Consumer Reports Bias and Toyota problems

[steve333]

I don't have a direct link because this is from an article from New York's Newsday Newspaper (May 21) , but I think it deserves a read.

The article is a one page blurb titled "Quality problems Beset Toyota's top-tier Avalon".

Basically the article discusses the problems owners are having with the Avalon and how these customers are getting the runaround from Toyota. Most interviewed said they would never buy another Toyota again.

There are two incredible quotes in this article-one being someone from CR basically giving an excuse for Toyota, a company she does not work for (isn't CR supposed to be independent and consumer oriented?). Here is the quote:

Anita Lam, data program manager for Consumer Reports' auto test center, said problems with the Avalon cropped up in steering, suspension and body integrity. " These are first-year teething problems," she said. "We anticipate the second model year will be much better".

Teething problems? Steering, suspension, etc? If this were happening to a Chevy, anyone here think she would shrug it off? And she is the Amazing Kreskin, confidentally predicting all the problems will be fixed. She sounds like a Toyota Rep! Absolutely disgraceful and unprofessional if you ask me.

The second quote is really amazing. This comes from a Toyota spokesman about the problems the Avalon is having:

Toyota spokesman John Hanson called the Consumer Reports ratings "the sum of small irritations more than anything else".
"The Avalon is the most complex vehicle Toyota Division sells," he said, "so just by definition it's a problematic vehicle."

I kid you not, that is what he said. Two of the most idiotic statements a rep can say. First, that the massive problems the Avalon is having is minor, and second, that since the car isn't a Yaris, its supposed to have problems!
This guy is the spokesman. Maybe they should have Consumer Reports be their official spokesman!

I see quite an opportunity here for GM to exploit, if they are smart about it.
In the meantime, start firing off emails to CR and let them know what we think of their 'unbiased' reporting.

[sgfootball2006]

very internesting. I cant find it anywhere on the internet. Maybe somebody else will have somne luck

[FStephenMasek]

Any GM, Ford and Chrysler dealer which has not made sure that their sales people are fully briefed on the problems with the Avalon does not deserve to have a franchise. It is a wonderful opportunity, especially since the Avalon, Camry, and Lexus ES350 are all the same basic car, although the problematic 5-speed automatic is unique to the Avalon (and will probably be replaced in the 2007 Avalon with the 6-speed unit now in the 2007 Camry and 2007 ES350). The Avalon problems and the reports of fit and finish problems on the 2007 Camry discussed elsewhere on these forumns are all fair game for competitors to exploit. The real problem is getting the people into a GM, Ford, or Chrysler dealership, and some national advertising to inform people about the much improved quality of American brands is sorely needed.

[sgfootball2006]

http://www.cars.com/go/news/Story.js...=&aff=national
Found a link to the story

[86fleet]

The question is how many people will replace their faulty Avalons with an American car, not just another import.

[CRBoyd91]

Originally Posted by 86fleet

The question is how many people will replace their faulty Avalons with an American car, not just another import.

We'll probably see more Accords and Euro cars running around from this, not Lucernes.

[steve333]

Originally Posted by sgfootball2006

http://www.cars.com/go/news/Story.js...=&aff=national
Found a link to the story

Thank you.
I love this comment:
Said Seider: "I am so disappointed in Toyota. I've had previous first-year vehicles, but nothing like this ever happened. Toyota's build quality has declined in recent years, and there seems to be nothing the dealer can do. Toyota has reached a size that they've lost sight of the individual customer."

This is front page news

[sgfootball2006]

Originally Posted by steve333

Thank you.
I love this comment:
Said Seider: "I am so disappointed in Toyota. I've had previous first-year vehicles, but nothing like this ever happened. Toyota's build quality has declined in recent years, and there seems to be nothing the dealer can do. Toyota has reached a size that they've lost sight of the individual customer."

This is front page news

If only every newspaper in the united states and all the news stations would air this story now!!!

[mbukukanyau]

How dare you post an article attacking holy toyota :sarcasm:

[uboys]

Originally Posted by CRBoyd91

We'll probably see more Accords and Euro cars running around from this, not Lucernes.

That's the sad truth.

[osv_alero]

I just test drove a new toyota camry this weekend, and it had 3 rattles already. The salesperson got mad at me when I mentioned of such. He stated, "And this coming from someone who drives a Chevy". I responded with, "My 35,000 mile Chevy as NO rattles, and one of our last Chevys lasted over 300,000 miles with the original equipment". He shut up from there.

[grumbles]

Originally Posted by osv_alero

I just test drove a new toyota camry this weekend, and it had 3 rattles already. The salesperson got mad at me when I mentioned of such. He stated, "And this coming from someone who drives a Chevy". I responded with, "My 35,000 mile Chevy as NO rattles, and one of our last Chevys lasted over 300,000 miles with the original equipment". He shut up from there.

Nobody on TN has ever complained of rattles.

This aside, there was already a thread here about this. Not this specific article, but the quotes and such are exactly the same. I'm sure someone can dig it up.

[uboys]

Originally Posted by osv_alero

I just test drove a new toyota camry this weekend, and it had 3 rattles already. The salesperson got mad at me when I mentioned of such. He stated, "And this coming from someone who drives a Chevy". I responded with, "My 35,000 mile Chevy as NO rattles, and one of our last Chevys lasted over 300,000 miles with the original equipment". He shut up from there.

He gave you lip? Is this common in dealerships near you? What a snide remark!

[Stéphane Dumas]

Originally Posted by CRBoyd91

We'll probably see more Accords and Euro cars running around from this, not Lucernes.

or more 300/Charger I wonder what these folks will do if the next-gen Accord will be plagged with rattles and all the same plagues as the Avalon have currently? (this day might happen more sooner then the day the Toronto Maple Leafs first win of the Stanley cup since 1967)

[FStephenMasek]

It is just the right time for GM and Ford to be coming out with so may brand new vehicles, many with brand new names. People may remember that some [insert old name of your choice] they owned or somebody they knew owned was a problem in the past, but the new names will not have any such bad memories attached to them.

It takes time, but knowledge of the improved reliability of American brands is spreading by word of mouth. For example, my present vehicle, a 2005 Malibu Maxx, has just gone over 30,000 miles with just one minor problem - the bad vanity mirror covers on the sun visors which were recalled. I don't like the seats, but them may be fine for other people. My previous vehicle, a 2002 Mercury Mountaineer, had a few initial defects quickly corrected under warranty (differential, spot in paint on a door, and pinched fuel vent hose). After that, just one $25 idler pulley failed in 98,000 miles. It was recalled for replacement of the rear window hinges, but they worked fine, and I used them almost every day, so I did not think the recall was necessary.