Why is the Toyota recall not a big deal?

[mogrovejo]

The increases in market share Toyota has made over the last few years suggest otherwise.



And if all you do is run a stop sign then your reputation remains intact. Over the next few months we'll see what the consumers have to say about how big a hit Toyota's reputation takes. They're the only ones whose opinion matters.

Good post.

[ElNono]

Depends upon the definition of built. Assembled? Probably. Built, I doubt it. It seems to be a damned hard stat to pin down.

Not hard at all. Most every Toyota car has a sticker on the side stating where their components came from and where it was assembled. My father-in-law Tundra was assembled in San Antonio, TX, with the majority of the components coming from Japan.

[Drachen]

That's natural though. Part of the pride in your country being better than everybody else is to hold it to a higher standard.

Or should be...

I see what you are saying, but I dont really think that has anything to do with 21st century USA (or really any country outside of a few). My point had nothing to do with patriotism and more to do with track record. Also, I don't think patriotic pride should have any impact on a financial decsion. If EVERYTHING else is equal and you need a tie breaker, ok, but not otherwise.

Edit: I just re-read your post and you really didn't talk about using patriotism to justify a financial decision. Just using patriotism to justify expectations. I can agree with that, on a purely financial perspective. If we build the best stuff then we buy our own stuff, and other places buy our stuff. Money coming in. If we build crappy stuff, then we buy other people's stuff and no one else buys our stuff. Money flowing out. I don't really buy into the whole we should be better because that's what we do - thought process. It just makes logical sense for a nation to strive to do what they do better than anyone else. Not necessarily for that special feeling, but because of the tangible benefits that come along with it.

That is just how *I feel*. It is not better or worse than anyone who doesn't agree with me and therefore is not to be represented as an attack.

[ElNono]

Ummm. no.

BTW...the problems with this recall stem from Toyota capturing more and more market share. Their drive to be number one had them really reaching. When you're cranking cars out faster than you can safely make them, you get little ups like this.

I have to assume your comment is entirely speculation? It really doesn't matter how many cars you're cranking out. They all have to pass NHTSA safety regulations and quality control.

My understanding is that this is a design/engineering problem, not a manufacturing one.

[TeyshaBlue]

Not hard at all. Most every Toyota car has a sticker on the side stating where their components came from and where it was assembled. My father-in-law Thundra was assembled in San Antonio, TX, with the majority of the components coming from Japan.

Ok, it was assembled there. But was it built there? That's where it gets iffy.

[ElNono]

Ok, it was assembled there. But was it built there? That's where it gets iffy.

[SouthernFried]

This is a HUUUUGGGGGE deal...and it's being portrayed as such. Well, I dunno how the main media is portraying it, I don't listen to them so I can't comment.

But in the business journals...this is a big BIG deal....and a HUGE opportunity.

[TeyshaBlue]

I have to assume your comment is entirely speculation? It really doesn't matter how many cars you're cranking out. They all have to pass NHTSA safety regulations and quality control.

My understanding is that this is a design/engineering problem, not a manufacturing one.

Of course it's speculation. NHTSA didn't do much with the Pinto tho...or the Ford LTD/Crown Vic. Those were design/engineering problems too. Short development cycles can cause these.

[ElNono]

I see what you are saying, but I dont really think that has anything to do with 21st century USA (or really any country outside of a few). My point had nothing to do with patriotism and more to do with track record. Also, I don't think patriotic pride should have any impact on a financial decsion. If EVERYTHING else is equal and you need a tie breaker, ok, but not otherwise.

I agree with you. However, I don't think a good amount of people in this country agree with us both.

[TeyshaBlue]

Excellent. That's one. Now, let's go count the rest of em so we can see what the percentages are.

[ElNono]

Of course it's speculation. NHTSA didn't do much with the Pinto tho...or the Ford LTD/Crown Vic. Those were design/engineering problems too. Short development cycles can cause these.

I think this has a lot more to do with complexity and veering towards more electronics than anything. Funny that Woz came out complaining yesterday, because since I heard about it, I thought this has to be a software issue.
And therein lies the problem. I'm a software developer, and it's fairly difficult to test mission critical software, especially under distress, like in a car.

I think the NHTSA is going to have to come up with new standards as far as software goes. We're going that way, and at this point it's inevitable.

[coyotes_geek]

But in the business journals...this is a big BIG deal....and a HUGE opportunity.

Definitely a huge opportunity. Not only for the auto companies, but for consumers as well. Ford and GM are already offering incentives to try and get Toyota customers to bail. Pretty soon Toyota will have to start offering similar incentives, if not greater ones, to try and hold on to them. Not a bad time to buy a car if you're in the market right now, and it doesn't matter what brand you're thinking about.

