How did Toyota veer so far off course?

[ingac70]

Source: Guardian

When Catherine Block took her Toyota Aygo to her local dealer after a terrifying drive between Folkestone and Canterbury, she told mechanics: "It was a good job my brakes worked. Otherwise I would be dead." They laughed, she recalls. "They probably thought I was being melodramatic." This was hardly the case: during the 35-minute drive, she was able to drive up a steep hill at full pelt without pressing on the pedal once because the accelerator had stuck fast.

Block, a 28-year-old student, had already taken her car into the Toyota dealership at least three times last autumn because of the sticky accelerator. On her first visit, mechanics said the problem was caused by the floor mat, then they wondered if the specialist radio equipment she had installed was the cause. Eventually, at the beginning of December, the mechanics replaced the pedal and the problem seems to have been solved. The dealership said hers was an isolated case.

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2010/feb/07/toyota-veer-off-course

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Accelerator problems in UK.

[elocs]

1. I drive a Scion, made by Toyota, and I am not worried in the least.

If I was in the market to buy another new car and wanted a Toyota I would go ahead and buy one.

[ingac70]

2. Knock yourself out.

Some people like to gamble.

[elocs]

9. Right, like every other car manufactured it totally safe and nothing could ever go wrong.

Life is a gamble, either live it or live in fear.

[donheld]

20. I'd love a Toyota

[MadBadger]

15. Love my Toyota Solara.

Id probably look there first when I need to get another one.

[Kolesar]

3. I couldn't fix your brakes so I made your horn louder

--Steven Wright

[ingac70]

4. lol.

Sounds like something Toyota might do to "solve" a problem these days.

[Skittles]

18. LOL

:rofl:

[ellenfl]

5. toyota probably started buying chinese-made parts. eom

[ingac70]

6. So why blame an American manufacturer...

of the accelerator pedals? Of course, I think it is their electronics and they just don't want to own up.

[WinkyDink]

19. No, they didn't. It's not exactly Top-Secret.

[Lint Head]

7. All cars have a flaw that corporate nazis hide.

I've own every make except Rolls Royce, Ferrari, Bentley among the luxury class and they all have had something that should be recalled for because a lot of people had the same problem.

[ingac70]

8. Dangerous stuff?

Every car I've owned had little problems at some time or another, but not anything that could kill me.

[rgbecker]

11. The entire built in obsolescence and constant new model system..

Causes these cars we have today to continue to have problems and to cost all outdoors. If the money spent to develop new models was instead spent on upgrading materials, serviceability and safety, we would have a much better automobile. Last night on the News Hour it was stated 18,000 dollars of a future 30,000 dollar car will be for electronics and electronic gadgets like the hi-fi system, GPS, remote starting, electric locks etc. I'm still driving my 1973 VW bug which if they had spent any money on to improve rather than replace, would probably be getting 60 miles per gallon and withstand a head on at 25 mph and still cost $1999.00. As it is, the thing starts up, goes forward and back, turns left and right, stops. Also wipes its own windshield, lights up and honks. How come I can't buy something just like this on today's market for less than $9,000.

[madokie]

12. VW bug

I drove bugs for several years after coming home from the service. The last one I owned would literally run off and leave most everything on the hyway too. Big jugs, cam and twin carbs off a 356 porche 1600 and that bugger would get up and hump it. Damned if it wasn't fun blowing the doors off might near everything on the road. I drove it like I stole it and still got close to 25 mpg.

I almost bought a 73 bug a couple years ago that only had 27,000 original miles on it. It was perfect in every way, I regret that I didn't buy it as I'll probably never get a chance to buy another one like it.

[liberal N proud]

10. Maybe that course we all perceived they were on was all a lie

Sounds to me from what I have heard and read that they have been deceiving their customers and the consumer for a long, long time.

I never did see the attraction. Every Toyota I rented was not that fabulous and some were down right blah, as in nothing to jump up and down about.

[PurityOfEssence]

13. The hubris of great success, a self-image of precision reliability and rapid expansion

Hey, can't say they're not keeping up with the times; this is a heady mix that we've seen be the downfall of all sorts of companies and people.

When you get it into your head that you're indestructible, it's almost inevitable that shortcuts will be taken and some missteps will happen.

They can absorb this, and they'll be a better company in the long run because of it. Having their egos rattled will be a good thing, and they'll continue making viable products.

Human nature is remarkably consistent, eh?

[JCMach1]

14. Sounds a little like the old GM, no?

[ingac70]

17. Yeah, 50 years ago. n/t

[DesertDiamond]

16. I've been driving Toyotas because they are the only car I've found that has never let me down

I own a 2005 Corolla right now. I plan on my next car being a Carolla as well, unless I get a Prius. Sorry they've had some trouble, but their reputation for excellent, low maintenance, trouble free and long lasting cars didn't come from nowhere. They'll solve their problems and make sure this doesn't happen again.

[bluecollarcharlie]

22. You're right it didn't come from "nowhere"......

It was a media-induced fallacy. If you look at the history of the company in the U.S., you'd know that there has NEVER been a time in which Toyota did not have a major problem here. Whether it was the vehicles rusting to death in the early '70's, or the sludging problems in Camrys that led to class action lawsuits,and of course things today, has Toyota not been this bullet proof car company every makes it out to be. Toyota was only able to achieve it's ballyhooed status because what we have are lazy biased reporters who are as much responsible for Toyota's position as anyone else. It is only after people have died and the government had to FORCE THEM to act that the press finally decided take the blinders off and do their job (This however does not include the good folks at NPR who are still playing "Carry the Can" when it comes to Toyota).What's more i don't think for a minute this will solve a thing. I'm almost 100% certain we will see this problem come up again.

It's only a matter of time.

[Forkboy]

21. Faulty steering?