Shirking Recalls: Toyota Officials Probed in alleged Criminal Negligence

FordMan · 07-11-2006, 11:01 AM

3 Toyota officials probed in alleged recall negligence
Yuri Ageyama / Associated Press

TOKYO -- Three Toyota officials are under a criminal investigation on suspicion of professional negligence for allegedly shirking recalls for eight years and not fixing a defect that may have caused an accident, police said Tuesday.

Toyota Motor Corp. denied the officials had engaged in any wrongdoing. The automaker said in a statement it was cooperating fully with the investigation.

Kumamoto police in southern Japan filed papers to prosecutors Tuesday, a police spokesman said. Accused are three Toyota officials, ages 62, 58 and 55, who oversee quality control at the automaker, he said.

Their names have not been disclosed. Toyota said at least one of the officials had left the company, although reasons for the departure were unclear.

Five people were injured on Aug. 12, 2004, in Kumamoto in a head-on crash when steering failed in a Toyota Hilux Surf sport utility vehicle, causing it to swing out of control into the wrong lane. One person in the other vehicle suffered injuries requiring 52 days of treatment, while four suffered more minor injuries, police said.

(The Hilux Surf is sold outside Japan, primarily in the USA as the Toyota 4Runner.)

Toyota said a recall was carried out in October 2004 for 330,000 Hilux Surf vehicles manufactured between December 1988 and May 1996. The recall was for a problem part used in the steering system that could break, according to Toyota.

Toyota said the vehicle involved in the accident was manufactured in 1993.

Toyota had received five reports of problems with the steering by 1996, but the problems were limited to repeatedly turning the wheel during parking, and no recall was made then, it said. After additional problems were reported in 2004, Toyota carried our another investigation and decided to carry out a recall.

The model affected by the 2004 recall, totaling 1.2 million vehicles, was sold in 180 nations abroad including the U.S. and Europe, and a recall was carried out in September 2005, according to Toyota. Eighteen cases of problems were reported from overseas, but there were no accidents or injuries, it said.

A Toyota official, speaking on condition of anonymity, quoted police as saying that reports about problems began in 1992, and company officials are accused of being aware of them as early as 1995 or 1996.

The automaker, based in Toyota city, central Japan, said it will continue to make quality a priority.

"We will continue to strengthen quality control under our belief that we must put the customer first and make quality No. 1," Toyota said in the statement.

Toyota has been reporting booming sales in recent years and is growing so rapidly some analysts expect it to overtake struggling General Motors Corp. of the U.S. as the world's biggest automaker in coming years.

But Toyota, known worldwide for impeccable quality, has suffered somewhat of an image problem lately because its number of recalls has soared, raising doubts whether the automaker can continue to maintain quality standards as it embarks on the next step of global expansion.

http://detroitnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll...DATE/607110420

**GMCSonoma** · 07-11-2006, 11:03 AM

Proof that GM & the domestics aren't the only ones with Swiss cheese!

SigEpCutlass · 07-11-2006, 11:05 AM

BINGO! This one needs to be front page Admins!

mbukukanyau · 07-11-2006, 11:16 AM

I knew it..
Its all too good to be true

tgagneguam · 07-11-2006, 11:23 AM

America's trial lawyers are drooling as we "speak."

MNdudeswitz · 07-11-2006, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tgagneguam

America's trial lawyers are drooling as we "speak."

I hate trial lawyers!

kenman923 · 07-11-2006, 11:46 AM

Goes to show that domestic vehicles aren't the only ones with problems.

betron02 · 07-11-2006, 11:59 AM

Poor Toyota

chevydlrmn · 07-11-2006, 11:59 AM

too bad this probably won't be published in any other paper.

New_Mexico_Sunset_on_Rt66 · 07-11-2006, 12:00 PM

I wanna see this on the front page of MSNBC.com and CNN.com!

Psionic Wibbly · 07-11-2006, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tgagneguam

America's trial lawyers are drooling as we "speak."

and what would they try toyota for? the deaths took place in japan.

