The Toyota fracas

[Cire]

TOKYO (Reuters) -- Toyota Motor Corp. has issued a string of recalls that covers nearly 8 million vehicles worldwide for risks of unintended acceleration.

Here is a regional breakdown of the recalls caused by a faulty accelerator pedal, manufactured by U.S. supplier CTS Corp. to Toyota's specifications. The recalls could spread to the Middle East, South America and Africa.
The recalls, spanning eight models in the United States, Toyota's biggest market, include the top-selling Camry sedan.

• United States: 2.3 million vehicles

• Canada: 270,000 vehicles

• Europe: 1.8 million vehicles

• China: 75,552 vehicles
-awnews

[Cire]

But the Toyota owners are not responsive to this recalls.. even with some workshops working round the clock, Toyota have seen a lukewarm respond to its recalls to fix the accelerator pedal.
The longer it takes to repair this defect, the more it would bleed out in terms of operating cost, and high possibility of claims and suits..


LOS ANGELES -- Toyota Motor Corp., spurred by criticism that previous recalls failed to prompt enough owners to seek fixes, hopes to distribute mailings this week to the 2.3 million owners targeted in a January recall.
Toyota says it will be vigilant in reaching each of the affected customers and hopes to have all repairs done within 90 days.

[Cire]

It may also be the manifestation of the "big-company disease" that Toyota President Akio Toyoda has vowed to quash since taking the helm last June, aiming to restore the company's solid foundation that he said was lost during a decade of rapid global growth.

"Toyota is the new GM in terms of experiencing quality glitches, over-expansion and the proliferation of new product models," said Dennis Virag, president of Automotive Consulting Group.

"Toyota has been too aggressive and perhaps complacent in terms of focus on quality. They can't concentrate on the details with so many models."
- anews

[ycfoo]

VAG also move into this ... as we can see they also made lots of new model out very years... so don't fall into this big hooya

[Cire]

Each circumstance may vary, and drivers must use their best judgment, but Toyota recommends taking one of the following actions:

1)If you need to stop immediately, the vehicle can be controlled by stepping on the brake pedal with both feet using firm and steady pressure. Do not pump the brake pedal as it will deplete the vacuum utilized for the power brake assist.

2)Shift the transmission gear selector to the Neutral (N) position and use the brakes to make a controlled stop at the side of the road and turn off the engine. If unable to put the vehicle in Neutral, turn the engine OFF. This will not cause loss of steering or braking control, but the power assist to these systems will be lost.

3)If the vehicle is equipped with an Engine Start/Stop button, firmly and steadily push the button for at least three seconds to turn off the engine. Do NOT tap the Engine Start/Stop button.

4)If the vehicle is equipped with a conventional key-ignition, turn the ignition key to the ACC position to turn off the engine. Do NOT remove the key from the ignition as this will lock the steering wheel.

[Philmuscle]

What happens in a panic situation? A lot of drivers would panic and will be unable to think for a few seconds at least. It is during this time that accidents can happen. One has got to be really calm like a pilot or race car driver to be able to administer these moves. Best to have the problem fixed.

Hope Toyota sails out of the storm soon.

[Cire]

Well, apparently Toyota is sailing into another storm with its Prius now having faulty brakes.
Reports mentioned that the brakes were ineffective and has caused some accidents in both Japan and US.

Being pedal supplier denied any wrong doing, and Toyota being adamant that it was not their faults etc..it seems like the whole issue is worst than predicted.
Many more items are being micro-scope-ed on now by various consumer agencies, including insurance agencies which is now digging up files of accident claims involving Toyota cars.
In the land of the happening where claims and suits are a daily bread, Toyota looks like it is in the "perfect storm" now..

[Cire]

well, this is it folks .. the Prius is facing a recall..

"...facing fresh complaints about momentary brake slippage in its Prius hybrid, now plans to recall the car in about 60 countries, including the United States, a Japanese media report said. The Nikkei business daily last week said Toyota had decided to recall the Prius in the United States and Japan. Now Toyota is planning to extend the fix to some 60 countries.. anews.

[primus2211]

I wonder if Audi will issue a EURO 1,000 trade in rebate for Toyota owners to swap to any VAG cars? GM's having pretty good success with their scheme!

[Cire]

TOKYO (Reuters) -- Toyota Motor Corp. braced itself for further damage to its brand as a U.S. probe into power steering complaints in the Corolla heightened chances of another recall.
U.S. regulators launched a preliminary investigation today into reported power-steering problems with the second most popular car in the U.S. market, behind Toyota's Camry.
-anews



..looks like another blow heading this way...

[Cire]

Saylor was driving his wife, their 13-year-old daughter, and his brother-in-law on a family outing when their car "began to accelerate on its own" and sped out of control despite Saylor's attempts "to apply the brakes and otherwise do everything possible to stop" the car, the lawsuit says.

The car reached speeds of up to 120 miles per hour before it struck another vehicle, plowed through a fence, hit a berm and flew through the air, then rolled several times into a field and burst into flames.
Final moments:
The family's final moments before impact were captured in the recording of a frantic 911-emergency cell phone call placed by Saylor's brother-in-law, Christopher Lastrella, in which he is heard telling the dispatcher, "Our accelerator is stuck ... We're in trouble ... there is no brakes."
Others in the car are heard saying, "hold on" and "pray" as the call ended, the lawsuit said.
The suit names Toyota, its U.S. division and other corporate entities as defendants, along with the Lexus dealership where Saylor was given the doomed car as a "loaner vehicle" while his own Lexus was being serviced.

-anews

[Cire]

related to the above...

Earlier reports
The report also revealed that another driver who had been loaned the same car a few days earlier told investigators the vehicle raced out of control on him when the gas pedal jammed in the floor mat, which he managed to free after placing the gear shift into neutral.
He complained to a dealership receptionist when he returned the car, the receptionist told investigators she alerted the detail specialist on duty, but the detailer claimed never to have received such a complaint, the report said.

-anews

[Cire]

MORE than 5,000 cars in Singapore could be affected by Toyota Motor's latest recall of close to 1.6 million vehicles worldwide.
Following a string of similar ones in recent months, a fix is required for faulty engine oil hoses that could develop pinhole leaks with age.
If left unattended, the leaks could worsen and lead to engine damage.
Toyota models such as Sienna minivan, Harrier SUV, Estima MPV, Blade hatchback, Mark X Zio sedan and Vanguard Crossover,
and manufactured between 2005 and last year is affected.
Repairs on 45,000 vehicles in Japan have already been rolled out since October, said Toyota spokesman Ririko Takeuchi yesterday.
In Singapore, the bulk of affected vehicles are parallel imports.

[ycfoo]

that's why try not to buy gray import....

[Cire]

But then, in Sgp's situation in this case every cars' on the road there is imported. Probably why they singled out this parallel import is because the models brought in are not prepared for the local condition and usage. Certain hose and cooling system may not be acclimatised for the hot tropic weather here. Thus in this case, the higher possibility of pin-hole leakages in the pressurised hose.
But then the arguement is this. Why in the 1st.place that pin holes will appears in these hoses??? Bottom line = defects !