Knee Jerk Toyota Reactions

[Here4Good]

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?

 

[Geo]

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

 

[Geo]

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.

 

[Minnie]

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.

 

[Geo]

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???

 

[scooterbug44]

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.

 

[Geo]

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

 

[scooterbug44]

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.

 

[Geo]

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.

 

[Lynnie]

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.