Toyota execs deny cover-up after feds rebuke automaker over runaway car investigation

[plane]

Remember Toyota's massive 3.8 million unit unintended acceleration recall that was attributed to pesky floor mats? It appears defective floor mats doesn't tell the whole story, as the Department of Transportation and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration declared in a statement that "this (unintended acceleration) matter is not closed," adding "removal of the floor mats is simply an interim measure, not a remedy of the underlying defect in the vehicles."

Up to 2,000 Toyota customers claim to have experienced a sudden surge of acceleration, and some reportedly told ABC News that they didn't even have the recalled floor mats in their vehicles. Even more disturbing are the results of an ABC News investigation that reportedly found "hundreds" of accidents and up to 16 deaths as a result of unintended acceleration.

Article continues at link....

http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/06/r...npage_autoblog

[plane]

N.C. couple say their car sped, caught fire

BY GREG GARDNER
FREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITER


Note: See Photo above.
According to the owner, the floor mat was secured,
the floor mat could not interfere with the gas pedal
and the floor mat does not in any way resemble a cinder block.


Toyota Motor Corp.'s campaign to get customers to remove or replace floor mats, which the Japanese automaker is blaming for unintended acceleration cases, isn't convincing to some of its drivers, such as Grover and Barbara Walton.

More than 300 complaints have been filed with federal regulators about the problem, including at least six involving fatalities, and Toyota says the floor mats are to blame.

But that's not what the Waltons believe. The couple from Boiling Springs, N.C., were driving to Murrells Inlet, S.C., Oct. 9 when their 2008 Toyota Prius surged on a marshy four-lane highway.

It all started when, after slowing down through a small coastal town, Walton said he hit the resume-acceleration button on his cruise control.

"All of a sudden, we were flying and I hadn't touched the pedal," said Grover, a retired property manager.

He said he hit the brakes, which slowed the car. But when Walton released the brake pedal, he said his Prius surged again.

"Before my husband could safely get the car off the road, he had ridden the brakes so hard to avoid an accident that flames were coming from behind both front wheels where the brakes had caught fire,"

Article continues at link...

http://www.freep.com/article/2009110...yota-accidents

[hrcslam]

Originally Posted by plane

N.C. couple say their car sped, caught fire

BY GREG GARDNER
FREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITER


Note: See Photo above.
According to the owner, the floor mat was secured,
the floor mat could not interfere with the gas pedal
and the floor mat does not in any way resemble a cinder block.

Something is Phishy about the floor mat NOT resembling a brick. I think it phor sure does; if you close your eyes ingnore the picture and floor mat and imagine your on a beach phishing...........

[hrcslam]

At the beginning of the week, Toyota instituted a mass recall of floor mats entailing nearly 4 million vehicles. The recall is a response to reports of unintended acceleration and stuck accelerators, with the most notable case being an August crash that claimed the lives of a California Highway Patrol officer and three family members. Punctuating that accident: a frantic 911 call from a passenger in the careening vehicle and a subsequent public apology by Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda.

Toyota’s “all-clear” was a colossal PR blunder that blindsided the government agency who has final say on the safety of its cars. Now in damage control mode, Toyota VP Yukitoshi Funo has been compelled to state, “It is not part of Toyota’s culture and the Toyota way to cover up anything.”

Link to Full Article.

And the hits keep on coming. Ouch.

[84Cressida]

The move by that executive was dumb. No if's ands or but's about it.

[AMERICA 123]

Conservatively speaking a likely estimate is that at least three lawyers and at least three executive level managers reviewed that statement before it was put out.

Most definitely the top dog in the shadow management team would have read it first and at least one underling as well.

Furthermore, it basically reads like a collaborative effort between a lawyer and a spin doctor.

Or really , more like a legal 'team' and a Management 'team'.

Very cleverly constructed to

1. ) Mislead the public and the world at large -

- and

2. ) Provide - right at the margin I might add - enough plausible denial to avoid 'easy' legal complications.

