Toyota's image under scrutiny

plane · Nov 22, 2009

Safety advocates say acceleration issue may not be easy fix

For years, Toyota Motor Corp. has investigated complaints from drivers saying their Toyota and Lexus vehicles accelerated all by themselves, and the company has identified essentially one cause. The trouble, according to Toyota, occurs when loose or ill-fitting floor mats, carpet covers or detached trim jam the gas pedal.

But after a highly publicized crash in August that killed four people when the driver lost control of a Lexus sedan, Toyota has come under intense pressure to reduce the risk of unintended acceleration.

The Japanese automaker and U.S. safety regulators are discussing changes to the gas pedal, as well as adjustments that would make it easier to stop a car that's accelerating, according to sources familiar with the negotiations. The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says 15 fatalities, including the four in August, are linked to hundreds of reports of unintended acceleration of Toyotas it has received since 2002.

While that's a fraction of the casualties associated with some high-profile vehicle-safety cases, such as the Ford-Firestone debacle, the issue is deeply worrying to U.S. safety officials and could be very damaging to Toyota.

It has generated more bad publicity for the automaker, which has been stumbling through a series of misfortunes, including financial losses. Toyota also faces mounting skepticism about its response. Some drivers say they couldn't slow down or stop when they applied the brakes.

Article continues at link.....

http://www.detnews.com/article/20091120/AUTO01/911200383/1148/auto01/Toyota-s-image-under-scrutiny

plane · Nov 22, 2009

Safety officials have investigated hundreds of Toyota complaints

U.S. safety regulators have looked into hundreds of reports of uncontrolled acceleration in Toyota and Lexus vehicles over more than five years. The complaints vary from sudden engine bursts that can be controlled by applying the brakes, to unintended acceleration that persists despite the driver's effort to slow the vehicle.

The reports are linked to 15 fatalities, including four people killed in a 2009 Lexus ES 350 that crashed on Aug. 28 after its driver was unable to slow the car, according to the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration.

Article continues at link....

http://www.detnews.com/article/2009...85/1148/auto01/Safety-officials-have-investigated-hundreds-of-Toyota-complaints

fp115 · Nov 22, 2009

WOW the cab flew off the frame??

Mustapha Mond · Nov 22, 2009

Yep that's a shame.

PhishPhood · Nov 22, 2009

This is a summary of the oldest of old news. To the DetNews writer...BTW..didja know that Audi was investigated for this very same alleged defect. It occured in the 1980's. Now there's a cold case that needs to be reinvestigated.

400+ cases of alleged unintended acceleration have been closed by these very same safety officials. Welcome to 2008, Rip. At least the DetNews writer got the facts straight.

400 owners can be wrong: NHTSA closes Tacoma unintended acceleration investigation

http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/03/400-owners-em-can-em-be-wrong-nhtsa-closes-tacoma-unintended/

AMERICA 123 · Nov 23, 2009

plane · Nov 22, 2009

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/toyota-dismisses-unintended-acceleration-claims/

AMERICA 123 · Nov 22, 2009

You are correct in a limited sense but not in an overall sense.

In this problem area - if something comes up......a 5vz conventional throttle body equipped Tacoma is more often typically associated with Sudden Unintended Deceleration due to catastrophic engine failure.

However, if memory serves me correctly , these products from a certain point forward do have a higher than average complaint rate about SUAV although not at the same level as the electronic throttle body equipped production.

Is it significantly higher ? Can't remember - but it can be looked up.

May be of value in a different way.

Many of the SUAV Tacoma stories irrespective of year have the feel of being more cruise control related - somehow.

___________________

Back on thread topic ie 'Image'

Up in Canada -

Canadians left in the dark on car mat danger

November 19, 2009

Tony Van Alphen

Toyota is recalling 3.8 million U.S. cars with floor mats that can cause accelerator pedals to stick.

Toyota began sending letters to millions of U.S. customers three weeks ago warning them about the danger of loose floor mats interfering with accelerator pedals, but the company hasn't yet personally notified thousands of vehicle owners in Canada.

An official for Toyota Canada Inc. said Wednesday that the automaker expects to inform owners of several specific models by letter soon after a review with Transport Canada is completed.

