GMs Biggest Compeditor and Toyota recall

[tie1on]

Ive been watching this Toyota recall thing for some time now and I just got to wondering.

Ive driven Toyotas for yrs now and never had a problem. Ive talked to everyone I know who drives a Toyota and have got the same feedback. You here all the time about the recalles from Ford, GM and Chrystler but Toyota has had very little recalls, to my knowledge, until now.

I heard a testimony from one of the witnesses who said her cars exellerater took off and anything she did could not stop the car, even shifting out of gear. I have never heard of a car that won't stop do to high exelleration, even after shifting it into nuetral, which is what the one witness claimed. Maybe its possible, I don't know. I know there have been many other testimonies, and in some cases people have died. This is terrible and there needs to be an investigation. I have no problem with that. But most accidents are caused by human error. Im not saying that all of these cases are human error but it just seems strange that none of this stuff is being picked up by the computer, which is what it is designed to do. The pedal being stuck by a floor mat or carpet or something would make the most sence to me, if there is no error reading on the computer.

This is just a thought! GMs biggest compeditor is Toyota worldwide. Since the Feds have gotten in the auto bussiness, would it be to far out to think that they might want to knock down their biggest rival a few noches?

I would like to here feed-back from other Toyota owners and their experiences and from other brands that might have had recalls and problems from defects.

 

[beetlespin]

I have owned nothing but Toyotas and a few Hondas for the past ten years. They are by far the best vehicles on the road today. I do believe there is a problem on a very slight number of their cars but I doubt it is out of line with any other OEM. Unfortunately this has become a witch hunt now for the reasons you mentioned above. The govt is doing all it can to help GM.

 

[Guest]

I agree with you. I've had Toyotas, Honda, and Currently we just purchased a Nissan. I think all these cars have a better reputation for being better than average reliability. I think with GM's new ownership, this is a way to decieve the american public again and to try and push what the goverment wants for us. On the other hand there has to be something give when trying to reach the number one auto maker in the world. I'm a big fan of the Nissans myself because I feel like they make a good car that is of good quality.

 

[Bprice]

I've driven American made cars my entire life, as has my family, and we have never had any major issues. I think what it boils down to, is some folks just dont care for their vehicles.

 

[Guest]

I have had 17 new cars over the years and counless used cars, I have had mostly american made except for Honda's, I have never owned a toyota or nissan. I have had one Datsun truck which I believe is now called a nissan. I have never had any major problems with any of them except the ford super duty 250 I have now and all the wheels were bent, warped, or out of round when I bought it and ford wouldn't make the wheels up, I found this out when I had to buy tires and they wouldn't balance. The toyota mess is getting plenty of press time now because everyone that has one is getting someone to listen to them. This mess will only get bigger when the lawsuits start.

 

[jimwarden]

Toyotas are fine cars and trucks. My daughter drives a 2001 Toyota product. But, Toyota quality has been declining over the last five years. There have been other stories detailing Toyota flaws that don't get this kind of attention. It is too bad so many people have to die before anything is done. This acceleration problem dates back to 2007 if not before. Toyota went from a relatively small car company in the US to the number one car company in the US in record time, and their quality assurance didn't keep up with their growth. I believe our safety regulators are not aggressive enough when these critical errors occur in vehicles. It is sad that after all this time they still don't know what is causing these accidents. The saddest story was the young man that died in TX when his Camry accelerated into a pond, and they found his floor mats in the trunk where the dealer had told him to put them so he would be safe.

 

[beetlespin]

Jim, you are right about that. I don't think toyota quality is as good as it was five years ago but it still beats most.

 

[TheMacDaddy]

Biggest problem with toyota they are slow to recall. Major mistake in the United States because we want everything done instataneous, which Japanese take their time on decisions. Chevy and ford should take advantage of Toyotas mistake. In the past I've owned a 4runner and MR2, I had mechanical problems with both. Right now I have a Ford Escape, best mid-size SUV I've owned.

