Run away Toyotas - It's getting old

[Thai]

All I have left to say is I know how to drive standard, know where Neutral and the E-Brake are, keep obstructions away from my feet and always have an emergency plan. It's a good idea in any car, not just an allegedly unsafe Toyota, because you never really know what a car's weakness is.

All good and dandy, but the lady who is testifying in Congress stated that shifting into NEUTRAL did NOT work! :shrug:

 

[Thai]

The only vehicles I know so far not involved are all the more hard-core vehicles (4Runner, Land Cruiser, and FJ).

I am happy to know that you consider my Sienna a hard-core vehicle...i do also!! :lmao:

 

[Jed]

I think the bigger issue now for Toyota is the fact they knew there was a problem for a number of years but have worked diligently with the DOT to convince them the issue was isolated instead of actually trying to identify and fix the issue. A number of deaths have been reported and at least one person was sent to jail because their toyota accelerated without user input and killed another person. Now Toyota execs, if found guilty in the congressional hearings, will most likely face a number of charges. Unfortunately, this speaks very poorly of a company that had a stellar record for so long. Guess profiteering doesn't really pay off. The only vehicles I know so far not involved are all the more hard-core vehicles (4Runner, Land Cruiser, and FJ). I think, more than anything else, beyond the recalls (which all manufacturers have) is that Toyota has broken a long-term trust with their consumers, and the fact that this now extends beyond certain models of certain model years. Aside from the brakes failing early on my 4Runner, I still like my vehicle, but I am not so sure I will be recommending Toyota for a while.

From what I've heard, that person in jail who claimed unintended acceleration drove an older model that is not part of any related recall. Again, that's probably just someone who is trying to take advantage of the media frenzy to get himself out of trouble. I'd do the same thing if I were in jail for running over someone. Who wouldn't?

 

[Uneek]

Well, it may be geting old, but it made the headlines in today's paper. "Toyota: Pedal issue not fully resolved".

Here is today's catoon from the Atlanta paper. So, I guess it is not going away quite yet.

:lol: love it!

 

[cwest94]

I'm not sure what to believe anymore. Because of all the crap in the news right now about Toyota, a lot of people are going to be coming out of the wood work.

I do though think the 4Runner model should be looked at just to make sure things are safe. I myself have had problems with the accelerator sticking on mine a few times, each time was when I was doing heavy acceleration into merging traffic on the highway. The first time it did this I almost crapped my pants as I almost rear ended a car, but I thought maybe it was my floor mat, so I removed it. A couple days later it did it again, so I called the dealer and took it in to be looked at. They said there was no problems and thought it was my floor mat, even though the mat wasn't there, it was over on the passenger side floor and to let them know if it did it again. Well it did this again a few days after being at the dealer and I called to inform the mechanic and never got a answer. This happened 2yrs ago, long before we all started to hear about these things going on. So now when I have to merge onto the highway, I NEVER do heavy acceleration in fear that I will hit someone.

 

[djj1973]

I watched the hearing yesterday and was honestly embarressed how our politicians handled this situation. The lady the day before who testified saying her Lexus accelerated to 100 mph while she called her husband on "the bluetooth system" also said she put her car into all gears trying to slow it down. I don't buy it... what I see is a few consumers may have legit problems with thier cars, they bring those problems to the medias attention, then all of a sudden everyone else is having similar issues. Sounds to me like these people see Toyotas deep pockets and a chance to cash in. I also heard this lady being interviewed about her Lexus...blah, blah, blah... then the interviewer asked her what she's driving now... a Camry !

I've owned many Toyota's over the last 15 years and can honestly say that my 2004 Solara had the most problems; creaky sunroof, bad stereo, minor issues. The other models were very well made including my current 4 Runner.

LaHood said nothing constructive but cover his own butt. If he couldn't answer the questions as to why these issues were not handled when first brought to their attention, why was he there ? Why weren't the former NHTSB employee's, now retired, subpoenaed ?

I will continue to buy Toyotas. They still beat any of the other crap out there.

DJJ :bravo:

 

[boston_kevin]

I am happy to know that you consider my Sienna a hard-core vehicle...i do also!! :lmao:

Thai - any vehicle you own is more hard core than most. What lift do you have on the Sienna these days?