- just like so many of TMS's statements do.


Long term all of this going to backfire on them in all ways possble - including legal but then again, character flawed people do tend to do desperate things in desperate situations.... they're never very smart .... or " effective " when its starts coming in hot and heavy - and with some usable accuracy.

Practically speaking they need to come 'enough' out of denial mode, pull back, regroup, and establish a usable defensive position - in that way they can still hide a bunch of stuff and limit the damage -


And another thing.

Over the last couple of years up to and including current events..... its been real " interesting " to watch Toyota and Internet Toyota 'boosters' throw their own -

1. Production line employees

2. ) Engineers

3. ) "Certain" Executive management employees

4. ) Suppliers

5. ) Lexus and Toyota Dealerships

6. ) Highly effective ( - for them ) former Legal Counsel

7. ) Customers

8. ) Major US Government Safety Agencies

- under the bus - as needed.

On that last, I can almost develop some 'pity' for any NHTSA employee who has been corrupted by them.

__________________

Well, the great news is now more people will be able to come forward and will want to do so and ...... all we need is one more person of conscious at Toyota to do just that and then .... " game over "

If you are a Toyota guy don't be saddened by any of this.

At best.... er..... or at worst depending on your point of view ( - see, all that sensitivity training can make a difference ) all the stuff 'like' this that they did from 1958 - 1998 is never going to see the light of day and probably the same for 1998 - 2002 ish.

Btw, you don't want to be the 'last man out' - and you sure as heck wouldn't want use Consumer Reports for anything but bird cage liner.

[Dana_15]

Originally Posted by AMERICA 123

Furthermore, it basically reads like a collaborative effort between a lawyer and a spin doctor.

Very cleverly constructed to

1. ) Mislead the public and the world at large -

- and

2. ) Provide - right at the margin I might add - enough plausible denial to avoid 'easy' legal complications.

I agree, if there actually is a problem you would think they would want to get to the bottom of it....guess not.

[Hunid Racks]

Originally Posted by Dana_15

I agree, if there actually is a problem you would think they would want to get to the bottom of it....guess not.

Actually is a problem?

You've got to be kidding.

Don't try to blame the lawyers.

Root cause the problem, the source. = Toyota

[Dana_15]

Originally Posted by Hunid Racks

Actually is a problem?

You've got to be kidding.

Don't try to blame the lawyers.

Root cause the problem, the source. = Toyota

**yawn**

Re-read.

[PhishPhood]

Originally Posted by hrcslam

Link to Full Article.

And the hits keep on coming. Ouch.

The idiots that went off half-cocked and in doing so blind-sided the NHTSA should get all the heat that comes down on them. Dumb and dumber.


Hint to idiots...STFU.

[jzchev28]

i'd like to dedicate this one to that wonderfull company toyota's reputation.
burn baby burn....disco inferno, burn baby burn....burn that mother down

[plane]

Originally Posted by Dana_15

**yawn**

Re-read.

If that's typical of your posts to come, please do not post in my threads.
Your proven lack of reading comprehension, your tendency to insult others, and your willingness to distort what is plainly written in the article are clearly inappropriate.

Thanks. You're awesome.

[Dana_15]

Originally Posted by plane

If that's typical of your posts to come, please do not post in my threads.
Your proven lack of reading comprehension, your tendency to insult others, and your willingness to distort what is plainly written in the article are clearly inappropriate.

Thanks. You're awesome.

First, they are not "your" threads, once you hit the "submit thread" button they are part of GMI.

Second, you are the one with a lack of reading comprehension. I didn't insult anyone in this thread nor did I distort what is written in this article.

Once again, re-read

[plane]

Originally Posted by Dana_15

First, they are not "your" threads, once you hit the "submit thread" button they are part of GMI.

Second, you are the one with a lack of reading comprehension. I didn't insult anyone in this thread nor did I distort what is written in this article.

Once again, re-read

[Dana_15]

^^Nice comeback, so you admit you are wrong, again. Come back with some facts to backup your BS claims.