The company would not disclose the number of affected vehicles, but Transport Canada says it is about 200,000 Toyota and luxury Lexus models.

"We're currently conducting a review but a customer notification and the issuing of a letter is not far off," said Sandy Di Felice, the company's director of external affairs.

"We've fulfilled all our legal obligations and done more."

But the Automobile Protection Association, which represents motorist interests, said while complaints about the problem are much lower here – even on a per-capita basis – than in the United States, Toyota Canada should still have sent letters like its American counterparts to properly warn all customers.

"They should have done it as a precautionary measure and followed up again later after finding out the cause and resolution," association president George Iny said.

"We're also not convinced that the issue is only one of mats on the listed vehicles. It may be more complicated than that."

Toyota Canada issued an "alert" on its website in late September warning customers about potential problems.

Some dealers sent notices to customers while others currently check cars for any accelerator or mat problems during regular servicing and repair work.

"We have responded responsibly and proactively," Di Felice said. "We also haven't found the situation here is the same as in the U.S."

Toyota, which won't disclose complaint or incident numbers, issued a notice to Transport Canada on Oct. 7 about a possible problem and the government is looking into the issue.

Under the law, Toyota must issue letters within 60 days of filing the notice and Di Felice indicated the company would comply.

Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. said it started mailing letters to 3.8 million Toyota and Lexus owners south of the border on Oct. 30 about a possible problem and defect on some models.

The company disclosed that an unsecured or incompatible floor mat on the driver's side could interfere with the accelerator pedal and cause it to get stuck in a wide-open position.

As an interim precaution, Toyota asked U.S. owners to take out any removable driver's floor mats and not replace them until a "vehicle-based remedy" could be developed and implemented. The company said it would inform them again when it finds a solution.

Toyota U.S.A. also provided a series of instructions in the letter on what drivers should do if they run into "unwanted acceleration."

Toyota Canada offered similar instructions and information including possible dangers on its website here. -

http://www.thestar.com/business/article/727797--canadians-left-in-the-dark-on-car-mat-danger

If Canadians are experiencing this at a lower rate then that could possibly be a clue as to whats really going on down here.

Average ambient air temps ? Earth's magnetic field ? ????? Different software and or hardware ? - the possibilities for consideration are large.

One would think that would also call into question the blanket assertions of all the various floormat explanations - even the pedal floorpan etc speculation - down here but you have to look at what Canadians actually do differently and virtually everything else like that before anything could be said - either way.

KITT222 · Nov 22, 2009

Play the'ol bagpipes, cuz Toyota's repution is DEAD. They know that. Thats why they were complaining to the IIHS. They're just a bunch of efficient, ugly, deadly, econoboxes that are stuck in a "could've, should've, would've" situation. In the meantime, until I buy my car, I have to learn to drive in a Corolla because my dads fiance deciding to sell her Durango, and get an econobox four years ago.

84Cressida · Nov 22, 2009

"hopes to drive in 2010: Aveo or Vibe"

Hmm..so you rag on Toyota for "efficent" (god forbid), "ugly", "deadly", "econoboxes", yet want to own a Daewoo POS or another Toyota?

plane · Nov 22, 2009

I've got the perfect solution.
Instead of throwing your childish tantrums in these threads,
either respond with facts or don't post.

It really is that simple.

84Cressida · Nov 22, 2009

Talking to yourself is not good, dude. I'd definitely get that checked out.

plane · Nov 22, 2009

Nancy,

That last post was all for you.
Either post facts or don't post.
By all means,
You could even start your own thread.

Show us the detailed examination of the facts.
Barrage us with the facts.
Hurt us with the facts.

By all means, do so.

Stéphane Dumas · Nov 26, 2009

Slightly off-topic, a rumor about job cuts and a denied shift of Toyota's California's offices from California to Michigan or Kentucky. http://www.detnews.com/article/2009...20091124/AUTO01/911240396/1361/Toyota-eyes-cost-cuts--not-shift-from-California
http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/25/report-toyota-mulling-pulling-resources-out-of-ca-heading-for

Someone at Autoblog mentionned it's a risky move and didn't learned from Nissan's move? (Come to think of it, if Honda decide to move as well, it'll happen before the Cubs will win the World series again)

Toyota's image under scrutiny

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