buy a Chevy or Dodge. If I were in the market for a passenger car, I'd try out the Ford hybrids and compare them to the honda and 'yota hybrids. I'd give them a chance.

I don't expect to be in the market for many years to come, though.

[Atman]

9. Uh, your response is more full of holes than a rusted Pinto fender...

First of all, the troubles are with NEW Toyotas, yet you tell us how great your '79, '94 and '04 models were (you also failed to mention whether these were heavy-duty trucks or passenger cars).

Then you go on say "The same cannot be said for the American cars I drove over the same periods of time" and proceed to list cars from '69, '70, '71, '72 and '91 models, half of them well-known as being throw-away entry-level cars (a Pinto and a Shadow compared to a decade-newer Toyota? Puh-leeze).

Your experiences of twenty years ago have little bearing on the discussion of new Toyotas OR American cars.

.

[LWolf]

21. "3 small trucks" is pretty indicative, wouldn't you say?

The '79 and '94 were before the Tacoma. Small, as in "light duty." 4 cylinder, manual transmissions.

The '04 is only 5 years old; I still consider it my "new" truck, lol.

And yes, they outlasted the family cars. Those from the 70s, and those from the 90s. The '79, one of the Cougars, and the Shadow were purchased new. The others were purchased used. We can't always afford to buy brand new.

Since I now live alone, I don't have, or need, 2 vehicles, so don't have a newer than 90s car to compare them to.

And my experience is over the last 4 decades, including this one, not just from 20 years ago.

I guess this discussion is only for those who can afford a new car every 3 years. :sarcasm:

[SmileyRose]

12. 227K miles on 2 sets of brake pads???

I call bullshit.

Sorry.

[LWolf]

17. Truth.

I bought it brand new, and handed it over with 215K. My son lives about 8 miles away. He hasn't put new brakes on it since I did.

I'm confident that I know more about my old truck than you do.

It helps that the first 150K were predominantly highway miles, of course.

[madrchsod]

19. most japanese 4 cylinders will run forever

the bodies just rust away...

[LWolf]

20. None of the 3 rusted away.

:shrug:

[madrchsod]

22. rust belt...tons of salt every year...

the japanese trucks from the early years basically melted away. when the steel rusted it looked like layers of tin cans

[LWolf]

23. I must not live in the rust belt.

The '79? Southern California. The '94? So cal and Oregon; same for the '04.

[Atman]

2. It is an amazing coicidence that they designed bad floor mats in every one of these vehicles

Toyota's troubles come from the fact that they're acting like old school American car companies and attempting to deny a problem instead of simply fixing it. Does anyone really still believe this is just an issue with FLOOR MATS? Why not just recall the floor mats and send some with a bigger cutout around the pedal? I use to love the Corolla, but I don't think you could get me to buy another Toyota product.

.

[WinkyDink]

15. They are recalling because of the gas pedals. People are told to remove any floor mats not standard.

[Brickbat]

3. Are these the cars made in the factories that run on unicorn farts, or the ones where the workers

forgo paychecks because it's just that awesome to work for Toyota?

[SmileyRose]

5. Why yes -- yes, I believe so.

The only reason Toyota has more recalls than any other brand is because Toyota workers just have a desperate aching need to bring the cars back in and give them a good hug.

[Brickbat]

11. You just made my freaking day.

Oh em gee, I'm still going "snerk!"

[lefthandedlefty]

6. Read this the other day

Most people posting in the discussion were actually blaming Obama and the dem`s for the recall.They said YoYo has never made a bad product and that the dem`s were just picking on them so they would have to raise prices.

[Purveyor]

16. Little surprises me anymore... eom

[WinkyDink]

13. One of those Camrys is mine. Just great.

[SmileyRose]

18. 29.6 Billion in cash thanks to the Japanese government bailout money

[bluecollarcharlie]

24. I knew the conspiracy nuts would slither up out of the ground.

The theory they will use is that since the government owns part of GM and Chrysler the government FORCED Toyota to do this massive recall. WHAT A SACK OF BULLSHIT!!

Toyota knew of these problems since 2002! For eight years they knew! They have sent TSBs to dealers telling them to re-flash the PCMs in these cars. Since then how many people have died? I tell you if you believe floor-mats are the problem or accelerator pads are the problem then you are completely gullible or just totally freakin' nuts! You give Toyota a pass for "saving the planet" with the Prius and yet wont call them out for depopulating the planet by having the cars kill the drivers/owners. What a bunch of Golgafrinchans!(Look it up on Wikipeadia. I ain't got time to explain! But i'll help you by saying "useless third".)

[bluecollarcharlie]

25. I knew the conspiracy nuts would slither up out of the ground.

The theory they will use is that since the government owns part of GM and Chrysler the government FORCED Toyota to do this massive recall. WHAT A SACK OF BULLSHIT!!

Toyota knew of these problems since 2002! For eight years they knew! They have sent TSBs to dealers telling them to re-flash the PCMs in these cars. Since then how many people have died? I tell you if you believe floor-mats are the problem or accelerator pads are the problem then you are completely gullible or just totally freakin' nuts! You give Toyota a pass for "saving the planet" with the Prius and yet wont call them out for depopulating the planet by having the cars kill the drivers/owners. What a bunch of Golgafrinchans!(Look it up on Wikipeadia. I ain't got time to explain! But i'll help you by saying "useless third".)