TOYOTA stops production in USA (Recall) - Page 2

Wretched · 01-02-2010, 01:26 PM

The numbers are in:

Toyota’s U.S. Dealers May Lose $2.47 Billion a Month

and

Racall cost shareholders $ 21 billion

Ohio XB · 01-02-2010, 02:14 PM

Well it looks like the culprit is a flawed Toyota design and not a fault of the part manufacturer, according to Toyota's own newsroom.....

Quote:

Statement from Toyota on Supplier CTS

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America (TEMA) has been working closely with supplier CTS on a revised design that effectively remedies the problem associated with accelerator pedals. Pedals featuring the revised design are now in full production at CTS to support Toyota’s needs. Meanwhile, we are also working with them to test effective modifications to existing pedals in the field that will be rolled out as quickly as possible.

“We commend CTS for working diligently and collaboratively to find a solution to the potential problem and in developing a new design,” said Chris Nielsen, TEMA’s Vice President of Purchasing. “CTS is a long-term and valued supplier to us.”

http://pressroom.toyota.com/pr/tms/m...er-153203.aspx

That's a major "ouch".

Steve

Ohio XB · 01-02-2010, 02:48 PM

Here is a really good video of a guy disecting, to a point, a Toyota gas pedal. He references the patent, which is owned by CTS, the manufacturer, but he also quotes the CEO of CTS stating that "...the part was made to specifications from Toyota."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnFp2yLBnNQ

Meanwhile, CTS claims that the acceleration problems predate the use of their pedals.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQHr2rECDy0

Wow, and even more, CTS only started making the pedals last year, while cars being recalled are older than that.

Elkhart, Indiana-based CTS began producing the pedals last year at its Mississauga, Ontario, assembly plant when Denso was unable to supply enough for Toyota.

Quote:

CTS isn’t taking the blame for crashes involving Toyota vehicles, however.

“We are aware of fewer than a dozen instances where this condition has occurred, and in no instance did the accelerator actually become stuck in a partially depressed condition,” the company said in a statement.

That would mean a false electrical signal.

Read more on that at http://www.leftlanenews.com/pedal-su...es-toyota.html

Steve

greens_tuf · 01-02-2010, 03:00 PM

hmmm, I would have expected more media coverage about this...

Oh I forgot, it isn't a Ford so there's no need to dig a grave and bury it alive...

Ohio XB · 01-02-2010, 03:21 PM

Yeah, you have to go looking for it. If it was Ford they would be banging on your door to tell you about it.

My predictions.....

Someday Toyota will have to come out and publically acknowledge that the flaw was based on their design specifications. They need to do this to help CTS recover lost stock value as a result of the recall.

There will be more class action lawsuits than you can shake a stick at.

The floor mat/pedal problem from November will be found to have been a warning shot of this issue but Toyota will be found to have been negligent and purposely mislead it's customers by blaming the floor mats. This will be the source of even larger lawsuits.

As a result of the above prediction, people will see Toyota in a different light and they will not be automatically associated with top quality but rather as a company like the Big3 have at one time or another......putting profit ahead of consumers.

Steve

vztrt · 01-02-2010, 05:14 PM

Toyota pedal recall extends to Europe, China

http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mell...2576BA0011FAC6

Quote:

Millions more vehicles recalled by Toyota outside US to deal with throttle problem

1 February 2010

By TERRY MARTIN

TOYOTA’S recall to fix sticking accelerator pedals in millions of its cars has extended from the US to Europe and China, although vehicles sold and produced in Australia remain unaffected.

After suspending sales of eight popular models in the US last week, which came a week after announcing a recall of around 2.3 million units of the same models in North America, the world’s largest car manufacturer broadened its recall to the UK and Europe, where up to 1.8 million vehicles are affected.

Taking into account the extension of a separate recall in North America to fix an issue involving floor mats becoming stuck under the accelerator pedal – a recall which now affects 5.3 million vehicles – the total number of Toyota vehicles being recalled has increased to about 6.6 million.

The sticking throttle issue, which could cause the accelerator pedal mechanism to stick in a partially depressed position or return slowly to the idle position, involves the following models in Europe and the UK: Aygo, iQ, Yaris, Auris, Corolla, Verso, Avensis and RAV4.

European production lines are continuing to roll and, according to Toyota, “there is no need or intention to stop production” after a running change using different parts to deal with the problem had “already been implemented model-by-model”.

