primitives discuss Toyotas

[franksolich]

http://demopedia.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x7560902

Oh my.

I'm still staying away from the Brown campfires, the Supreme Court campfires, the Err America campfires, the il Duce Bo campfires, on Skins's island because they hurt my brain.

For a refreshing change of pace:

Purveyor  (1000+ posts)        Sun Jan-24-10 02:58 PM
Original message
 
Toyota To Recall 2.3 Million More Vehicles As Its Troubles Continue

The bad news just keeps rolling in for Toyota. Even with some $29.6 billion in cash (as of Sept. 30) the company can’t seem to buy a break. On Jan. 21, the company said it is voluntarily recalling 2.3 million Toyota brand vehicles to correct a sticking accelerator pedal. This recall is in addition to the 4.2 million Toyota and Lexus vehicles that are being recalled to correct problems with floor mats sticking on the accelerator, the company said in a statement.

The recalls came amid claims from some vehicle owners that either floor mats or the accelerator pedals were causing the car to lurch forward unexpectedly, causing accidents.

Plaintiffs’ attorneys have already been lining up. But for Toyota, the bigger damage could be done in the court of public opinion. Even though problems with the recalled models are not common, according to Toyota’s statement, this is just the latest in a series of large and embarrassing recalls.

For its part, Toyota explained in its press release that, “the condition is rare, but can occur when the pedal mechanism becomes worn and, in certain conditions, the accelerator pedal may become harder to depress, slower to return or, in the worst case, stuck in a partially depressed position. Toyota is working quickly to prepare the correction remedy.”

Here is the list of cars being recalled: 2009-2010 RAV4, 2009-2010 Corolla, 2009-2010 Matrix, 2005-2010 Avalon, 2007-2010 Camry, 2010 Highlander, 2007-2010 Tundra, 2008-2010 Sequoia.

Toyota is voluntarily recalling those cars to head off major problems or potential accidents. The company is known for handling recalls well. But the more pressing problem for Toyota is that these recalls and quality snafus can threaten the company’s reputation for quality. That image for great reliability is the foundation of the company’s sales success.

For all of its prowess, Toyota is simply not known for having great styling or grin-inducing performance. Toyotaphiles appreciate the company’s quality, engineering and fuel-efficient technology.

Quality was supposed to be a given. And when problems started to appear, Toyota vowed it would make quick amends. Back in July 2006, former Toyota President Katsuaki Watanabe bowed deeply in apology at a press conference, according to a report in the New York Times.

The company launched an initiative to solve quality problems, examine customer service and look at costs. After Toyota’s headlong expansion in the ‘90s and most of this decade, it seems they had lost control of some of the basic principles that made it such a great company. Watanabe was trying to reaffirm the company’s commitment to quality.

http://www.businessweek.com/autos/autobeat/archives/201...

Atman  (1000+ posts)        Sun Jan-24-10 03:46 PM
#11 TOP PRIMITIVE OF 2009; PEDRO PICASSO
Response to Reply #1

4. A couple of years ago Consumer Reports stopped recommending Toyotas

They issued a statement a while back that they would no longer automatically give positive reviews to a car simply because it came from Toyota. They said the quality and reliability has deteriorated to the point where they start out at "zero" just like every other car, and have to earn a rec from there. The South Koreans are kicking Toyota's ass with their American-built Hyundais. Great cars, much less expensive, very reliable.

lefthandedlefty (204 posts)      Sun Jan-24-10 04:11 PM
Response to Reply #4
 
8. My brother has 06 Hundai he bought new

He is not a happy camper although he hasn`t had any major trouble yet itonly has 50,000 miles on it the air bag light stays on and the interior is falling apart not to mention it hydro plane so bad they afraid to drive it in heavy rain.

Atman  (1000+ posts)        Sun Jan-24-10 04:21 PM
#11 TOP PRIMITIVE OF 2009; PEDRO PICASSO
Response to Reply #8

10. We have an 06 Hyundai Elantra and an 07 Santa Fe

Hyundai admitted to the glitch with the Elantra air bag light when we bought the car. The relay from the pressure sensor on the passenger seat sometimes failed to turn the light off (which is very small and unobtrusive anyway), but they fixed it for us.

