Hey, Let's Bash Toyota
By AL LEWIS
BP's Tony Hayward drove Akio Toyoda's runaway cars off the 24-hour news cycle. But now that BP's hole is plugged, it's time to start wailing on Toyota again.
Last week, Toyota revealed that a federal grand jury in New York has subpoenaed documents, potentially widening probes from stuck accelerators to snapping steering rods.
Don't you just love what we do to Toyota? Why can't we do this to everybody?
Drag the CEO all the way from Japan, shove him before Congress, and make him cry.
Slap the company with the highest possible fine. Sue it hundreds of times. Convince it to recall models by the millions. Make it apologize repeatedly. (Bow more fully for the cameras next time, Mr. Toyoda.)
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood once warned Americans not to drive Toyotas. Can you imagine the Treasury secretary warning Americans not to use Goldman Sachs? And why didn't Congress make Mr. Hayward cry? The closest he came to tears was when he whined, "I want my life back," and then got back on his yacht to sail the less poisoned part of the ocean.
So now it's time to beat on someone else. Remember Big Tobacco? How about Big Toyota?
Toyotas can take off as if possessed by Onibaba, the Japanese demon hag. OK, so as investigations continue, it's looking like many accidents were caused by drivers who don't know the difference between the gas pedal and the brake. But Toyotas may have other problems, too.
Toyota hasn't always been forthright. And it's illegal to mislead regulators about safety defects in cars. Not that other auto makers haven't done it. But there has never been a better time to pile on criminal charges.
Toyota bashing helps Americans forget GM's bumbling former CEO Rick Wagoner and Chrysler's former mis-manager Bob Nardelli. It also gets voters' minds off former Countrywide CEO Angelo Mozilo's special loans to his friends, or Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein's shrewd decision to have the bank settle with the Securities and Exchange Commission for $550 million. And the systemic fraud alleged at America's biggest banks, a mind-blowing national debt and double-digit unemployment after corporations shipped millions of jobs abroad.
Toyota bashing makes it look like our leaders are actually trying to save America.
"All the Toyota vehicles bear my name," Mr. Toyoda has repeatedly lamented, which is true except that I think someone in the marketing department misspelled it a long time ago and never fixed it.
"When the cars are damaged, it is as though I am, as well."
I don't know if Mr. Toyoda is contrite, or if he's just another grief-feigning narcissist whose grandfather gave him a car company. But I was heartened when he went before Congress in February and said this:
"I fear the pace at which we have grown may have been too quick.... Toyota's priority has traditionally been the following: First, safety. Second, quality. And third, volume. These priorities became confused."
Why can't we make every company admit this? Isn't this the problem with every company?
http://online.wsj.com/article/NA_WSJ_PUB:SB128001605680520665.html
Showing posts with label nhtsa. Show all posts
Showing posts with label nhtsa. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
News pg 20 Nissan recall 50,000 Cube for causing fires
In todays NY Post on page 20 they carried a copy of a Reuters article stating:
Nissan recalls 51,000 Cubes
DETROIT-- Nissan is recalling 51,000 Cube compacts in North America after safety regulators said a fuel leak could cause fire after a crash.
The chance that 2009 and 2010 model-years Cubes could leak fuel if struck from the reat at 50 mph led to the recall, documents from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration show.
Now the HS has a much less severe issue and in a almost impossible to duplicate senario and Lexus article gets front pages. We put people in loaners, and jump through all kinds of hoops for them. Word is from Nissan that they are doing nothing special.
We need to spread the word more about how we really take care of customers in comparision to these other companies. General perception is still huge again all the good and right we are doing. You need to be our best advocate everywhere in you life for us.
Keep up the great hard work....Keep showing them why Lexus is great and setting the bar again.
Nissan recalls 51,000 Cubes
DETROIT-- Nissan is recalling 51,000 Cube compacts in North America after safety regulators said a fuel leak could cause fire after a crash.
The chance that 2009 and 2010 model-years Cubes could leak fuel if struck from the reat at 50 mph led to the recall, documents from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration show.
Now the HS has a much less severe issue and in a almost impossible to duplicate senario and Lexus article gets front pages. We put people in loaners, and jump through all kinds of hoops for them. Word is from Nissan that they are doing nothing special.
We need to spread the word more about how we really take care of customers in comparision to these other companies. General perception is still huge again all the good and right we are doing. You need to be our best advocate everywhere in you life for us.
Keep up the great hard work....Keep showing them why Lexus is great and setting the bar again.
Monday, July 19, 2010
Unintended Acceleration Data From NHTSA Flawed
Blog Blames Unintended Acceleration in Toyotas on Flawed Complaint Analysis
After reviewing analyses of unintended acceleration complaints to NHTSA about Toyota vehicles, TheTruthAboutCars blog has concluded that the data "puts a lot of the controversy … to rest."
