Toyota suspending sales of eight recalled cars

[Vistataco]

DOH!!! We have been waiting for our 2010 Highlander Limited since mid-December and it fianally arrived at the dealer yesterday. Drove it home last night...really nice ride but it will already have to go in for a recall fairly soon once they figure out the issue.

 

[SOCALFJ]

Congrats .... And whats the problem? Or in other words, why are they doing a recall, a recall on what?

 

[Vistataco]

Congrats .... And whats the problem? Or in other words, why are they doing a recall, a recall on what?

Ooops...forgot to add link before.

TORRANCE, Calif. - Toyota is suspending U.S. sales of eight car and truck models to fix sticking gas pedals and halting production lines at plants from Texas to Canada to deal with the problem...

Toyota suspending sales of eight recalled cars - Autos- msnbc.com

 

[ZPDFJ]

Bummer

Im glad you brought this up. I am sad about the recall. I think they are handling the issue in a responsible manner, but it still bums me out. I personally still promote Toyota, but I wonder something...

I saw a discussion on TTORA about the new Tacoma's, guys were saying, "I have only had to replace (insert significant/prematurely failing component) and the thing runs great"!! One guy posted in so many words, that he feels this is not something to be downplaying, that quality has been compromised since Toyota started building in the USA. He also ranted about how appealing to the American market has also paved the way to his dissatisfaction. I am not going to argue this one but I suspect he might have a point?

I do see how Toyotas technology is improving, not sure about styling, but thats an opinion, the newer Toyotas often have more suspension travel, and ground clearance and other things but I really do feel something different when I sit in my 80 as opposed to my Taco and Tundra I had, or FJ.

Maybe I am full of ?

 

[Darwalk]

Im glad you brought this up. I am sad about the recall. I think they are handling the issue in a responsible manner, but it still bums me out. I personally still promote Toyota, but I wonder something...

I saw a discussion on TTORA about the new Tacoma's, guys were saying, "I have only had to replace (insert significant/prematurely failing component) and the thing runs great"!! One guy posted in so many words, that he feels this is not something to be downplaying, that quality has been compromised since Toyota started building in the USA. He also ranted about how appealing to the American market has also paved the way to his dissatisfaction. I am not going to argue this one but I suspect he might have a point?

I do see how Toyotas technology is improving, not sure about styling, but thats an opinion, the newer Toyotas often have more suspension travel, and ground clearance and other things but I really do feel something different when I sit in my 80 as opposed to my Taco and Tundra I had, or FJ.

Maybe I am full of ?

I hear you on the U.S. built stuff, but I have an 08 4 Runner and have had a few minor issues with it. Built in Japan. I think that they started getting too big for their britches when they surpassed GM last year. I know that there are always issues with new models coming out, but some of the issues were pretty upsetting. I.E.- 05 Tacomas/ FJCs rear diff blowing up, Tundras transmission problems, etc.

I certainly hope that they don't get the reliability reputation like U.S. car makers in the past.

 

[Dan2722]

Toyota is going through the evolution that every company goes through when they go from a small / mid-size company to a giant world leading company. Think of the analogy of a speed boat (small company) versus an oil tanker (giant company), much easier to turn and adjust a speed boat for changing conditions than an oil tanker.

Companies like IBM, HP and Motorola went throough this and with sound management and business practices came out on top. Unlike some of the American car companies who pissed away their opportunities for a short term gain I think Toyota has what it takes to continue making a solid product for the long haul.

Here is a good article about Toyota recognizing the problem.

Toyota: Losing its shine | The Economist

 

[Newps]

Great article I think it spells out many of the problems Toyota is faced with today. Quality is down and their cars suffer from a lack of uniqueness. A lot of corners are being cut in order to get more units on the road. They had better get back to what made them great or they will end up like Ford and GM. I know a lot of guys like the FJ Cruiser. For me personally, I think it ended up a turd. It could have been a home run for them. Look at all the 4-door JK’s running around. That is what Toyota should have built. Their line up looks like a bunch of clones. The 2010 models, Rave 4, Highlander, 4Runner & Landcruiser all look the same. My family all knows how much I love Toyotas, I have three of them. My parents bought a 2008 Lexus ES because of my endorsement of the brand. Now I am afraid they could get killed in it. I still love the brand but am not 100% sold on only buying a Toyota now. For a Toyota purist like myself to even think about another brands has to be a sign that something is wrong.

