Knee Jerk Toyota Reactions

come to daddy!

May the "not perceived to have a catastrophic glitch" car win.

I don't think Toyota, and I own one, has been treated any differently in the media than any other vehicle that has proven to cause loss of life.

Where Toyota went wrong is blaming the problem on the floor mats when in truth that was not the problem at all. There have been fatalities with the mats removed.

I guess when one loses a loved one it is hard to remain calm. There were numerous reports of problems prior to the deaths but they were not taken seriously.

I will continue to drive my Toyota, as so far mine as not been listed as one needing to be recalled but I will no longer feel they are a trusted company where money does not influence decisions.

Maybe the government wants Americans to buy American? Lots of folks getting their income tax, spending that money buying or trading their vehicles.

Maybe they're just trying to capitalize on the current circumstances.

Maybe the government wants Americans to buy American? Lots of folks getting their income tax, spending that money buying or trading their vehicles.

Maybe they're just trying to capitalize on the current circumstances.

I think a large percentage of the cars affected were built in the US.

Toyota halted sales at dealers, issued a recall, apologized, placed ads in major publications, etc etc

Historically, automakers have done zilch when an issue has resulted in the relatively few deaths we're talking about here. Plenty of examples starting with the Ford Pinto.

Toyota halted sales at dealers, issued a recall, apologized, placed ads in major publications, etc etc

Historically, automakers have done zilch when an issue has resulted in the relatively few deaths we're talking about here. Plenty of examples starting with the Ford Pinto.

Totally agree what they are doing now, is the right thing and probably more than was done in the past. But people expect more now. So are they doing out of the goodness of their hearts or because it is demanded of them.

They should have stepped up sooner. One death was too many.

I think a large percentage of the cars affected were built in the US.

No matter where they're built, If consumer confidence in their product wanes, and sales slip, my guess is it's going to affect the bottom line. right? And possibly, at the same time, generate sales of other makes whether American or other.

Maybe i watch too many spy shows.

there are actually 2 recalls. i heard about the 1st-floor mat -a long time before i got notice and had to actually pester my dealership to get the info on it. i don't believe: "just in case something happens put your floor mat in your trunk" is appropriate when they leave it at that for month after month-no communication by dealer or online. then comes the 2nd recall with little info -why couldn't they send out even a postcard saying "this is what's going on..."

i do care that they've lost my trust AND i'm having to answer to family about driving a fairly new car many think is unsafe. Frankly i don't think it's just the mat and i do think negative press and economics is the only thing that will get get them to fix the actual problem-money talks-whether it's huge lawsuits or people not buying their cars.

Out of 20 million vehicles sold, there have been 2,000 documented complaints of gas pedals sticking. Don't get me wrong- a sticky gas pedal is bad. However, I believe (as usual) Americans, fueled by the media, are behaving/reacting irrationally. And I believe our govenment is acting irresponsibly.

Remove emotion and what we have is a product issue that affects 1 in 10,000 consumers. Um, the odds of being killed in a car accident is 1 in 165. Should the transportation secretary tell people to stop driving completely? Because he told Americans he recommends they stop driving Toyotas until they are fixed. He later said he misspoke.

What he should have said is, "let's remain calm and rational. Toyotas have proven to be safe and reliable. But in the unlikely event that you find your Toyota's gas pedal (or any make/model for that matter) to be stuck- Remain calm, shift your car into Neutral and pull over to the side of the road. Do not resume driving your vehicle. Have it towed.

Toyota has been handling this better than what I've seen from many other car companies when faced with similar issues. But I believe these guys are getting it far worse from the court of public opinion.

I think the odds of being killed in a car crash (as opposed to driving a car without being killed) are around 1 in 6,200.

And wasn't there just a very, very long thread here about how any driver who has had anything to drink should be arrested if they drive, because of the increased chance that they will have an accident? How is this different - if you know that this vehicle has an increased chance of a mechanical failure which will cause an accident, don't we want it off the road?

According to the National Safety Council your lifetime odds of dying in a car accident are 1 in 83.

If I understand your point with the drunk driving thread, there is really no comparison, statistically speaking. My understanding is that there is greater correlation between a vehicle being red and a car crash than there is with a vehicle being a Toyota under this recall having a crash.

No matter where they're built, If consumer confidence in their product wanes, and sales slip, my guess is it's going to affect the bottom line. right? And possibly, at the same time, generate sales of other makes whether American or other.

Maybe i watch too many spy shows.

Oh definitely it is going to affect them, but I don't think they are being held to any higher standard or getting anymore media attention than other recalls that had lead to deaths.

They don't want to become the Pinto of the 2000s and the government does not want to be blamed for being too easy on them.

Toyota has had other problems that they tried to blaim on the customer such as their sludge oil problems with certain models. It did not recieve the media coverage because no one was injuried but it did cost owners thousands of dollars in repairs.