PositiveAboutGM · 07-11-2006, 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Psionic Wibbly

and what would they try toyota for? the deaths took place in japan.

Then let's start exporting lawyers.

FordMan · 07-11-2006, 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by New_Mexico_Sunset_on_Rt66

I wanna see this on the front page of MSNBC.com and CNN.com!

That'll be the day.

CADILLACSIXTEEN · 07-11-2006, 12:26 PM

Seriously, GM needs to hire people to get this information out to the public

Stéphane Dumas · 07-11-2006, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CADILLACSIXTEEN

Seriously, GM needs to hire people to get this information out to the public

At least let's hope then Autoextremist won't miss this one

07-11-2006, 11:01 AM	#1 (permalink)
FordMan 3.6 Liter V6 Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 1,197	Shirking Recalls: Toyota Officials Probed in alleged Criminal Negligence 3 Toyota officials probed in alleged recall negligence Yuri Ageyama / Associated Press TOKYO -- Three Toyota officials are under a criminal investigation on suspicion of professional negligence for allegedly shirking recalls for eight years and not fixing a defect that may have caused an accident, police said Tuesday. Toyota Motor Corp. denied the officials had engaged in any wrongdoing. The automaker said in a statement it was cooperating fully with the investigation. Kumamoto police in southern Japan filed papers to prosecutors Tuesday, a police spokesman said. Accused are three Toyota officials, ages 62, 58 and 55, who oversee quality control at the automaker, he said. Their names have not been disclosed. Toyota said at least one of the officials had left the company, although reasons for the departure were unclear. Five people were injured on Aug. 12, 2004, in Kumamoto in a head-on crash when steering failed in a Toyota Hilux Surf sport utility vehicle, causing it to swing out of control into the wrong lane. One person in the other vehicle suffered injuries requiring 52 days of treatment, while four suffered more minor injuries, police said. (The Hilux Surf is sold outside Japan, primarily in the USA as the Toyota 4Runner.) Toyota said a recall was carried out in October 2004 for 330,000 Hilux Surf vehicles manufactured between December 1988 and May 1996. The recall was for a problem part used in the steering system that could break, according to Toyota. Toyota said the vehicle involved in the accident was manufactured in 1993. Toyota had received five reports of problems with the steering by 1996, but the problems were limited to repeatedly turning the wheel during parking, and no recall was made then, it said. After additional problems were reported in 2004, Toyota carried our another investigation and decided to carry out a recall. The model affected by the 2004 recall, totaling 1.2 million vehicles, was sold in 180 nations abroad including the U.S. and Europe, and a recall was carried out in September 2005, according to Toyota. Eighteen cases of problems were reported from overseas, but there were no accidents or injuries, it said. A Toyota official, speaking on condition of anonymity, quoted police as saying that reports about problems began in 1992, and company officials are accused of being aware of them as early as 1995 or 1996. The automaker, based in Toyota city, central Japan, said it will continue to make quality a priority. "We will continue to strengthen quality control under our belief that we must put the customer first and make quality No. 1," Toyota said in the statement. Toyota has been reporting booming sales in recent years and is growing so rapidly some analysts expect it to overtake struggling General Motors Corp. of the U.S. as the world's biggest automaker in coming years. But Toyota, known worldwide for impeccable quality, has suffered somewhat of an image problem lately because its number of recalls has soared, raising doubts whether the automaker can continue to maintain quality standards as it embarks on the next step of global expansion. http://detroitnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll...DATE/607110420 __________________ Last edited by Ming : 07-11-2006 at 11:43 AM.

07-11-2006, 11:03 AM	#2 (permalink)
GMCSonoma GMI Fixed Ops Contributor Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 8,928	Re: Toyota's alleged recall negligence Proof that GM & the domestics aren't the only ones with Swiss cheese! __________________ certified GM Dealer Parts Manager since 1994 GM Dealer Parts employee since 1987 AMC-Jeep-Renault Dealer Parts employee 1987-90 holder of many GM accredations, too numerous to list and not giving a damn!