 

[ScottyDog]

The fact that Toyota recognized their was a serious problem enough to stop sales & PRODUCTION in order to save their reputation shows quality character. Their willing to sacrifice Millions in production to fess up that they have a problem to fix is a winning company to me... Unfortunately it did take a death of a family and another accident that wasn't related to their floor mats. But none the less it takes balls for a large corporation to do this. Toyota is one of the LEANEST efficient and quality companies in the world....They might take a big blow from this, but they'll rebound. "Character Counts!"

 

[LandCrusher'70]

There line up looks like a bunch of clones. The 2010 models, Rave 4, Highlander, 4Runner & Landcruiser all look the same.

& Sequoia! Yeah that's a real bummer.

 

[Bluetribal]

Yeah, I don't even understand the point of having both the 4Runner and Highlander? Aren't they the same class vehicle?

 

[Dan2722]

Now GM will offer Toyota owners $1,000 to trade in their Toyota.



GM to pay 1,000 dollars to Toyota owners to switch brands

 

[Vistataco]

Yeah, I don't even understand the point of having both the 4Runner and Highlander? Aren't they the same class vehicle?

4Runner is a body on frame (truck) with a 2 speed xfer case and the Highlander is based on the same car chassis as Camry, Lexus ES, Lexus RX and so on and is only available in AWD.

 

[ScottyDog]

Now GM will offer Toyota owners $1,000 to trade in their Toyota.



GM to pay 1,000 dollars to Toyota owners to switch brands

Only $1000? Why so once they get the problem figured out they can flip your Toyota for money then the new cars on their lots?!?

 

[Bluetribal]

4Runner is a body on frame (truck) with a 2 speed xfer case and the Highlander is based on the same car chassis as Camry, Lexus ES, Lexus RX and so on and is only available in AWD.

Ahh haa. Thanks for the insight.

 

[lacruiser]

The fact that Toyota recognized their was a serious problem enough to stop sales & PRODUCTION in order to save their reputation shows quality character. Their willing to sacrifice Millions in production to fess up that they have a problem to fix is a winning company to me... Unfortunately it did take a death of a family and another accident that wasn't related to their floor mats. But none the less it takes balls for a large corporation to do this. Toyota is one of the LEANEST efficient and quality companies in the world....They might take a big blow from this, but they'll rebound. "Character Counts!"

I don't know, I think otherwise.

This reminds me of the attitude that Audi took when their 5000's started taking off without any input from the driver. They stonewalled and insisted that it was driver error. A friend of mine ran the parts dept at a local Audi dealer. One day they all witnessed a 5000 sitting on the repair rack, idling, nobody inside, and all of a sudden, the engine started racing.

Their utter denial of the problem and attempt to deflect it to the floor mats almost put them into bankruptcy, and their reputation suffered for more than a decade. It was a long slow crawl back up.

It was an electronic issue, and I see a similar situation with today's problem with Toyota. In today's LA Times, there's an article saying essentially the same thing: suspicion is growing in the minds of many experts who are familiar with these systems, that there is some kind of hidden defect, yet to be uncovered.

Of course, this is just opinion, and will await investigation for proof, but there are just too many reports of people losing control of their Toyotas. People who have removed their floor mats, or (in one case) actually stuck a toe under the skinny pedal and lifted it, to no avail. The car continued to accelerate, and thankfully he had the presence of mind to shift into neutral and brought the car to a stop.

There is also the story of the tow truck driver who has been called to the same spot in the same parking lot, responding to calls from stranded Lexus owners whose cars won't start. He tows them 100' away to another part of the lot and they start up right away. Perhaps it's the cellphone tower right next to the "trouble" spot that is to blame?

There are too many similar stories, and I feel that Toyota (and the NHTSA) do not fully understand what is going on inside their computers. These computers are (like most electronic devices) subject to outside RF interference. (that's why you can't use electronic devices on aircraft while taking off and landing, because they can interfere with the electronics of the navigation systems aboard the plane)

Again, my opinion, but I think that when the experts get to the bottom of this (hopefully sooner rather than later), they're going to find a vulnerability within the electronic throttle control.

Frankly, I don't understand why they all went to this system. Better engine control? Better emissions? Cost savings? (if so, that's out the door now!). IMHO, there's nothing better than a steel cable going from my gas pedal to the throttle plate. No amount of electromagnetic radiation is going to affect that!