Toyota Recalls More Cars Than They Sold: Is There Fairness in the Media?
When Ford launched the the 2008 Ford Escape and the Mercury Mariner the media was invited out to the ceremony. Some of the reporters want to ask some questions about Ford. The UAW Local 249 bargaining chair R.D Snow had some questions for them. "Why is it that when Toyota has a recall, a small paragraph inside the paper is printed, but if Ford has a recall, it's splashed all over the front page? Of course they said they didn't make those decisions and the suddenly scattered.
The fact is the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced that Toyota recalled more vehicles in the US than they sold last year. They recalled 2.38 million vehicles but only sold 2.26 million. Did you hear about that? I doubt it. Did you hear that Toyota is making an major apology for their "worrisome series of recalls" that has tarnished their reputation for quality? Did you hear about the Toyota senior manager saying that, we used to do quit recalls called, service campaigns' to deal with defects. (www.2006toyotarecalls.com)
How Americans Can Buy American says that in Japan, prosecutors are looking into possible negligence of the part of Toyota for shrinking recalls for the last eight years. You probably didn't hear about that one either because the American media doesn't like to bash foreign auto companies, just American auto makers.
Consumer reports announced that both the Ford Fusion and the Mercury Milan scored higher than both the Toyota Camry and the Honda Accord this year.
Toyota Motor Corp it was recalling 533,000 Tundra pickup trucks and Sequoia sport utility vehicles because of potential steering problems.
Toyota said the recall involved 2004-2006 Tundra trucks and 2004-2007 Sequoia full-size SUVs. The automaker has received reports of 11 accidents and six injuries connected to the recall, said Toyota spokesman Bill Kwong. The automaker said there was a possibility of excessive wear to a front suspension lower ball joint that could make it difficult to steer the vehicle and stay in the center of the lane. Drivers may also notice more noise coming from the front suspension, Kwong said.
The fact is the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced that Toyota recalled more vehicles in the US than they sold last year. They recalled 2.38 million vehicles but only sold 2.26 million. Did you hear about that? I doubt it. Did you hear that Toyota is making an major apology for their "worrisome series of recalls" that has tarnished their reputation for quality? Did you hear about the Toyota senior manager saying that, we used to do quit recalls called, service campaigns' to deal with defects. (www.2006toyotarecalls.com)
How Americans Can Buy American says that in Japan, prosecutors are looking into possible negligence of the part of Toyota for shrinking recalls for the last eight years. You probably didn't hear about that one either because the American media doesn't like to bash foreign auto companies, just American auto makers.
Consumer reports announced that both the Ford Fusion and the Mercury Milan scored higher than both the Toyota Camry and the Honda Accord this year.
Toyota Motor Corp it was recalling 533,000 Tundra pickup trucks and Sequoia sport utility vehicles because of potential steering problems.
Toyota said the recall involved 2004-2006 Tundra trucks and 2004-2007 Sequoia full-size SUVs. The automaker has received reports of 11 accidents and six injuries connected to the recall, said Toyota spokesman Bill Kwong. The automaker said there was a possibility of excessive wear to a front suspension lower ball joint that could make it difficult to steer the vehicle and stay in the center of the lane. Drivers may also notice more noise coming from the front suspension, Kwong said.
Comments
Joe Public
(Guest)
(Guest)
03/12/2009
-- Corolla 2009 Steering Problem ---
Toyota customer support was no help but they called the Toyota dealer and dealer said there is no problem and it was common with this Make and Model. I asked Toyota Corp to fix it or just replace it. Toward the end of the 2 months I needed to get this behind me. I was stressing out and so was my family. I and not Toyota made the decision to buy another 2009 Corolla (same everything) and pay $1200 (plus my 2009 Corolla as trade in), since it's now used. 21 days in the shop and paying for a rental was costing me money. But I give you my word. If Toyota issues a TSB or recall I will be the first to submit my bills to them on this since they couldn't fix the steering wheel from pulling about 20 LBS while driving after 30 minutes. I urge anyone with steering issue to also add their info to http://nhtsa.gov/ most of the 30 issues deal with steering.
Anonymous
(Guest)
(Guest)
01/12/2009
Toyota.......junk!
Saab-on-the-Cobb
(Guest)
(Guest)
06/05/2008
Hmmm. I typically don't give much cred to articles that have not been proofread. AN major apology? Hmm. That's just the 2nd paragraph. Where are these facts? I would think it was in the best interest for the media to bash ANY automaker for problems that could result in injury. The old adage in the media is, "If it bleeds, it leads."
Amen!!!
Dr. Dan
(Guest)
(Guest)
08/06/2007
I read that Toyota was caught diong silent recalls so they could not be seen by the public.
They were said to have sent coupons for free oil changes etc. and repaired the vehicle on the sly
thumper
(Guest)
(Guest)
07/13/2007
Ford put the tire psi on the door jamb and the tire psi on any car is not that low . They sent out new stickers for the normal psi of a tire . Firestone did not have a vehicle that could not pass the rollover test without lowering the tire psi. The tires bulged bad with fords required psi. Think someone should have looked for a better solution .
Matt
(Guest)
(Guest)
04/24/2007
Yes, but how many of those Toyota recalls were voluntary...most. It seems to me that Toyota is able to own up to a mistake and issue a recall while American auto companies have to be investigated and have class action lawsuits brought upon them before they do anything.
ellives
(Guest)
(Guest)
04/06/2007
OK - so you're basing your comment on a car you bought 30 years ago? Responsibility does not equal quality. The goal would be to eliminate the need for recalls completely. The bottom line of this article is allegedly Toyota recalled more vehicles than they sold. THIS is a company that sells themselves based on their product quality? Wake up people! Sheesh.
My personal experience with cars is that Fords have more recalls than foreign cars. That may be a good thing. It shows that they are taking ownership of a problem and fixing it. I have heard of problems with other cars and seen problems with my own (76 Volkswagon bought new) that the manufacturer never took the responsibility of. One of my Fords, a Windstar, developed an expensive gasket leak. Shortly after I traded it in, ford took responsibility and reimbursed owners and did repairs after the warrentee period. I wish I had kept that van.
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