Overseas reports indicate that the problem with the accelerator pedals, which for the affected vehicles were all manufactured by US parts-maker CTS Corporation, were first identified in 2007 in the North American Tundra pick-up and surfaced in Europe in right-hand drive versions of the Yaris and Aygo in 2008.

In China, the world’s biggest automotive market last year, Toyota is recalling some 75,000 RAV4 models – one of the eight models concerned in the US recall. The others models are the current Corolla, Avalon, Highlander, certain Camry models, Tundra, Matrix and Sequoia.

From this week, Toyota has halted production on several production lines in North America due to the sales suspension.

At least one consumer organisation in the US has recommended that people do not purchase models that are subject to the pedal recall, and a number of rival manufacturers – including General Motors, Chrysler, Ford and Hyundai – have begun offering incentives to Toyota customers in an effort to capitalise on the situation.

An independent parliamentary committee in Washington has started an investigation into whether Toyota, and the Obama and Bush administrations, responded adequately to customer complaints about sticking pedals, while Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) president Akio Toyoda was reported to have apologised for the recalls on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, late last week.

His comments came as Toyota continued to suffer at the hands of investors last week, with the company’s share price dropping 14 per cent over the five-day period. Financial analysts place the fall in market value at ¥1.9 trillion ($A18.5 billion).

Toyota also revealed that it will cut 750 jobs in the UK at its Burnaston, Derbyshire, assembly plant by the end of August.

Around 3800 people are currently employed at the plant, which builds Avensis and Auris (Corolla) models and was scheduled to begin building a hybrid version of the Auris later this year.

Meanwhile, CTS Corporation said in a statement that it had been working with Toyota “for awhile” to develop a new pedal, which has been tested and is now beginning to be shipped to production facilities in the US.

Reports out of the US indicate that Toyota is set to announce a dealer-fit solution for faulty accelerator pedals, which involves inserting a metal shim into a gap in the friction lever of the pedal. Citing a person familiar with the matter, Automotive News said the procedure will reduce friction and prevent the pedal from sticking.

Other car manufacturers, including Ford, Honda, Nissan and Mitsubishi, use CTS accelerator pedals in certain models but these are built to different specifications and no problems have been reported.

No Lexus or Scion vehicles are involved in the accelerator pedal recall.

“We understand that the current situation is creating concerns, and we deeply regret it,” said Toyota Motor Europe president and CEO Tadashi Arashima.

“We would also like to reassure customers (that) the potential accelerator pedal issue only occurs in very rare circumstances. The announced action is a preventive measure aimed to guarantee the highest safety standards to all customers.”

In a separate development, Toyota also recalled a further 1.1 million cars in North America last week for the “pedal entrapment” (floor mat) recall, which now involves 5.3 million Toyota and Lexus vehicles – and GM’s Pontiac Vibe, which is a model based on the Matrix.

Although the Pontiac brand is now being wound down, the Vibe – which up until recently was built in California under the former GM/Toyota New United Motor Manufacturing Inc (NUMMI) joint venture – continues into the 2010 model year.

GM has issued a statement that insists “the Vibe is safe to drive” after receiving complaints about sticking accelerator pedals in the wake of the Toyota recall on this issue.

It said that it was investigating all complaints and insisted it had not received customer complaints about sticking accelerator pedals until after Toyota issued its first recall notice for this issue on January 21.

TMC has also just released its 2010 sales forecast, which anticipates that worldwide sales will increase six per cent on 2009 to 8.27 million (including Daihatsu and Hino). However, the company has confirmed that this figure does not take the US sales suspension into account.

Last year, TMC posted 7.81 million sales, which was down 13 per cent on 2008.

Toyota Australia has confirmed that no export version of its Camry and Aurion models are affected by the US sales ban. Its continuing advice is that no Australian models are affected by either recall in other parts of the world.

Swordsman88 · 01-02-2010, 05:15 PM

THanks for the links Steve. And just watching now and this is starting to look a bit messy for toyota on am engineering level. It was already well and truly nasty on a PR, safety and sales basis. Not to mention lawsuits.....

I know other manufacturers (including Ford) have done things along these lines RE identify potential issues and not recalling cars immediately etc. but this is pretty damning given it is related to accelerator pedals and toyota knew about this design flaw from years ago..... They had internal reports from 2007 and by late 2008 they must have been working on a new design......otherwise it would never have been ready so soon. They have just had the laywers delaying the gov./class actions until this point.