The blog noted that about 3,000 of the 11,500 complaints of unintended acceleration (UA) involved Toyota vehicles. But when the data is examined in the context of incidents per 100,000 units, Volvo, which built its reputation on safety, had nearly an identical rate of UA complaints.
In addition, the number of Toyota UA complaints only "start to get out of hand" once publicity about the company’s recalls took off. "Given that the rest of the data fail to provide a pattern of UA problems in Toyota, media frenzy and lawyer frenzy are the only plausible explanations for the recent spike in complaints," the blog said.
TheTruthAboutCars concluded that the data shows "very few patterns that indicate an underlying problem unique to Toyota vehicles."
http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/unintended-acceleration-in-toyotas-the-ghost-in-the-data/
After reviewing analyses of unintended acceleration complaints to NHTSA about Toyota vehicles, TheTruthAboutCars blog has concluded that the data "puts a lot of the controversy … to rest."
The blog noted that about 3,000 of the 11,500 complaints of unintended acceleration (UA) involved Toyota vehicles. But when the data is examined in the context of incidents per 100,000 units, Volvo, which built its reputation on safety, had nearly an identical rate of UA complaints.
In addition, the number of Toyota UA complaints only "start to get out of hand" once publicity about the company’s recalls took off. "Given that the rest of the data fail to provide a pattern of UA problems in Toyota, media frenzy and lawyer frenzy are the only plausible explanations for the recent spike in complaints," the blog said.
TheTruthAboutCars concluded that the data shows "very few patterns that indicate an underlying problem unique to Toyota vehicles."
http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/unintended-acceleration-in-toyotas-the-ghost-in-the-data/
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
The US Agrees with Toyota:No Electronice Defects in Toyota products
Let's see if this gets as much press and a congressional hearing:
Federal regulators have yet to find any electronic defects in Toyota vehicles, a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) official today told a scientific panel appointed to study potential causes of unintended accelerations.
Some members of Congress, consumer advocates and product-liability plaintiff lawyers have said that electronic-throttle control systems may be responsible for reports of unintended acceleration. Toyota has said its rigorous testing has not found any electronic defects that would cause unintended acceleration. Instead, the company has identified unsecured floor mats and sticking accelerator pedals as two causes.
"We have not actually been able to find a defect of electronic-throttle control systems" in Toyota vehicles, NHTSA’s Dan Smith told the National Academy of Sciences panel. He added that NHTSA has identified the same two causes – floor mats and sticking pedals – as Toyota.
The head of NHTSA, David Strickland, told the panel that the problem of unintended acceleration is an industrywide issue. "Complaints of unintended acceleration are not – repeat not – exclusive to Toyota."
Federal regulators have yet to find any electronic defects in Toyota vehicles, a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) official today told a scientific panel appointed to study potential causes of unintended accelerations.
Some members of Congress, consumer advocates and product-liability plaintiff lawyers have said that electronic-throttle control systems may be responsible for reports of unintended acceleration. Toyota has said its rigorous testing has not found any electronic defects that would cause unintended acceleration. Instead, the company has identified unsecured floor mats and sticking accelerator pedals as two causes.
"We have not actually been able to find a defect of electronic-throttle control systems" in Toyota vehicles, NHTSA’s Dan Smith told the National Academy of Sciences panel. He added that NHTSA has identified the same two causes – floor mats and sticking pedals – as Toyota.
The head of NHTSA, David Strickland, told the panel that the problem of unintended acceleration is an industrywide issue. "Complaints of unintended acceleration are not – repeat not – exclusive to Toyota."
Federal regulators have yet to find any electronic defects in Toyota vehicles, a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) official today told a scientific panel appointed to study potential causes of unintended accelerations.
Some members of Congress, consumer advocates and product-liability plaintiff lawyers have said that electronic-throttle control systems may be responsible for reports of unintended acceleration. Toyota has said its rigorous testing has not found any electronic defects that would cause unintended acceleration. Instead, the company has identified unsecured floor mats and sticking accelerator pedals as two causes.
"We have not actually been able to find a defect of electronic-throttle control systems" in Toyota vehicles, NHTSA’s Dan Smith told the National Academy of Sciences panel. He added that NHTSA has identified the same two causes – floor mats and sticking pedals – as Toyota.
The head of NHTSA, David Strickland, told the panel that the problem of unintended acceleration is an industrywide issue. "Complaints of unintended acceleration are not – repeat not – exclusive to Toyota."
Federal regulators have yet to find any electronic defects in Toyota vehicles, a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) official today told a scientific panel appointed to study potential causes of unintended accelerations.