 

[bradj]

I watched the hearing yesterday and was honestly embarressed how our politicians handled this situation. The lady the day before who testified saying her Lexus accelerated to 100 mph while she called her husband on "the bluetooth system" also said she put her car into all gears trying to slow it down. I don't buy it... what I see is a few consumers may have legit problems with thier cars, they bring those problems to the medias attention, then all of a sudden everyone else is having similar issues. Sounds to me like these people see Toyotas deep pockets and a chance to cash in. I also heard this lady being interviewed about her Lexus...blah, blah, blah... then the interviewer asked her what she's driving now... a Camry !

I've owned many Toyota's over the last 15 years and can honestly say that my 2004 Solara had the most problems; creaky sunroof, bad stereo, minor issues. The other models were very well made including my current 4 Runner.

LaHood said nothing constructive but cover his own butt. If he couldn't answer the questions as to why these issues were not handled when first brought to their attention, why was he there ? Why weren't the former NHTSB employee's, now retired, subpoenaed ?

I will continue to buy Toyotas. They still beat any of the other crap out there.

DJJ :bravo:

Exactly I'm buying a new 5th gen and people ask me why with all the trouble toyotas having. I say I need a new SUV and what am I gonna buy a chevy traverse???? Nissan pathfinder? all POS I think.

 

[morphius909]

Odd I've never seen any of the big 3 POS domestic CEO's affront of such a committee?

The whole anti-toyota movement seems to be losing steam. I'm quite bored with it. I love my 4runner and don't see an issue with keeping it for a long long time.

 

[boston_kevin]

Odd I've never seen any of the big 3 POS domestic CEO's affront of such a committee?

The whole anti-toyota movement seems to be losing steam. I'm quite bored with it. I love my 4runner and don't see an issue with keeping it for a long long time.

Already forgot about the Ford Explorer issue about 8-9 years ago? Ford CEO appeared in front of the same committee and stated that the issue was not a design flaw per-se, but a tire issue (but the specs on the Explorer called for 26 psi in the rear tires). Both Bridgestone and Ford were held liable for these accidents. So far as I know, the big 3 domestic CEO's did not lie about known issues to the Transportation Safety board (but they have tried to blame other companies). Toyota has recently admitted that they knew about issues as early as '99, but convinced the board that these were isolated issues, so in other words, they have known about acceleration and braking issues with some models (not just isolated customer vehicles) for a decade but continued to propagate a lie to both transportation & safety boards as well as the public. Aside from the safety issues, Toyota still seems to have a higher reliability for most models than the domestics, but I credit that more towards the manufacturing quality versus design.

 

[Jed]

Already forgot about the Ford Explorer issue about 8-9 years ago? Ford CEO appeared in front of the same committee and stated that the issue was not a design flaw per-se, but a tire issue (but the specs on the Explorer called for 26 psi in the rear tires). Both Bridgestone and Ford were held liable for these accidents. So far as I know, the big 3 domestic CEO's did not lie about known issues to the Transportation Safety board (but they have tried to blame other companies). Toyota has recently admitted that they knew about issues as early as '99, but convinced the board that these were isolated issues, so in other words, they have known about acceleration and braking issues with some models (not just isolated customer vehicles) for a decade but continued to propagate a lie to both transportation & safety boards as well as the public. Aside from the safety issues, Toyota still seems to have a higher reliability for most models than the domestics, but I credit that more towards the manufacturing quality versus design.

In all fairness. I'd bet that EVERY major car company has experience complaints about braking issues and unintended acceleration on various models. It's a normal part of business for them. A lot of complaints don't even raise any eyebrows until they start getting a lot of similar complaints. So maybe Toyota is still hiding something or maybe not. A few random complaints don't really prove anything either way.

 

[PredBlue]

In other news:

"An international investigation of auto-parts makers over alleged price-fixing and other antitrust violations intensified Thursday as more companies confirmed office raids by authorities.

Several suppliers, including German car parts supplier Leoni, were visited by the European Commission. Authorities in Japan also searched offices of parts makers. The European and Japanese companies—along with Yazaki North America, Denso International America Inc. and Tokai Rika that were raided Tuesday by the FBI in the U.S.—all make automotive electrical distribution systems or components....."

Toyota suppliers raided as part of antitrust probe | freep.com | Detroit Free Press

 

[boston_kevin]

In all fairness. I'd bet that EVERY major car company has experience complaints about braking issues and unintended acceleration on various models. It's a normal part of business for them. A lot of complaints don't even raise any eyebrows until they start getting a lot of similar complaints. So maybe Toyota is still hiding something or maybe not. A few random complaints don't really prove anything either way.

True, very true. Most of these issues, unless there is a trend, remain unresolved and companies accept them as part of doing business.