Ours is great in snow and rain -- if you're hydroplaning that badly, maybe you should invest in some decent tires! We've had no issues at all with fit and finish. It's a great car. In fact, when we first got our five-door, most people thought thought it was a Saab 93.

We liked it enough to take advantage of the owner-loyalty discounts and rebates and purchased a new 07 AWD Santa Fe; excellent vehicle! Our friend bought his wife the Infiniti SUV (for $50,000) and was shocked when he first rode in our Santa Fe - it was so nice he was sorry he pissed away the extra $25,000 instead of just buying her a loaded Santa Fe.

Just sayin'. Results may vary -- but the fact remains, Elantra and Santa Fe are now on CU's top picks list. The 06 was a completely different car, from the drive-train up. Hyundai's not going backward like Toyota, they're constantly improving their products.

LWolf  (1000+ posts)        Sun Jan-24-10 03:59 PM
Response to Reply #1
 
7. I can't speak for the rest, but my 3 small trucks have, for 4 decades now, outperformed their American counterparts.

The '79 did 360K trouble-free miles before my youngest son bent the frame running it into a hill. The engine, 13 years later, is still operating equipment at a family member's boatyard. All without a single breakdown.

The '94 has 227K miles today and is still running great for that same son, who is now 30. It has had one new clutch and one new set of brakes, and has never let anyone down.

My '04 has 57K miles, and gets regular oil changes. Never a hitch, at any time, and I expect to get at least 300K without anything more than reasonable maintenance.

The same cannot be said for the American cars I drove over the same periods of time: the '72 Ford Pinto; the 2, because I loved them even if they were mechanically unsound, '69 Cougars; the '71 full-sized pickup; the 70s vintage Buick; and finally, the '91 Dodge Shadow.

Constant mechanical problems, most gave up the ghost by the time they hit about 80K miles, even after repeated rebuilds, replacements, etc..

Of course, it's been almost 2 decades since I bought, or drove, an American car. 2 decades of trouble-free, economical reliability.

If I could afford to buy a full-sized truck, though, I'd buy a Chevy or Dodge. If I were in the market for a passenger car, I'd try out the Ford hybrids and compare them to the honda and 'yota hybrids. I'd give them a chance.

I don't expect to be in the market for many years to come, though.

Atman  (1000+ posts)        Sun Jan-24-10 04:12 PM
#11 TOP PRIMITIVE OF 2009; PEDRO PICASSO
Response to Reply #7

9. Uh, your response is more full of holes than a rusted Pinto fender...

First of all, the troubles are with NEW Toyotas, yet you tell us how great your '79, '94 and '04 models were (you also failed to mention whether these were heavy-duty trucks or passenger cars).

Then you go on say "The same cannot be said for the American cars I drove over the same periods of time" and proceed to list cars from '69, '70, '71, '72 and '91 models, half of them well-known as being throw-away entry-level cars (a Pinto and a Shadow compared to a decade-newer Toyota? Puh-leeze).

Your experiences of twenty years ago have little bearing on the discussion of new Toyotas OR American cars.

Atman  (1000+ posts)        Sun Jan-24-10 03:43 PM
#11 TOP PRIMITIVE OF 2009; PEDRO PICASSO
Response to Original message

2. It is an amazing coicidence that they designed bad floor mats in every one of these vehicles

Toyota's troubles come from the fact that they're acting like old school American car companies and attempting to deny a problem instead of simply fixing it. Does anyone really still believe this is just an issue with FLOOR MATS? Why not just recall the floor mats and send some with a bigger cutout around the pedal? I use to love the Corolla, but I don't think you could get me to buy another Toyota product.

[Chris]

Atman actually offered something reasonable and well-considered.  Someone mark a calendar, because it won't happen again.

Of course, anyone could have come to the same conclusion after paying minimal attention to the automotive industry for the last few years.

[The Village Idiot]

lefthandedlefty (204 posts)      Sun Jan-24-10 04:11 PM

He is not a happy camper although he hasn`t had any major trouble yet itonly has 50,000 miles on it the air bag light stays on and the interior is falling apart not to mention it hydro plane so bad they afraid to drive it in heavy rain.

