Hard days ahead for Toyota

[West]

Toyota, I hate to bring any more publicity in your court in regards to the recent gas pedal "recall". However I feel this article explains just what is going on, maybe I'm wrong but our governments past and present actions make this all too believable. I realize the article is stabbing, however its been my general feeling for some time now. GM/Chrysler have far worse records and factual evidence of a defects in their cars, where is the push against them? This wouldn't be happening to GM/Chrysler if the situation was in their court.

Now, you really have to be a Toyota fan to find this interesting, however it might just explain why the US is getting the royal shaft when it comes to the FT-86. It makes me wonder why the Toyota US president Jim Lentz said we would be getting the FT-86 in America in the first place, lets hope he keeps his word!

Anyone else think everything that is happening to Toyota is BS?

Source: http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/rough-day-at-toyota/

Last evening, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood declared he’d be seeking the maximum penalty from Toyota. That’s $16.4m, because “they knowingly hid a dangerous defect for months from U.S. officials and did not take action to protect millions of drivers and their families.” That’s the largest civil penalty the U.S. Department of Transportation has ever sought. According to Reuters, “previously, the largest fine was $1 million against General Motors Co for failing to promptly recall windshield wipers in 2002-2003 model vehicles.” One would think Toyota can pay that out of petty cash. But the matter has Toyota concerned. Plaintiff lawyers are rubbing their hands.

There is no better way to tell the impact and importance of a news item in Japan than taking the fever of the Nikkei wire. One mention a day = no worry. Two mentions = eyebrows go up. Multiple mentions = Red alert!

Today is such a day.

At 9:37 in Tokyo’s morning, The Nikkei [sub] remains sanguine: “Toyota treads water after U.S. fine” is the headline as ToMoCo’s stock is unimpressed and trades at round 3820 yen, higher than the previous day’s close. The matter receives a few lines on the wire, and The Nikkei goes on its merry business.

Half an hour later, Japan is worried. The stock drops to 3750. At 10:38, The Nikkei [sub] sees the matter worthy of a bigger story. “Toyota to face largest civil fine over recalls” is the headline of a lengthy article.

The surprise is buried deep in the article. Flabbergasting U.S. commentators which “expect Toyota to appeal the fine,” as Reuters put it, the Nikkei carries an official Toyota statement “that it is unlikely to lodge a protest against the penalty.” Toyota even ”understands that the NHTSA has taken a position on this recall.” Admission of guilt? Lawyers in the U.S. who are still awake and sober reach for their cells and call their partners: “Did you hear what the nips just said? We’ll be rolling in dough.”

Thirty minutes later, The Nikkei [sub] ticker spits out another Toyota message: “Toyota falls on U.S. fine, S Korea recall.” To add insult to LaHood’s injury, South Korea ordered the recall of 13,000 Toyotas.

Five minutes thereafter, 11:15, The Nikkei [sub] reports that the Japanese government chimes in. It’s taking a wait-and-see position. The U.S. move is ”based on laws in the United States, and therefore it is difficult for the Japanese government to make any direct comment,” says Japanese Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Masayuki Naoshima. That’s Japanese for “we have no idea of what to do, please get lost.”

11:29, the next Toyota News: The Prius was Toyota’s best selling car in the 2009 fiscal year, says The Nikkei [sub]. “So what?” says the market.

11:45, the next Toyota News. Detail on South Korea. Affected are 13,000 Lexus ES350, Camry and Camry Hybrid: Accelerator pedals are getting entrapped by floor mats again. The market is taking a lunch break.

Back from lunch, The Nikkei [sub] reports at 1:09 pm that Toyota is between a rock and a hard place: “Admitting to the charge could strengthen the cases of car owners suing the firm, while refuting it risks inflaming U.S. public opinion.” There are more than 100 lawsuits pending against Toyota. The Toyota stock goes down.

Later in the afternoon, with no other news on the ticker, the stock inches back up to 3775 Yen.

Rough day at Toyota. And a bright morning for lawyers in the US.

“Ms. Dingelfinger, get me some brochures for that 150 foot Sunseeker.”

“Yes, Sir. Gulfstream just called, and are we still interested in that G5?”

“Tell them we’ll call back.”

Reply from website: (interesting)

Dear Mr. Toyoda: It’s only money. You see, the United States is bankrupt, and these people in the District of Control are power hungry, clinically insane, evil, and out of control. What this $16.4 million is, is a means of simply grabbing a little of what you’ve got under the guise of legality. Quite interesting, given that this government is very probably illegitimate. The truth will come out some day, and once it is proven that the Occupant in the White House isn’t an American citizen (and probably never was), then of course, that means that anything done during “his” administration at the Federal level is entirely illegal. But that’s another story for a future day.

At least look at the bright side; it’s not $16.4 billion.

We American subjects (once citizens) are getting the same kind of extortion with menaces by means of extra police patrols, red light cameras, speed traps and “legal” confiscation of monies (in places such as Texas) by the “police forces” (highway robbers).

So hopefully you’ll be able to write off this proverbial drop in the bucket for Toyota Motors and realize that once this anti-business, anti-success, anti-automobile regime is gone, you shouldn’t have the same problems that you’re having now.

Any of us out here with brains, Mr. Toyoda, knows that this whole thing with your cars has been nothing more than what may be described as a “witch hunt”. Those of us who are “car guys” realize that your cars are well above average in most categories, and you already know about the “driving excitement” thing and we know you are working on that since we understand you’re one of us (car guys). Don’t forget the Celica name – it still carries a little cachet. Oh, and by the way, for the Subaru version of the upcoming sports vehicle that you’re sharing with them? Go ahead and spend the money, encourage them to go all wheel drive with rear wheel drive on the Toyota version. i.e. don’t do a simple sheet metal badge engineering job – don’t want to emulate Gov’t Motors, eh?