 

[jimwarden]

We are agreed on that BeetleSpin. The beetlespin is one of my all time favorite lures. They catch everything. This is a little off topic. One thing that is really good these days is all the information available about vehicles on the internet. I tend to do a lot of research before I buy anything. So, my daughter wanted a used Lexus RX300. They are available at really affordable prices ($6-10k) considering they sold for over $40k, so I find that the early models had transmission problems and that Toyota's V6 had many problems with engine oil turning to sludge and burning up the engine. With all this info in hand and with the help of the local Lexus dealer who can run VINs to get info on every service that was ever done to the vehicle, I purchased a 2001 from a man living in a beach front home in Palm Beach, FL . I change the oil frequently to prevent oil sludging problems. Quite a nice vehicle for the money. Hoping it doesn't have this problem.

 

[shrtfysh]

I've had my little Toyota truck for 19 years and I still love it. emoThumbsup With manual transmission, no air, no radio, no power anything, there isn't a lot to go wrong. (No power steering builds arm muscles!) My plan is to keep it forever. It fits all of my transportation needs. Big enough to haul mulch, building supplies, camping gear, etc. Small enough to easily park anywhere.

My husband loves Dodge/Chrysler/Plymouth. The head gasket has gone on every one of them, but at least we expect it.

 

[WLG]

Dont think Toyota is completely 100 % sure that theyve got the problem resolved. Still could be a software issue. With all the wireless technology on those vehicles...i have to wonder if it could even be someone hacking into the system and putting a bug in the Contol unit!!! You never know. I do know that they are updating the powertrain control unit when they do the recall..along with fixing the pedal assembly. I am a Honda master technician and i know Hondas have the drive by wire throttle sytem as well. Honda has always had failsafe technology built into the software in the PCM so that if someone is on the brake and the throttle....ther brake will override the throttle. To my knowlege...Toyota did not have that same safeguard...till now. Its scary because some of these vehicles have wireless keys....I just wonder if that system could be hacked by someone with the know how and the want to do wrong!! Just a thought!

 

[beetlespin]

Well at least the cars will all be safer after this.

 

[elwestb]

... the problem is that Toyota tried to hide, cover up, a "minor problem" instead of admitting it! Remember Nixon! "I'm not a crook"! Just say "Hell yes, I did it, I screwed up"! The American public is very forgiving and has a very short memory. Toyota had just become the top seller / manufacture, world wide. Now they have to start rebuilding the public confidence. The Toyota dealer group out of Cincinnati for the SE / US has already started placing damage con troll advertising, and it will increase, I promise! Nothing is really wrong with the product! What are the odds? vs. the lottery, do you buy lottery tickets? You may SAY ... that you wouldn't buy a Toyota / Lexus product right now, but if I gave you one would you drive it? Yea, you would! And yes, it has become a witch hunt, for the government, the US Auto Industry, the lawyers, and the pecker head plaintiffs like Rhonda Smith, just looking for their payoff opportunity! Remember Audi? Great autos, but they still haven't recovered from the media backlash of the 80's! In parting. I don't own any Toyota products and never have!

 

[Guest]

Hopefully they will go bankrupt.

 

[Sniperchoke]

Dang Doc those are some harsh words their. Oh I know they are probably to big to fail so Obama can just go ahead and buy them up too. And I bet he will create or save millions of jobs in the process. Hail to the Thief.

 

[Guest]

Those aren't harsh words, that is the same thing one of our illistrious republican senators from Tn.said about GM when they were going under. At least GMis an american company.</p>

See what you have done to me, got me brainwashed into thinking and talking like a republican. What is this world coming to?</p>

 

[tie1on]

Chrysler has recalled minivans for faulty airbags and some of their cars and jeeps for faulty brakes. I wonder when they will face congress? emoScratch

 

[Guest]

Well since olbummer owns GM and pretty much owns the media. It would not surprise me one bit if there were not some conspiracy to take Toyota down. Nothing would surprise me from this evil administration.

 

[Bfish]

cheez - 2/26/2010 3:46 PM
Nothing would surprise me from this evil administration.

Let's not forget the past administration close ties to Enron, Arthur Anderson, and Haliburton. Much more blatant unethical/cronyistic behavior from that administration.

 

[Guest]

Bfish - 2/26/2010 4:28 PM

cheez - 2/26/2010 3:46 PM Nothing would surprise me from this evil administration.

Let's not forget the past administration close ties to Enron, Arthur Anderson, and Haliburton. Much more blatant unethical/cronyistic behavior from that administration.

</p>

Bigfish, they forgot.</p>