In the scale of 'dodgy design' over the years i'd say this is right up there if it is true that the original toyota design was faulty. This is way worse than the Firestone debacle on the explorer because the literally was poor supplier quality (albiet ford shoudl have taken action sooner) and while the pinto was a low point for Ford that design issue was after somone hit your pinto up the behind...it woudlnt' just explode while sitting in your garage or cruising along. This sticky gas pedal is a bit of a ticking time bomb it seems......

vztrt · 01-02-2010, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Swordsman88

I know other manufacturers (including Ford) have done things along these lines RE identify potential issues and not recalling cars immediately etc. but this is pretty damning given it is related to accelerator pedals and toyota knew about this design flaw from years ago..... They had internal reports from 2007 and by late 2008 they must have been working on a new design......otherwise it would never have been ready so soon. They have just had the laywers delaying the gov./class actions until this point.

Toyota did this before with the front suspension a couple of years ago. They knew of the problem for 9 years and only acted when people died.

cosmo20btt · 01-02-2010, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vztrt

Toyota did this before with the front suspension a couple of years ago. They knew of the problem for 9 years and only acted when people died.

Or the poor casted caliper bolts that used to snap off & let your Brake Caliper bounce around your wheel rim.

vztrt · 01-02-2010, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cosmo20btt

Or the poor casted caliper bolts that used to snap off & let your Brake Caliper bounce around your wheel rim.

Yeah that happened to me.

Bossxr8 · 01-02-2010, 07:28 PM

Surely this must affect Australian Toyotas. The pedal must be the same design considering they are made all over the world and are near identical bar the RHD.

Swordsman88 · 01-02-2010, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

Surely this must affect Australian Toyotas. The pedal must be the same design considering they are made all over the world and are near identical bar the RHD.

Yes...what i find strange is that the toyota aus statement confirming 'australian toyots are not affected' notes that this is because its pedals are not bade by CTS corp.... BUT, CTS corp and toyota have both admitted that the design of the pedal is a toyota specification.....and that the isse was apparent (and the recall affects) cars from well before CTS started producing the pedals.....

Something is a bit strange. The only reason it wouldn't affect Aus toyotas is if they used a diff pedal design entirely (RHD??)....which seems unlikely given toyota's wayof doing things with global parts design/sourcing....

**Burnout** · 01-02-2010, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

Surely this must affect Australian Toyotas. The pedal must be the same design considering they are made all over the world and are near identical bar the RHD.

That is the interesting part of this whole saga..............

who designed our camry/tojo/aurian peddles and where where they constructed?

XR Martin · 01-02-2010, 07:50 PM

Got an Aurion at work, I think I might have a poke around under the dash

Wally · 01-02-2010, 08:39 PM

Seems there is a progressive deterioration. If my pedal was starting to feel slow I'd be getting it checked out. Seems others haven't

From Toyota themselves:

Quote:

Toyota Update Statement

Regarding reports that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has "approved" a plan for our pedal recall; it is Toyota’s understanding that NHTSA does not officially approve recall remedies. We have reviewed our plan with NHTSA and are finalizing details, which we will announce soon.

Quote:

Update On Pedal Recall 29-01
Our highest priority is to fix the accelerator pedal problems for our existing customers, and our pedal supplier is starting to ship newly designed pedals to dealers to meet the most immediate needs. One of the main reasons we are stopping production next week is to make more of the new pedals available to dealers right away. But at the same time, we are continuing to test effective pedal modifications for existing vehicles on the road that will be available to our customers quickly. We expect to announce a comprehensive remedy program for all affected customers and new vehicles soon.

Quote:

Toyota Answers Questions About the Sticking Accelerator Pedal Recall
Toyota answers questions that we see you are asking about the sticking accelerator pedal recall. Please also looks at Frequently Asked Questions For Sticking Accelerator Pedal Recall and Suspension of Sales on this site.

1. Is my car safe to drive until a fix is issued?
The condition is rare and generally does not occur suddenly. It seems to occur when the pedal mechanism becomes worn and, in certain conditions, the accelerator pedal may become harder to depress, slower to return or, in the worst case, stuck in a partially depressed position.

2. What do I do if I experience a sticking accelerator pedal before the fix is finalized? Should I bring my car to a dealer?
If you are experiencing this condition, immediately contact your nearest Toyota Dealer for assistance. No action is required at this time unless you feel you are experiencing this condition.

For details on what you should do if you experience a sticking accelerator pedal while driving, please review the Frequently Asked Questions For Sticking Accelerator Pedal Recall and Suspension of Sales on this site.

3. What is the actual issue affecting accelerator pedals?
In rare instances, there is a possibility that the affected accelerator pedal may stick in a partially downward position or slowly return to the non-pressed position.

4. Is there actually a problem with the vehicle’s computer/Electronic Control Unit?
Absolutely not. Toyota has never found an incident of unintended acceleration caused by the vehicle’s computer/electronic control unit.

5. Can I return my vehicle to Toyota if I purchased it in the five day period between the recall was announcement and Toyota stop sale on my vehicle? What are my options?
Toyota will work with customers who have concerns about their vehicles on a case-by-case basis.

6. How will Toyota handle fixing all affected vehicles in a timely manner?
Toyota is currently finalizing its recall remedy plans including a rapid deployment strategy of said remedy. Please continue to visit this site for updates on the recall.

7. Is this different than the Floor Mat Recall? If so, how?
There are two different recalls. Some vehicles are affected by both.

Sticking Pedal Accelerator Recall: The condition can occur in rare instances, over time, under certain environmental conditions - there is a possibility that certain accelerator pedal mechanisms may, mechanically stick in a partially depressed position or return slowly to idle position.

Potential Floor Mat Interference with Accelerator Pedal Recall: This condition is the potential for an unsecured or incompatible driver’s floor mat to interfere with or entrap the accelerator pedal and cause it to get stuck in the wide open position. Toyota has determined that this condition can occur in vehicles in which the driver’s side floor mat is not compatible with the vehicle and/or is not properly secured.

8. What if my vehicle is affected by both recalls? Which will be addressed first? It is Toyota’s intention to remedy both at the same time.

9. Why are mechanically similar Lexus and Scion vehicles not affected by this recall?
The recall affected pedal is confined to one of Toyota’s suppliers. That supplier’s pedals are not used on Lexus and Scion vehicles.

10. Which models are affected by the sticky accelerator pedal recall/stop sale?
Toyota’s accelerator pedal recall and suspension of sales is confined to the following Toyota Division vehicles:

* Certain 2009-2010 RAV4,
* Certain 2009-2010 Corolla,
* 2009-2010 Matrix,
* 2005-2010 Avalon,
* Certain 2007-2010 Camry,
* Certain 2010 Highlander,
* 2007-2010 Tundra,
* 2008-2010 Sequoia

Highlander hybrids and Camry hybrids are not affected by this action and will remain for sale.

Further, Camry, RAV 4, Corolla and Highlander vehicles with VINs that begin with "J" are not affected and will remain for sale.

Ohio XB · 02-02-2010, 02:33 PM

Quote:

THanks for the links Steve. And just watching now and this is starting to look a bit messy for toyota on am engineering level. It was already well and truly nasty on a PR, safety and sales basis. Not to mention lawsuits.....

Having done some more reading......the NHTSA has done 6 investigations regarding Toyota unintended acceleration issues (starting in 2002) and 3 of those 6 times the investigation was petitioned (by their own agents? Not sure) to continue the investigations deeper past the conclusions that were found at the time, and these petitions were refused. Now NHTSA is to be investigated for dodgy handling of the situation. Toyota is already to be investigated by our Congress over this issue.

There will be people getting busted for cover-ups, mud will be slung, fingers will be pointed, and this is going to be soooooooo messy.

Steve

irlewy86 · 02-02-2010, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wally

Seems there is a progressive deterioration. If my pedal was starting to feel slow I'd be getting it checked out. Seems others haven't

From Toyota themselves:

Gee thats scary, my old lady used to complain about the throttle sticking on her Avalon.

cosmo20btt · 02-02-2010, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

Surely this must affect Australian Toyotas. The pedal must be the same design considering they are made all over the world and are near identical bar the RHD.

I watched a clip on youtube on this thread about the pedal, and the bolt down pattern on the floor looks similar to the ones I have seen on other Australian made toyota's. Having said that that does not mean that Toyota Aust use the same unit, it would be best to pull a part number & see if it cross references with an overseas model.

Swordsman88 · 02-02-2010, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ohio XB

Having done some more reading......the NHTSA has done 6 investigations regarding Toyota unintended acceleration issues (starting in 2002) and 3 of those 6 times the investigation was petitioned (by their own agents? Not sure) to continue the investigations deeper past the conclusions that were found at the time, and these petitions were refused. Now NHTSA is to be investigated for dodgy handling of the situation. Toyota is already to be investigated by our Congress over this issue.

There will be people getting busted for cover-ups, mud will be slung, fingers will be pointed, and this is going to be soooooooo messy.

Steve

Yes, it will be messy.....

I dont' know how i feel about manufacturers offering 'incentives' to defect to be honest.....Ford included. Is this common practice in the US marketplace (car business or otherwise...)? Seems a bit tacky.... Doing when Chyrsler/GM were bankrupt is one thing but over a safety issue......

Either way, Toyota is in for a world of trouble...

More on the reason why Aussie toyotas are NOT affected from one of the local toyota mob....

http://carpoint.com.au/news/2010/toy...ituation-18162

key bit....

Quote:

Originally Posted by carpoint

"The [accelerator pedal] that's provided in America is supplied by a manufacturer in Canada and the supplier of the pedal for the Australian market is the Japanese supplier -- so the design of the pedal is totally different from the one that they use in the United States," Breen reaffirmed.

"I've seen photographs, just workshop photographs of the two pedals and they are entirely different. They look like [the same] when you look at them, but when you look at the top part of the pedal and how the mechanism works, they're totally different."

But what about the Camry Hybrid then? Isn't that powered by a drivetrain sourced from the US?

"Correct," Breen responded succinctly, but then he continues to say that the locally-built hybrid car will not be dragged into the international recall program.

"The pedal mechanism itself comes from Japan, whereas the one in America is supplied by the North American supplier, the Canadian supplier."

cosmo20btt · 03-02-2010, 10:35 AM

Ford sales look on the up.
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Ford-s...&asset=&ccode=

Ohio XB · 03-02-2010, 01:39 PM

Here is a very good article with very good pictures on the inner workings of both pedals.

Why Toyota Must Replace Flawed CTS Gas Pedal With Superior Denso Pedal
http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/why...r-denso-pedal/

There is WAY too much to copy and paste here. Also there are many excellent pictures and some diagrams you need to see. Here is a scathing comment in the article....

Quote:

We are calling on Toyota to replace all CTS-friction arm type gas pedal assemblies with either the Denso unit, or another proven design that lives up to Toyota’s legendary quality and the longevity expectations of its loyal owners. “Propping up” an intrinsically inferior and historically-proven inferior design with a piece of metal stamping is not going to restore Toyota’s tarnished reputation. The two units are interchangeable; Toyota should do the right thing and switch production over, and insist on replacing all the CTS-type units even after they have had their temporary fix. A Band-Aid will stop the hemorrhaging for the moment, but nothing less than a transplant will do for the long haul.

One thing the author fails to realize is that Toyota does not have over 2 million of these pedals to put into the cars in the US, not to mention the 8 million world wide. It would take a while to produce all these pedals. This is a logistics element that Toyota has to swallow.

I further predict that while the repairs are being made to over 2 million cars in the US, people who's pedal will have already been "fixed" will still experience the run-away acceleration that can occur while idling, or the sudden acceleration that can occur while maintaining cruising speed. This will point out the still existant root cause of these conditions which will NOT be a result of the pedal "sticking", but rather an electical issue that has yet to be discussed in public, or to the NHTSA. That will be a PR disaster for Toyota.

We'll see.

Steve

Chopped · 03-02-2010, 01:48 PM

From hero to zero !

Toyota sales plummet 16% in one month >
http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/02/b...ecall-edition/

I can see the American brands / government to milk this situation for everything.

cosmo20btt · 03-02-2010, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chopped

From hero to zero !

Toyota sales plummet 16% in one month >
http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/02/b...ecall-edition/

I can see the American brands / government to milk this situation for everything.

Going by the chart on that site Ford must have picked up sales from other Cars suppliers not just Toyota, and Chevy must be getting all the Pontiac buyers as there is no Pontiac any more. The sales gap between Ford & GM closes all the time, not just here but in the states to. Good work Alan.

Ohio XB · 03-02-2010, 02:58 PM

Don't be too impressed by Ford's numbers. Remember, January 2009 was in the middle of the economy crash and the concern that all the Big3 were headed towards bankruptcy. Sales were really bad and are not too hard to surpass now.

I am glad to see the good news. It does show things are better than a year ago, but I keep the relevency in the front of my mind too.