[TeyshaBlue]

I think this has a lot more to do with complexity and veering towards more electronics than anything. Funny that Woz came out complaining yesterday, because since I heard about it, I thought this has to be a software issue.
And therein lies the problem. I'm a software developer, and it's fairly difficult to test mission critical software, especially under distress, like in a car.

I think the NHTSA is going to have to come up with new standards as far as software goes. We're going that way, and at this point it's inevitable.

Agreed. I hope someone in the NHTSA is ahead of the curve on this one.

[spursncowboys]

I guess because they don't have as long a track-record of putting out death-traps and lemons like we do? Also, it may have to do with the fact that their reputation comes from the fact that their cars run forever, not necessarily from their safety. Anyway, to answer your question, I don't know.

+1
they are the ones who started this recall, and were not forced to. They do have a great brand. I will always pick a Toyota over any other brand, except maybe Ford (for trucks only).

[boutons_deux]

I have friend who bought a top model M-B a few years ago.

Mechanically impeccable, but electronically/computer-ly, he was in the shop every month.

[TeyshaBlue]

I have friend who bought a top model M-B a few years ago.

Mechanically impeccable, but electronically/computer-ly, he was in the shop every month.

My daughter's BMW has been a little iffy in that regard as well.

[EmptyMan]

The only people bashing vehicles are people that have actually worked on said vehicles.

I get tired of people telling me what is good and what isn't when they could not even identify a wrench.

[Spursmania]

Toyota employs 30,000 Americans in the state. They have had a reputation of having cars that are reliable and last. I'm just glad they are dealing with the recall on a large scale now rather than hiding it until more accidents happen and forcing people to prove their damages via class lawsuits.

BTW, the Mercedes' we have had always had problems, but they were beautiful to look at and drive in. I was taking mine in every other month and red lights were always coming on. We've had 3 different models.

The current Lexus' we have are undeniably reliable and nice, but not as beautiful as some of the Mercedes models. I chose to save myself time and trips to the service center and will stick to the Lexus now and into the future.
No thanks, Mercedes.

[admiralsnackbar]

There was a 5 minute piece on Toyota's problems on the NBC nightly news tonight.

[elbamba]

If it were an American brand everyone would be piling on saying how much they suck. Now we finally see that Toyota doesn't make these dream machines that people have thought and nobody seems to care. People always backed Toyota as if they were the greatest cars around while looking down on American makers, yet Toyota has one of the largest recalls ever and nobody discusses it. Toyota a) avoided even talking about the situation even though people's lives were at risk, b) they had to stop selling these faulty cars because our government had to force them to stop selling, otherwise they would still be selling them. If this were Ford or GM people would be dancing on their graves

When a Toyota memo leaks that essentially says FU to all the people who complain that there car is a death trap and decides that it is cheaper to litigate them to recall, you will hear people bad mouth Toyota.


http://www.associatedcontent.com/art...ing_pinto.html

[PublicOption]

if it were an american brand everyone would be piling on saying how much they suck. Now we finally see that toyota doesn't make these dream machines that people have thought and nobody seems to care. People always backed toyota as if they were the greatest cars around while looking down on american makers, yet toyota has one of the largest recalls ever and nobody discusses it. Toyota a) avoided even talking about the situation even though people's lives were at risk, b) they had to stop selling these faulty cars because our government had to force them to stop selling, otherwise they would still be selling them. If this were ford or gm people would be dancing on their graves

because toyota does not have a history of covering up.

[coyotes_geek]

Toyota now admitting that the Prius had brake problems.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Toyota...&asset=&ccode=

[ElNono]

Toyota now admitting that the Prius had brake problems.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Toyota...&asset=&ccode=

The flaw, which requires a software programming change to fix, makes the brakes momentarily unresponsive. Toyota was checking if there were reports of similar problems with other hybrid models though they use a different braking system from the Prius.

software bug...

[Mr. Peabody]

The Toyota recall has been all over the news sites and on cable news consistently. This morning as I was getting dressed CNN had the recall as a lead story and then, discussed a recent death that is attributed to a faulty Toyota.

Also, the media is reporting that Toyota will take a $2 billion loss on the recall.

All of this seems like the media is reporting it as a big deal. So . . . who's saying it's not?

[TeyshaBlue]

The flaw, which requires a software programming change to fix, makes the brakes momentarily unresponsive. Toyota was checking if there were reports of similar problems with other hybrid models though they use a different braking system from the Prius.

software bug...

You need to get to work designing a simple USB interface for cars. Plug in a flash drive, drag some files over, and bingo! Problem fixed.