07-11-2006, 11:05 AM	#3 (permalink)
SigEpCutlass 3.8 Liter V6 Join Date: May 2006 Location: Park Ridge, IL Drives: 1994 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme SL Posts: 497	Re: Toyota's alleged recall negligence BINGO! This one needs to be front page Admins! __________________ - Mike K. Current: 1994 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme SL 4AT - Mine 2000 Subaru Outback AWD 5MT - Mine 2004 Mazda Mazda6s 5AT - Wife's Future: 2010/2011 Chevy Camaro Z28 (6spd manual - Yellow w/ Black racing stripes - Black leather interior ) "I don't view Toyota as an insurmountable obstacle that GM can't vanquish." - Bob Lutz

07-11-2006, 11:16 AM	#4 (permalink)
mbukukanyau 7.0 Liter LS7 V8 Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: In front of my computer Drives: 2006 HHR 2002 Corolla-Before I saw the light Posts: 8,051	Re: Toyota's alleged recall negligence I knew it.. Its all too good to be true

07-11-2006, 11:23 AM	#5 (permalink)
tgagneguam 7.0 Liter LS7 V8 Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 6,936	Re: Toyota's alleged recall negligence America's trial lawyers are drooling as we "speak."

Remove Advertisements Sponsored Links
GM Inside News Forum Advertisement

07-11-2006, 11:46 AM	#7 (permalink)
kenman923 6.2 Liter Vortec V8 Join Date: Feb 2005 Drives: 2009 Acura TSX Posts: 2,632	Re: Shirking Recalls: Toyota Officials Probed in alleged Criminal Negligence Goes to show that domestic vehicles aren't the only ones with problems. __________________ Current: 2009 Acura TSX Gone but not forgotten: 2001 Saturn L300 1993 Saturn SL2 1986 Nissan Sentra

07-11-2006, 11:59 AM	#8 (permalink)
betron02 3.8 Liter V6 Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Addison, IL Drives: 2002 F-150 CrewCab 2007 Hummer H3x Posts: 397	Re: Shirking Recalls: Toyota Officials Probed in alleged Criminal Negligence Poor Toyota

07-11-2006, 11:59 AM	#9 (permalink)
chevydlrmn 3.9 Liter V6 Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Minneapolis Drives: 2006 CK15753 LQ9 2007 1WL27 LS4 Posts: 840	Re: Shirking Recalls: Toyota Officials Probed in alleged Criminal Negligence too bad this probably won't be published in any other paper.

07-11-2006, 12:00 PM	#10 (permalink)
New_Mexico_Sunset_on_Rt66 7.0 Liter LS7 V8 Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Cedar Rapids, IA (formerly sunny New Mexico (y muchacho lo falto)) Drives: '02 Corvette Z06, '01 Silverado LT 4x4 Ext Cab, 19 Posts: 5,674	Re: Shirking Recalls: Toyota Officials Probed in alleged Criminal Negligence I wanna see this on the front page of MSNBC.com and CNN.com! __________________ 1979 Chevy Van 1978 Pontiac Firebird 1985 GMC S-15 Jimmy 1992 Pontiac Grand Am 1998 Oldmobile Intrigue 2002 Chevrolet Camaro Z-28 1972 Chevrolet C-10 P/U 1979 Chevrolet K5 Blazer 2002 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 2001 Chevrolet Silverado LT 4x4 Ext Cab "Sometimes you gotta say, 'What the *******'. "What the ******* gives you freedom, freedom creates opportunity, ... opportunity - makes your future." - 'Risky Business' 1983

07-11-2006, 12:26 PM	#14 (permalink)
CADILLACSIXTEEN 5.3 Liter Vortec V8 Join Date: Jul 2005 Drives: 2006 Fusion Orange Metallic Pontiac G6 GTP Coupe Posts: 1,399	Re: Shirking Recalls: Toyota Officials Probed in alleged Criminal Negligence Seriously, GM needs to hire people to get this information out to the public __________________

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode