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2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
In the Washington Square case, Frank adds, GM decided it was better to settle despite evidence that Maychick simply pressed the wrong pedal. In fact, according to Frank, evidence of driver error was “so strong that plaintiffs’ lawyers admitted it.” But that didn’t stop them from arguing GM was liable “for a failure to warn about the dangers of pedal misapplication.”
I think the government should force the payback of bailouts to the families and lawyers that were [non-permissible content removed] enough to argue such a ridiculous thing as "failure to warn of the dangers of pedal misapplication" makes you liable.
Thats like saying a doctor needs to tell a mother that giving birth could result in some type of accident to your child before you die. Or that shooting a gun at your head could be fatal. Or that driving into a concrete freeway overpass column at 100 MPH could be dangerous.
I'm thinking I should hire Sikes' lawyer to sue Cal Trans for my accident that happened over 10 years ago due to a failure of them to post a sign saying "narrow shoulder," on the freeway. :mad:
The topic was photochopping, which started with that invisible driver in the Lexus, which was sort-of on topic.
Duh! :sick:
We have to strike a balance between making a manufacturer liable for their mistakes while not blaming them for obvious driver error.
Solution: better Driver's Ed?
Here in MD you spend 90% of the time learning how to parallel park, a skill most drivers promptly forget and never need again.
My kids are young but when it's time I'll be taking each of them to a professional driving school to learn car control. The difference between a good driver and a bad driver is how they react in the split second right after something bad happens.
Not how they parallel park.
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
Back on-topic, a headline from Automotive News today:
Toyota will test stability of all SUVs to allay owners' concerns
I don't think that's really necessary but I'm sure they are doing that to demonstrate that the other models don't skid like the GX does.
It may be a bit of a (anything but negative) publicity stunt.
"Incentives are “the quickest way for us to restore customer confidence and trust,” Takahiko Ijichi, a Toyota senior managing director, told investors in an April 7 conference call."
I feel that assuming confidence and trust can be bought with a handful of cash is a little insulting.
Or maybe it needles me because deep down I'm embarrassed to realize he's probably right in the majority of cases. :mad:
Just look at their current sales figures! :surprise:
Also, the Camry, Avalon, and Lexus ES350, IS350 and IS250 models involved in the recall will have a brake override system installed to cut engine power in the event the accelerator and brake pedals are pressed at the same time.
Only if they want a good and competent Toyota. I don't think such an animal exists anymore.
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
I guess all those who help Toyota in March and raised their sales by 40% are doomed,
All they bought was a reliable vehicle that will go 150K to 200K miles. Go to Autotrader and look up the used vehicles under '96 4Runner and you will see people selling those trucks with between 160K and 210K miles and state they are still running well! (I have already looked).
I do, however, start to smell the downfall if Toyota Motors. And I do wonder why anyone would buy a new Toyota right now.
I have been very interested in buying a 2006 Scion xA and also a 2005 Scion tC. Also, a 2007 Toyota Yaris 4-dr. sedan interested me at one time but my wife and I now own and operate a 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS.
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
If you notice the auto buying market trends for Toyota actually move in the opposite direction of the negative posts on this particular thread. Very interesting and entertaining indeed.
Since the NHTSA started keeping records, Ford Motors has recalled over 20 million vehicles, the highest recall year being 1996 with over 7.6 million units. Thus, while the current recall hype might be news to the US consumer who favors Japanese models over their American counterpart, the news of Toyota’s 5 million units recalled could be overshadowed by Ford’s recall history.
Last time I checked Ford is in business and even doing well.
In addition, you should know that Toyota has plenty in cash reserves to ride this thing out.
In short, your comments are baseless.
Period. They're doomed. Doomed, I tell you.
Right now.
And also in the future. Doomed. Doomed to fail and for failure. Bad.
Out of business. Close the door.
Slash prices to fire sale.
Doomed.
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
But hardly surprising. Although they say otherwise, most customers don't place a high value on safety.
When features like ABS and side airbags were options there was a very low takeup rate.
Convenience packages, upgraded sound systems, leather seats, spoilers etc., take a much higher priority.
A potentially unsafe vehicle becomes a much more attractive proposition when the price comes down.
How about an intelligent answer then?
So how many would buy the same vehicle without all the safety devices if it was $10k less? My guess at least 75%.
