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Toyota Halts Sales of Popular Models - Accelerator Stuck Problem Recall

3593 messages,  Last post on Apr 14, 2013 at 5:57 PM

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What is this discussion about? Toyota Camry, Toyota RAV4, Toyota Highlander, Toyota Corolla, Toyota Avalon, Toyota Tundra, Toyota Sequoia, Pontiac Vibe, Automotive News

Messages Page 135 of 360

#1339 of 3593 Re: Avalon Recall A0A [wwesson] by popsavalon

Feb 12, 2010 (6:40 pm)

Replying to: wwesson (Feb 12, 2010 5:54 pm)
I discussed the recall for my 2007 Avalon with my dealer's tech rep (he has been exceptionally helpful with the VVTi oil line and other issues). He said the gas pedal shim should be done, the gas pedal GRINDING and carpet rework would be optional because I have properly hooked factory carpet mats, and the ECM WOULD BE REFLASHED. He stated that Toyota had not told the service departments exactly what the reflash encompassed.
 
Every dealer had a different story on the VVTi oil line fix. I hope the ECM reflash does not continue this mode of operation.

#1340 of 3593 Re: Avalon Recall A0A [popsavalon] by wwest

Feb 12, 2010 (9:09 pm)

Replying to: popsavalon (Feb 12, 2010 6:40 pm)
"..what the reflash encoumpassed.."
 
Looking at the wording, Toyota's typically carefully crafted wording, makes me wonder if the reflash really does have to do with some method of implementing BTO. TSB (service campaign recall) has caution note that no dealer personell are to talk to the press without first contacting Toyota corporate.

#1341 of 3593 Re: Avalon Recall A0A [wwest] by kernick

Feb 13, 2010 (4:41 am)

Replying to: wwest (Feb 12, 2010 9:09 pm)
I'm sure that the slow responses of Toyota, the carefully crafted wording, and what I've seen of Toyota personnel not talking to the press, are all due to the fact that any of that can be used in a court of law for the class-actions lawsuits that will follow. Toyota is having to run any written or verbal statements through their legal teams, and that takes time to review, and go thru the rewrite loops between the engineering and legal teams.
 
In today's society, when you put a product out there, you better get it right, especially something like a vehicle that can cause serious injury and kill. Whether the product causes problems because of floor mats moving, bad pedals, bad pedal placement, bad software, CPU lockup, a company is going to have legal problems if it is shown these have been known product-design problems in the past. I expect companies to learn from past mistakes, such as whatever mistakes Audi had made, even if it was the driver was dumb; it's no excuse. Where I work it's not an excuse to tell OSHA, "oh that was a new kid working here and he did something dumb, he didn't read the manual, and he was killed by our machine."
 
Anyway here's hoping the auto manufacturers pickup a lesson or 2 from this. I would say they need to slow down on their constant changes - coined "improvements" (which obviously aren't improvements 100% of the time), get their designs proven even if takes 5X longer, and stop changing the design 2 years later.
 
Maybe some of the problem in these companies is the fact that engineers do exist after a design is made and tested a little. Why do I say this? Well what do they do after a design is done? In order to justify their existence in the company they start a) improving the existing design, or b) working on a new design. Neither a) or b) is going to be guaranteed to be free of flaws, as we can see that every manufacturer has Troubleshooting sections in the manual, Tech service depts., spare parts, service depts. How many of these problems are incurred, because a more proven design is abandoned for the next gee-whiz version?
 
Consider that today. Maybe you'll read an article of someone following a GPS and getting stuck in a major snowstorm, or driving into a lake, rather than using their eyes and common sense. I got a GPS this year, love it and use it. Do I trust it 100% - no. If it had the option to hookup to the car's systems and actually drive the car, would I let it - NO!

#1342 of 3593 Toyota loses its way by revit

Feb 13, 2010 (8:00 am)

Toyota loses its way
 
Five years ago, Yoshi Inaba, then president of Toyota Motor Corp.'s U.S. sales operations, disclosed his biggest fear. It was that someday, some flaw in Toyota vehicles might go undetected and cause injuries, or worse, to the company's customers.
 
Inaba was perhaps thinking of a huge scandal that had just engulfed Mitsubishi Motors Corp., a smaller Japanese carmaker accused of covering up defects for years. Top Mitsubishi executives, including its former president, had been arrested and charged.
 
Such a nightmare seemed unimaginable at Toyota. It was making the most reliable cars in the industry, and its quality control methods and other elements of the legendary "Toyota Way" were being adopted by its rivals.
 
But now Inaba, chairman of Toyota Motor Sales and the company's highest-ranking executive in the United States, is confronting a crisis over the safety of Toyota's vehicles and its handling of complaints from customers.
 
Toyota already has recalled more than 8 million vehicles since September to fix defects that can make it very hard for the driver to stop the car. And American lawmakers are scheduling hearings this month where Inaba will face tough questions.
 