Sincerely,

Major Carpenter

[Cal]

Lol wut????

Seriously though, I am confused, then again it is late so eh, could be fatigue.

[West]

WAT haha, I dont know what Im saying either. Read the link, I left that off.

[Cal]

I don't think the US should stick it to Toyota so hard. I mean didn't ford have a car that if you hit if from the back it blew up or something? I didn't see the Government getting out money hungry when Explorers were flipping over.

[HyperFX]

I don't think the US should stick it to Toyota so hard. I mean didn't ford have a car that if you hit if from the back it blew up or something? I didn't see the Government getting out money hungry when Explorers were flipping over.

I think it was a Ford Pinto? Combine the Pinto, Explorer, and crazy gas pedals and you have an off road race vehicle. 4 wheelin' ! 4 real !

[Cal]

I think it was a Ford Pinto? Combine the Pinto, Explorer, and crazy gas pedals and you have an off road race vehicle. 4 wheelin' ! 4 real !

You would then be driving a bomb.

and you are correct about the Pinto.

The model became a focus of a major scandal when it was alleged that the car's design allowed its fuel tank to be easily damaged in a rear-end collision which sometimes resulted in deadly fires and explosions. Critics argued that the vehicle's lack of a true rear bumper as well as any reinforcing structure between the rear panel and the tank meant that in certain collisions, the tank would be thrust forward into the differential, which had a number of protruding bolts that could puncture the tank. This, and the fact that the doors could potentially jam during an accident

In the above all was done was this

The NHTSA put pressure on Ford to recall the Pinto, motivated by public outcry and pressure from groups such as Ralph Nader's Center for Auto Safety. Initially the NHTSA did not feel there was sufficient evidence to demand a recall due to incidents of fire. The 27 deaths attributed to Pinto fires is the same number of deaths attributed to a transmission problem in the Pinto, which resulted in 180 total deaths in all Ford vehicles, and in 1974 the NHTSA ruled that the Pinto had no "recallable" problem

So why all the hate for Toyota? I believe it is because they are a non american company.

[scoobie]

I could care less. Bring me the damn 216a! Then they can't bag on Toyota.

[Cal]

I agree on bringing the Suby. Though I still believe they shouldn't rag on Toyota like this.

[ra23celica]

I for one do not like the direction this is taking Toyota. Those in government adopting a 'self righteous' stance need to take a long hard look in the mirror and re-read the last few chapters of the modern history textbook.

[Cal]

Agreed, I am wondering if this will strain Japanese/US relations.

[csusza2000]

....take a long hard look in the mirror and re-read the last few chapters of the modern history textbook.

I agree, too. However, as an outsider, I don't wish to judge no one from North America blaming Toyota for some mistakes. We and they (Toyota people) are humans, humans make mistakes , its just human nature. As I read & heard there were other American car corporations who made similar mistakes (construction errors in their products) causing accidents in traffic, therefore injuring and killing innocent civilians. There was no big media frenzy about those ?!?!?.

In Europe however there is not such a big deal this Toyota b...sh...ing, OK there are some recalls, but no accidents happened. There is a Hungarian website called totalcar.hu similar to Top Gear, and one of the guys from there tested several Toyotas simulating the stuck gas pedal "sindrome". He pushed the gas pedal to the max and when the car was in a high speed he pushed the break pedal (with the left foot, 'cause with the right foot he was still pushing the gas pedal). Can you guess what happened? Of course the cars stopped. The only model which did not stop was the iQ, cause instead of a servo break system it has a conventional one, using the (small amount of) excess vacuum from the engine cylinders. So after a couple of steps on the break pedal the available vacuum is used up so the pedal gets stiff, the breaking efficiency decreases, you have to push the pedal much much harder.... In his conclusion the guys who unfortunately died or made accidents with Toyotas were either stupid (sorry) or they could not react properly to the situation and lost their common sense and control over the vehicle.

Anyway Toyotas are very respected cars here in Europe. Did you know that in Germany the most preferred cars are Japanese??? Based on reliability, cost, safety. Of course the first one is Toyota, and next up Honda, Mazda, Nissan, and some Korean companies. I don't remember the exact order, but I saw the statistics about 2-3 years ago. The national products (like Opel, Volkswagen, BMW...) are closer to place nr. 10 or way behind.

So my next car will be a Japanese (hopefully the FT-86, or Suby) . You know "that which can not kill you it can only make you stronger". This is happenning with Toyota now. So this U.S. b...sh.....ing can not shut down this corporation worldwide, however because of these issues they will strive to build more reliable and much safer cars than ever before.
And I guess you know that Japanese people don't like to be embarrassed just like that. They are very proud of their achievements and when they do anything they are doing it by the maximum standards.
In my conclusion after all it will be hard for other companies to compete with Toyota in the future. (It is even now and it was in the last years)

If I offended anyone please don't shoot.

[csusza2000]

Here are the links to the vids, but you will not understand shit 'cause it's Hungarian
Halál a Priusban
Halál a RAV4-ben
Halál az iQ-ban
and maybe there are other vids but these would do it I guess

[SUPRAtruc2JZGE]

I still haven't heard anything from Japan Toyota have the issue beside American Toyota. American sucks on smogs and other restrictions on Japanese and European car stocks. Instead of thumb down to American, I'm giving them my middle finger!