I think that was a year and a half ago. They lost a lot in 2009. So who knows what they have left. According to this article they are not doing that well as of January 2009.
Meanwhile, Toyota has been raking in the profits for ages now and was thought to have up to $90 billion in reserves as recently as a couple of years ago. The other day, however, John McElroy reported that Toyota may be down to only $18.5 billion in cash with rapidly spiraling debts.
The company has spent heavily on new factories and new products in the U.S. in recent years, but saw its sales plummet as much as the domestics in the second half of 2008. Its total current short-term liabilities are now roughly equal to its total current assets, and its cash reserves put the company on par with Ford. In recent months, Toyota has been moving aggressively to cut costs and budgets have been slashed company wide. The automaker famous for avoiding layoffs was also reportedly considering shedding some jobs in the U.S. and UK
http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/26/toyota-reportedly-down-to-18-5-billion-in-cas- h/
It don't take long when you are bleeding red ink. GM went through $80 billion in four years.
Looks like they are going to need a whole new bunch of third world workers to replace the unionized Japanese factory workers.
I prefer the stuff made in Japan.
Toyota involved in human trafficing?
http://articles.latimes.com/2010/mar/08/business/la-fi-toyota-canaries8-2010mar0- 8
"In 2008, the National Labor Committee, a U.S. human-rights advocacy group, released a 65-page report titled "The Toyota You Don't Know," detailing what it alleged were serious human-rights violations.
"The report linked Toyota to human trafficking and sweatshop abuse in connection with its importing of foreign guest workers from China and Vietnam to work in its Japanese factories.
"Many are pressured to work overtime without pay, the report claimed, adding that there were signs similar practices were emerging in the United States.
""Toyota is imposing its two-tier, low-wage model at its nonunion plants in the south" of the U.S., the report read, "which will result in wages and benefits being slashed across the entire auto industry.""
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Toyota is a dead horse. Continuing to beat on it makes you a do-do head, don'tcha know.
http://articles.latimes.com/2010/mar/08/business/la-fi-toyota-canaries8-2010mar0- 8
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
"Now 84, the former Nissan quality control engineer has spent decades monitoring Toyota and Japan's other carmakers.
He calls Toyota's business practices the most secretive of all.
In the past, he said, Toyota sponsored "secret recalls," asking owners to visit dealers for vehicle checkups, a ploy that allowed them to replace defective parts and then charge the owner for the work."
That is almost impossible for the Toyota bashers of this thread... :sick:
"In the past, he said, Toyota sponsored "secret recalls," asking owners to visit dealers for vehicle checkups, a ploy that allowed them to replace defective parts and then charge the owner for the work.
""Everything Toyota does is hidden," he said.
"Matsuda said he believed that Toyota also knew of defects involved in the most recent recall long before going public."
In the past when the secret service recalls for some foreign cars were mentioned, certain posters would go ballistic that the secret recalls never happened. But the big advantage is just as with blaming the current problems on floor mats or sticking accelerators: the customers never know the real reason for the problem. Customers thought their 1990s tyotas and others were perfect because they never knew about the problems. :mad:
That's what tyota-lexus is hoping for having happen again. The public will never know what is really behind _part_ of the runaways. toyota-lexus has known for years. :P
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Their stock price is also holding up quite nicely.
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
By KEN THOMAS
WASHINGTON (AP) - As congressional investigators dig further into potential electronic problems in runaway Toyotas, the automaker is facing other safety concerns, recalling 600,000 Sienna minivans over rusting spare tire holders.
The recall Friday came as House investigators said they would hold another hearing in May to review possible electronic problems in runaway Toyotas. The Japanese automaker has recalled more than 8 million vehicles because of faulty accelerator pedals, humbling a car company long known for its quality and safety.
Company leaders vowed to respond quickly to the safety concerns.
Separately, Toyota said its engineers in Japan had duplicated the same results of tests that led Consumer Reports to issue a rare "don't buy" warning on the 2010 Lexus GX 460 over rollover concerns. Toyota responded by halting sales of new GX 460s and conducting tests on all of its SUVs.
Lexus spokesman Bill Kwong said the company was evaluating potential remedies for the GX 460 but it was "too early to speculate (on) the details of the remedy and its timing."
Toyota said its latest recall covered the 1998-2010 model year Siennas with two-wheel-drive that have been sold or registered in 20 cold-climate states and the District of Columbia. Toyota said rust from road salt could cause the carrier cable that holds the spare tire to rust and break, allowing the tire to tumble into the road. The problem could threaten the safety of other drivers.