I would recommend rain tires but knowing DUmmies they would think they have to change tires depending on whether its raining or not.

[franksolich]

I would recommend rain tires but knowing DUmmies they would think they have to change tires depending on whether its raining or not.

Good one, sir.

Awesome.

[The Village Idiot]

Good one, sir.

Awesome.

and I got their hydroplane right here.

[franksolich]

I would recommend rain tires but knowing DUmmies they would think they have to change tires depending on whether its raining or not.

If the primitives in general were like the cooking and baking primitives--and they probably are--they'd have four spare tires in the trunk, because if the right front tire goes flat, they can't use a spare meant to replace a left rear tire.

[LC EFA]

I'd still own a Toyota before a Ford or a Holden (GMC).

Heck. I'd use public transport before owning a Ford.

FORD = Found On Rubbish Dump / F***ed On Race Day.

Nothing personal to any ford fans out there 

[The Village Idiot]

FORD = Found On Rubbish Dump / F***ed On Race Day.

Nothing personal to any ford fans out there 

My brother use to say Found On Roadside Dead

[DumbAss Tanker]

I've done pretty well with Fords, actually.  The weak point in them is their electric systems, which are at least relatively inexpensive to fix.  GM vehicles have been good too, unfortunately their weakest point seems to be the automatic transmission.  I'd be a happy camper if I could get a Ford with a Delco electrical system.

[Specbid]

I've had a couple Chevy trucks...currently have an F-150...no complaints about any of them.

[Chris_]

I'd be a happy camper if I could get a Ford with a Delco electrical system.

Well....you can......its called a Dodge Ram........

doc

[BadCat]

I don't buy American cars because they are made by American Labor Unions.

American Labor Unions are just the "labor" wing of the Dimocrat/Socialist party.

[DumbAss Tanker]

Well....you can......its called a Dodge Ram........

doc

I don't have any beef with Chrysler products, by and large, I just haven't owned that many of them.  Though the last one (I still have it) was a used Sebring with chronic electrical problems involving the fuel pump, which eventually were tracked down and fixed, but only by resorting to the best regional dealer's factory-trained techs.

[Tucker]

My brother use to say Found On Roadside Dead

I thought it was "Fix or Repair Daily."

[franksolich]

You know, the real purpose of this campfire was not to discuss Toyota, but so that Pedro Picasso could boast about the motor vehicles he owns.

My thanks to GOBUCKS for first having pointed out this phenomenon a long time ago; a predominant characteristic of the primitives that I for the longest time overlooked.

I dunno why I missed seeing it, but no one is perfect.

Pedro Picasso is well aware that most primitives--those not trust fund kiddies--drive around in 1985 Oldsmobiles or 1979 Yugos or 1975 Impalas--and Pedro Picasso, being what he is, has to gloat, to lord it over the other primitives.

[DefiantSix]

I thought it was "Fix or Repair Daily."

No no no; it's meant to be read in a rear-view mirror.  It's an acronym for "Driver Recovered On Foot".

[The Village Idiot]

You know, the real purpose of this campfire was not to discuss Toyota, but so that Pedro Picasso could boast about the motor vehicles he owns.

Breaking: Toyota halts sales

[The Village Idiot]

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704905604575027671658649384.html?mod=WSJ_business_whatsNews

Toyota just announced it will stop selling the eight models included in its recent 2.3 million vehicle recall over a sticking accelerator pedal. A Toyota spokesman said, “This action is necessary until a remedy is finalized. We’re making every effort to address this situation for our customers as quickly as possible.”

The company says it will also stop production of the same vehicles starting Feb. 1. The delay is likely due to the complications of leaving vehicles unfinished on the line for an extended period of time.

This is dramatic action, amid public outcry, because it includes two of the company’s and the country’s best-selling models, the Toyota Camry and Corolla. Although we were surprised there wasn’t more media attention given to the issue, which is being blamed for a number of deaths, compared to other significant recalls from large automakers.

The affected vehicles are listed below, and if you’re a current owner you can find more information about the recall here.
2007-10 Camry
2009-10 RAV4
2009-10 Corolla
2009-10 Matrix
2005-10 Avalon
2010 Highlander
2007-10 Tundra
2008-10 Sequoia