The biggest thing for me now is to see Ford making profit each month as opposed to the years of losing money. This is the measuring stick I am going by.

Steve

Chopped · 03-02-2010, 03:10 PM

Hopefully the big 3 can take advantage of Toyota's problem and restore some faith with the buyers. (who have in the past fled to the Japanese models)

Go for the throat and play the patriotic card.

Healthy American Ford/GM means healthy Australian Ford/Holden.

Ohio XB · 04-02-2010, 10:10 AM

The patriotic card has not worked here for the auto market. The paradigm that Japanese cars are much better than American cars is deeply engrained. At one time that was true, but that is not the case anymore. Unfortunately people already have the paradigm so they don't feel a need to keep up with the changes in the industry.

Believe me, when they actually understand the difference at Ford and learn what the quality level is now (exceding Toyota and Honda based on 3rd party evaluation) they will say "Well when did all this happen?"

Steve

cosmo20btt · 04-02-2010, 10:16 AM

Yet another article about Toyota recall, transport minister puts foot in mouth telling everyone owning Toyota's to not drive them then instantly reneges.
http://www.examiner.com/a-2455949~To...over_risk.html
Toyota woes just keep coming.

vztrt · 04-02-2010, 07:45 PM

Now Prius caught in Toyota nightmare

http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mell...2576C0000091B4

Quote:

Toyota investigates Prius brake-feel complaints in Japan and US as recalls roll on

4 February 2010

By RON HAMMERTON

TOYOTA is investigating complaints of inconsistent brake feel on its new third-generation Prius hybrid in Japan and the United States, adding to the woes that so far have ensnared more than eight million Toyota cars in recalls worldwide.

At the time of writing, GoAuto was awaiting a response from Toyota Australia on whether it had received any such reports of brake issues with the Prius Mark III which went on sale in Australia in July – two months after its debut in Japan and the US.

The company released a statement saying: "In certain current-generation Prius vehicles, Toyota has received reports that some customers have experienced inconsistent brake feel when the vehicle is driven over potholes, bumps or slippery road surfaces.

"Toyota is currently in the process of confirming these reports and investigating the vehicle driving conditions under which the reported condition occurs.

"Toyota Australia has a well established process to deal with matters such as this and will notify customers if further action is required. It is premature to comment until the investigation has been completed."

The timing of the reports is not ideal for the Australian arm of the world’s biggest car-maker, which is set to launch its locally made Camry Hybrid in Australia next week.

The Prius issue is unrelated to the “unintended acceleration” problem that has beset some of Toyota’s biggest sellers in North America, Asia and Europe. In those cases, the problem is said to relate to either dislodged floor mats or sticky accelerator pedals which can reportedly jam open, although US authorities also are investigating a theory that the problem might be caused by an electronics issue.

No vehicles in Australia have been affected by the accelerator pedal or floormat recalls.

Toyota’s reputation for quality and consistency of engineering has been severely dented by the issues, and the company now has acted quickly to head off any suggestion that it has been tardy to respond to the latest reports of problems concerning its image-boosting Prius hybrid.

According to the company, some customers have told their dealers that the Prius brake feel is inconsistent over potholes, bumps or slippery road surfaces.

Most of the complaints appear to have been made in recent weeks, with 102 such reports listed on the US National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration’s web site. Japanese dealers have also passed on reports from disgruntled customers to Toyota Motor Corporation.

The hybrid Prius has regenerative braking which uses the car's electric motor-generator to help brake the vehicle, thereby converting the forward motion into electricity.

When the brake pedal is depressed, the electric motor that helps to drive the vehicle under acceleration switches to generator mode, using the drag of its magnets to slow the vehicle as it simultaneously creates electricity for later use, storing it in the car's nickel-metal hydride batteries.

The Toyota hybrid – the best-selling petrol-electric car in the world – also has conventional disc brakes that step in under heavy braking to ensure safety.

Meanwhile, Toyota’s American operation says its 172,000 corporate and dealership employees are “working around the clock” to fix accelerator pedals for US customers.

In Europe, Toyota has confirmed that seven models are now subject to the accelerator pedal recall – iQ, Aygo, Yaris, Auris, Corolla, Avensis and Versa.

vztrt · 04-02-2010, 07:48 PM

http://theage.drive.com.au/motor-new...ml?autostart=1

Quote:

Prius recall rumoured
TOBY HAGON
February 4, 2010 - 5:35PM

Toyota’s environmental hero car is being investigated for reported brake problems, fuelling rumours it could be recalled.