Toyota said it was unaware of any accidents or injuries. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said it received six complaints of spare tires falling off Siennas.
The company said it was working on a fix. In the meantime, customers will receive a notice telling them to bring their vehicle to a dealership for an inspection.
The recall involves Siennas in the District of Columbia and the following states: Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin and West Virginia.
Steve St. Angelo, Toyota's chief quality officer for North America, said the company was providing free inspections of the spare tire carrier cable across the nation, including states not included in the recall. Owners can call (800) 331-4331 for more information.
Lawmakers remain focused on the spate of recalls affecting the company. Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and Rep. Bart Stupak, D-Mich., a subcommittee chairman, said they plan a May 6 hearing to look into potential electronic causes of sudden acceleration in Toyota vehicles.
Toyota has said it has found no evidence of electronic problems, attributing the issues to sticking gas pedals and accelerators that can become jammed in floor mats.
Toyota said in a statement Friday it was "more than willing to meet with the committee and discuss the ongoing testing related to our electronic throttle control system, as well as the steps we are taking to improve our quality assurance processes. Nothing is more important to us than the safety and reliability of the vehicles our customers drive."
The Transportation Department has fined the company $16.4 million for failing to promptly notify the government about defective gas pedals. Toyota has until Monday to agree to the penalty or contest it. The fine is the largest civil penalty ever imposed on an automaker by the government.
16 million of those are for the faulty switch recall. But keep in mind that this recall covers the cars since 1992; that's 18 years old car. Plus the switch won't kill people.
Toyota's recent recalls have already topped 10 million cars, and all for late and brand new cars. Even more, these defects have killed many and will kill more people.
The funny part is, Toyota is still in denial. When interviewed by a reporter regarding the Lexus GX460 problem, the Toyota speaker did not answer the question of why Toyota could have missed such an obvious defect in their tests; instead she repeated over and over the statement that Toyota tests the cars in all ways "you" can imagine and "you" can not even imagine. How could such great tests missed such a obvious defect? All they need to do is take the car for a "spin". The emphasis in what "you" can imagine implies that we are dummies. The great Toyota people could not find the problems, but we can. Who're the dummies here?
Go to Toyota website; in the recall page, there's very little information about the recalls and what to do. Instead, there's tons of information dismissing the reports of the problems; bragging the electronics system is used in 40 million cars without a problem. Didn't they just recalled 10 million of them?
This company is filled with liars.
toyota is facing much the same situation now, but there are a variety of issues.
every day seems surface a new one.
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
LOL... I don't know about that, but I think they know that they just got a lot cheaper
Actually, given that Toyota manages to survive this mess, future models should be safe and good value.
The vehicles coming off the production lines at the moment were all designed and manufactured under the current corporate ideology.
The only way Toyota can turn things around is to do a complete about face and return to their roots, meaning that value, safety, and customer commitment will be the main priority, and when this is transparently reflected in the way they do business they will eventually regain their previous reputation.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
In plain English Toyota's stock price one year ago was near $80. per share. In Sept. of 2009 it was near $80. per share. After all this hullabaloo, at the close Friday, 4-16-2010, it was near $80. per share.
As I said, the stock price is holding up nicely.
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
the Tacoma and Tundra frames.
It's quite opposite. It took 18 years for the problem to show up, which means the problem is not a design problem and could not have been discovered by the car maker in design stage. It's a material aging problem over long time. Ford would even recall a 18 years old car, that shows the commitment to customers.
Toyota's problems are all related to late or brand new cars. That shows a company releases new products full of bugs still. They even refuse to take in other new cars with similar problems for recall. Their commitment to customers is far lower than Ford.
It's been repeated reported by the drivers that they tried to shift to neutral but the cars refused to do so. If all these incidents were blamed to Toyota drivers, then the Toyota drivers must be dummies...
Show me ONE credible report of that. I've never heard anyone experiencing UA that led to an accident say they tried to put it in neutral but couldn't. It's always some excuse or other as to why they didn't try it.
Those who do try it report it always works.
Pure speculation on your part. I could speculate that Ford lobbied NHTSA for those 18 years to keep from making a recall.
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
The lady tested in the congress's Toyota hearing said so. Do you consider that one credible?