I think you are right that this will cause some to look at other models of cars now that the #1 is not looking as good.

19 deaths out of 20 million vehicles sold is cause for the US transportation sec't to say he recommends everyone stop driving Toyotas. This is the same standard everyone else has been held to???

He didn't issue that as a public statement - that was just what the media ran with - he was actually talking to a subcommittee and merely said people should stop driving them and take them to the dealer to get fixed if it was an issue.

So he didn't know cameras and mics were on?

No, I am saying that a comment from a discussion is quite different from him having a press conference and deliberately stating something.

I think it is a potentially serious problem that deserves attention, but the media blew it so out of proportion it's ridiculous.

This is like Hillary Clinton meeting with a subcommittee with cameras and mics on and saying that she believes Americans should avoid travel to Aruba because of Natalee Holloway's disappearance. Was it a Sec of State briefing? Well no. But it wasn't a private casual conversation over a glass of wine with Chelsea.

She would have been irrational and irresponsible for such remarks just as the sec of transportation with the Toyota remarks.

I think Toyota is acting responsibly and ultimately will prove to be good PR, albeit expensive. I just heard the news report their dealerships are working around the clock to secure safety for their customers.

I think my Tahoe had a couple of recalls, one which was a defective seatbelt. They hounded me until I took it to the dealer for repair. Safety should never be taken lightly imo.

if you experience sudden acceleration, you shift from drive to nuetral. this may be proof of darwin's theory of natural selection.

Out of 20 million vehicles sold, there have been 2,000 documented complaints of gas pedals sticking. Don't get me wrong- a sticky gas pedal is bad. However, I believe (as usual) Americans, fueled by the media, are behaving/reacting irrationally. And I believe our govenment is acting irresponsibly.

Remove emotion and what we have is a product issue that affects 1 in 10,000 consumers. Um, the odds of being killed in a car accident is 1 in 165. Should the transportation secretary tell people to stop driving completely? Because he told Americans he recommends they stop driving Toyotas until they are fixed. He later said he misspoke.

What he should have said is, "let's remain calm and rational. Toyotas have proven to be safe and reliable. But in the unlikely event that you find your Toyota's gas pedal (or any make/model for that matter) to be stuck- Remain calm, shift your car into Neutral and pull over to the side of the road. Do not resume driving your vehicle. Have it towed.

Toyota has been handling this better than what I've seen from many other car companies when faced with similar issues. But I believe these guys are getting it far worse from the court of public opinion.

Why are you defending Toyota? Just curious.

the reason you shift the transmission from drive to neutral is so you're able to have power assit steering and braking power. with the transmission in neutral the rev limiter will prevent engine damage. If you just shut the vehicle down, you will loose the power steering and power brakes, increasing your chance of a accident

Why are you defending Toyota? Just curious.

I'm not trying to defend them as much as I am trying to make the following points (from my opening post)-

1) I believe Americans, fueled by the media, are behaving/reacting irrationally and that our govenment is acting irresponsibly.

2) Toyota has been handling this better than what I've seen from many other car companies when faced with similar issues. But I believe these guys are getting it far worse from the court of public opinion.

In the spirit of full disclosure, I drive a 13 year old Toyota LandCruiser and love it.

1) I believe Americans, fueled by the media, are behaving/reacting irrationally and that our government is acting irresponsibly.

So it's a day that ends in "y"? :roll:

P.S. Nothing like looking in the rear view mirror at a light and seeing a Toyota logo with the driver smoking and talking on the phone bearing down on you.

Well, some of us are extremely loyal Toyota owners. Once I had the pleasure of owning one in my mid-twenties, I've driven nothing but. Toyota is a first-rate car maker - known world wide for its overall innovation and quality. Toyota lovers know what it is to drive a reliable car. for a long long time. yes, we want to defend the company - but recalls are difficult - and quite frankly - we aren't used to them.

however, this recall is major. Toyota is a top notch auto maker held to very high standards. From what I've read they have not responded in a way that would match their own standards for excellence. I hope they will learn from this recall, slow down to focus again on quality, engineering and design... and move on to continue its long-standing edge in quality. I would bet just about anything that they will do so.

Geo - I think you are right that the public is holding Toyota to a different standard than other auto makers who have regularly had really big & dangerous recalls for as long as we can remember. but remember that Toyota set this standard for itself. the public expects nothing less. They should have been above and beyond reproach on this. they should have responded with speed and excellence. maybe they have responded adequately compared to other auto makers. all I know is that I expect Toyota to stay on its toes when it comes to innovation and quality and safety. if a problem surfaces they had better take it seriously and go all out to resolve it. otherwise, they will lose their edge. perhaps they have lost it already and headed for mediocrity.. but I doubt it...