It's difficult at this stage to determine exactly how Toyota went astray. But it's safe to say Toyota lost its way -- and the warning signs started flashing in recent years.
 
Even to outsiders, there were actions and decisions that didn't square with Toyota's lofty standards as the company expanded.
 
Perhaps Toyota will be shown to be just another car company, no better or worse than others that weigh safety and cost considerations daily and don't always make the right choice.

#1343 of 3593 Re: Toyota loses its way [revit] by millwood0

Feb 13, 2010 (9:10 am)

Replying to: revit (Feb 13, 2010 8:00 am)
"But it's safe to say Toyota lost its way"
 
more likely it is Sean Kane, his for-profit "Safety Research and Strategies" business and the plaintiff's bar have found their new revenue source, after Asbesto's, molds and now automotive OEMs and every car buyer's pocketbook.

#1344 of 3593 Re: Toyota loses its way [millwood0] by wwest

Feb 13, 2010 (9:38 am)

Replying to: millwood0 (Feb 13, 2010 9:10 am)
"But it's safe to say Toyota lost its way"
 
No, with regard to public disclossure of KNOWN product defects, even SAFETY related defects, Toyota may now FIND it's way.

#1345 of 3593 Re: Avalon Recall A0A [kernick] by wwest

Feb 13, 2010 (9:41 am)

Replying to: kernick (Feb 13, 2010 4:41 am)
"..slow down on their refinements..."
 
Sure, with the new CAFE target at 35MPG.
 
When it should have been 40MPG.

#1346 of 3593 Re: Toyota loses its way [revit] by mnf

Feb 13, 2010 (9:41 am)

Replying to: revit (Feb 13, 2010 8:00 am)
Looks like NHTSA like Toyota, GM, Ford and others have lost there way. Cover ups or shut up has been going on for years. Maybe the Toyota issue will bring all them in compliance and stop the back room deals.
 
http://detnews.com/article/20100202/AUTO01/2020330/Auto-recall-rules-may-be-tigh- tened-by-NHTSA
 
Avoiding recalls
Automakers have pushed back against other recalls:
 
• In October 1994, NHTSA said 1973-87 GM pickups posed a serious fire hazard because of the side-saddle gas tanks. For GM, it was a problem that could have cost $1 billion to correct.
 
But just two months later, the government dropped its recall investigation of the pickups in exchange for GM's $51 million donation for safety programs.
 
• In 1980, Ford agreed to send notices to 20 million owners of cars and trucks, warning them their automatic transmissions could slip from park into reverse. The action allowed Ford to avoid a recall.
 
After a three-year investigation, NHTSA had wanted to force Ford to mount a recall, but was overruled by Transportation Secretary Neil Goldschmidt.
 
• Ford also reluctantly agreed to recall 1.7 million 1995-2003 Windstar vans after reports of engine fires -- some 17 months after the initial prodding from NHTSA. That was part of a recall of 4.5 million vehicles in October.
 
• In 2008, BMW AG refused NHTSA's request to recall its 2007-08 Mini Cooper S over fears that the tailpipes would burn people since they were placed in the center of the vehicle.
 
BMW said its service campaign was enough and a change in design would correct future vehicles.
 
Just before NHTSA's scheduled public hearing in December, 2008, however, BMW agreed to recall 28,450 Mini Cooper S vehicles -- even though it called NHTSA's determination "factually unsupported and legally unsound."
 
dshepardsondetnews.com (202) 662-8735
 
From The Detroit News: http://detnews.com/article/20100202/AUTO01/2020330/Auto-recall-rules-may-be-tigh- tened-by-NHTSA#ixzz0fR0dsKlm

#1347 of 3593 Re: Avalon Recall A0A [kernick] by millwood0

Feb 13, 2010 (5:25 pm)

Replying to: kernick (Feb 13, 2010 4:41 am)
"If it had the option to hookup to the car's systems and actually drive the car, would I let it - NO!"
 
but the military can "drive" a GPS-guided bomb right into your chimney, from thousands of miles away,
 
technology is not unlike people: they all make mistakes. for some applications, human is more superior; and for others, technology is more superior. or one technology is more superior to others.
 
It is wrong to put all of one's egg on either human or technology; and it is equally wrong to refuse to rely on human or technology.

#1348 of 3593 Re: Avalon Recall A0A [millwood0] by explorerx4

Feb 13, 2010 (5:44 pm)

Replying to: millwood0 (Feb 13, 2010 5:25 pm)
you are only watching the success's and assuming that's the general rule.
 
I was walking the other day and was approaching a 'T' intersection from south to north.
An older lady, with an unhappy look on her face, driving a very popular 'T' brand sedan stopped at the top of the 'T' driving west to east. She stopped, made 'the sign of the cross' and drove on. Is it related to a 'T' brand having people losing confidence in it?
I don't really know, but I LMAO over seeing it.

Messages Page 135 of 360

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