The Toyota Prius hybrid car could be headed to an embarrassing recall, topping off a horror fortnight for Toyota that's seen its reputation for reliability and quality battered by an unrelated recall of millions of vehicles around the world.

Rumours are circulating that Toyota's environmental hero car and the world's most popular hybrid could be headed for a recall due to reported problems of braking issues.

Toyota Australia has acknowledged the third generation of the petrol-electric car that's ranked as the greenest on the market by the Government's Green Vehicle Guide website is being investigated in an email sent to customers.

The statement said: "In certain current generation Prius vehicles, Toyota has received reports that some customers have experienced inconsistent brake feel when the vehicle is driven over potholes, bumps or slippery road surfaces."

Toyota spokesman Mike Breen said there had been "a small number of reports" of braking problems with the Prius.
"Our technical services people are investigating those reports," said Breen.

He refused to speculate on whether the issues would lead to a recall.

"It's too early to say and the investigations are still ongoing."

Toyota stopped short of saying the Prius would be recalled but said the Prius issues would be investigated further.

"Toyota is currently in the process of confirming these reports and investigating the vehicle driving conditions under which the reported condition occurs," the customer statement said.

"Toyota Australia has a well established process to deal with matters such as this and will notify customers if further action is required. It is premature to comment until the investigation has been completed."

Toyota's Japanese headquarters is expected to elaborate on the Prius brake problems in a press release at 3.30pm Japanese time (5.30pm AEST) today.

The Prius uses an advanced regenerative braking system, which can capture some of the energy normally lost in heat and store it in a battery for later use by the electric motor.

Advanced electronics effectively reverse the electric motor to provide resistance and slow the car. The Prius also has regular brakes for emergency stop situations.

Ohio XB · 06-02-2010, 07:44 AM

Was it known there in Australia about Toyota having to buy back 6 years worth of Tacoma trucks in the US because the frames rust in half? They were/are buying them back at 150% of their value to make the owners happy.

In regions where salt is used on the roads in the winter (like here in Ohio) the frames get eaten up, swiss cheesed, and break in half.

This was mentioned on the news programs, once, and then never talked about again. This is the media coverage we are used to when it comes to Japanese auto makers problems. I guess Toyota is having just too many problems now to ignore.

Quote:

Toyota Announces Tacoma Buyback Program For Severe Rust Corrosion

If you own a Tacoma made between 1995 and 2000, Toyota would like to inspect it free of charge—and if the rust corrosion is severe enough, they will either repair the truck on their dime or buy it back as a vehicle in "excellent condition" no matter what state it's really in. Toyota announced this a little over a month ago and said thy would start sending letters to Tacoma owners in the weeks to come, so if you haven't received yours yet, be on the lookout for it.

It looks like Toyota is attempting to avoid both an official recall and any sort of class-action suit by being pro-active in dealing with the problem vehicles, which is not a bad thing. The opportunity to make a profit off the purchase of your vehicle hassle-free is likely PR and not standard operating procedure, but it's a smart way to lure Tacoma owners in for the free inspection. "This is not a recall," writes the Toyota exec on their blog. "What's important is that we take care of our owners. We just thought you should know that.

They also have a problem with the frames on the full sized Tundra truck (their F-150 fighter) rusting out in certain areas causing the spare tire underneath to fall off.

http://www.nowpublic.com/tech-biz/to...n-2525363.html

Quote:

Toyota Tundra Recall: 110,000 Trucks Recalled for Frame Corrosion

by Jordan Yerman | November 25, 2009 at 07:28 am

Around 110,000 Toyota Tundra trucks were recalled due to a frame corrosion problem that could cause the spare tire to fall off. The Toyota truck recall affects the 2000-2003 model years in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Washington, DC. This is unrelated to the Toyota Tundra recall affecting 2005-2010 model years.

If you own one of the affected Toyota Tundras, you'll receive a recall notice in the mail starting in December (next week). Should you get a recall notice, bring your Toyota truck to a Toyota dealer for an inspection. If your Tundra's rear crossbar is starting to corrode, it will be repaired or replaced at no charge.

Not long after the Tundra was introduced in it's full-sized version there was a recall for defective camshafts too.

And there are a few more recalls and pro-active notifications. Years ago when Ford was in this situation it was usually a leading story on the news......."Another Ford recall for the beleaguered car maker...."

Steve