Some members of Congress, consumer advocates and product-liability plaintiff lawyers have said that electronic-throttle control systems may be responsible for reports of unintended acceleration. Toyota has said its rigorous testing has not found any electronic defects that would cause unintended acceleration. Instead, the company has identified unsecured floor mats and sticking accelerator pedals as two causes.
"We have not actually been able to find a defect of electronic-throttle control systems" in Toyota vehicles, NHTSA’s Dan Smith told the National Academy of Sciences panel. He added that NHTSA has identified the same two causes – floor mats and sticking pedals – as Toyota.
The head of NHTSA, David Strickland, told the panel that the problem of unintended acceleration is an industrywide issue. "Complaints of unintended acceleration are not – repeat not – exclusive to Toyota."
Friday, June 4, 2010
FORD: NHTSA Investigates their Acceleration Issues
This seems like familiar territory for Toyota/Lexus people, but now it seems the truth that we have all been saying that floor mats are an industry wide issue are starting to come out. For those of you who subscribe to the Big Brother Conspiracy Theories, Ford didnt take Stimulus money.....Hmmmm Government Motors is never mention in the press as having an issue.....
And if you really believe that stuff I have a bridge in Brooklyn for sale.....Give you a good price on it....
Read on:
NHTSA Investigates Ford and Mercury for Unintended Acceleration
Posted: Jun. 02, 2010 10:06 a.m.
Ford is cooperating with an NHTSA investigation into reported cases of unintended acceleration in the 2010 Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan. As was the case in one of the recent high-profile Toyota recalls, it is believed that floor mats are what’s causing the problem.
Thus far, the NHTSA has only received three complaints about floor mats hindering proper operation of the gas pedal in the Fusion and Milan. However, it is not taking any chances.
Kicking Tires explains: “Typically, three complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration won’t spark an investigation. … The investigation would seem unusual if weren’t for Toyota’s massive recall for a similar problem late last year.”
Interestingly, one of those complaints came from Edmunds’ Director of Vehicle Testing, Dan Edmunds, who experienced a frightening incident of unintended acceleration after the gas pedal in his test-model 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid jammed due to the thickness of its stacked floor mats.
While the investigation is still pending, the NHTSA has “warned owners of 2010 Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan vehicles not to place unsecured floor mats -- made by Ford or anyone else -- on top of the standard, carpeted floor mat in the driver's side foot well,” reports the Detroit News. Stacking unsecure floor mats may interfere with the gas pedal, causing it to stick in a downward position.
“Ford spokesman Said Deep said the automaker warns customers on the mats themselves and in instructions that come with them to remove the regular floor mat before using the thicker, rubber mat,” writes the Detroit Free Press. “The all-weather mat has two prominent holes for retaining hooks.”
Dan Edmunds offers this piece of advice: "Don't assume everything is OK because a) you don't drive a Toyota/Lexus product or b) because everything looked OK in a random curbside test. The real world contains far more variables and conditions than you or I can account for."
According to Autoblog, “A grand total of 249,301 cars are being investigated over this potential problem with Ford's all-weather floor mats” -- which is a drop in the bucket compared to Toyota’s multi-million vehicle recall for similar problems.
To date, no accidents or injuries have been reported due to unintended acceleration in either the 2010 Ford Fusion or Mercury Milan.
http://usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/cars-trucks/daily-news/100602-NHTSA-Investigates-Ford-and-Mercury-for-Unintended-Acceleration/
And if you really believe that stuff I have a bridge in Brooklyn for sale.....Give you a good price on it....
Read on:
NHTSA Investigates Ford and Mercury for Unintended Acceleration
Posted: Jun. 02, 2010 10:06 a.m.
Ford is cooperating with an NHTSA investigation into reported cases of unintended acceleration in the 2010 Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan. As was the case in one of the recent high-profile Toyota recalls, it is believed that floor mats are what’s causing the problem.
Thus far, the NHTSA has only received three complaints about floor mats hindering proper operation of the gas pedal in the Fusion and Milan. However, it is not taking any chances.
Kicking Tires explains: “Typically, three complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration won’t spark an investigation. … The investigation would seem unusual if weren’t for Toyota’s massive recall for a similar problem late last year.”
Interestingly, one of those complaints came from Edmunds’ Director of Vehicle Testing, Dan Edmunds, who experienced a frightening incident of unintended acceleration after the gas pedal in his test-model 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid jammed due to the thickness of its stacked floor mats.
While the investigation is still pending, the NHTSA has “warned owners of 2010 Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan vehicles not to place unsecured floor mats -- made by Ford or anyone else -- on top of the standard, carpeted floor mat in the driver's side foot well,” reports the Detroit News. Stacking unsecure floor mats may interfere with the gas pedal, causing it to stick in a downward position.
“Ford spokesman Said Deep said the automaker warns customers on the mats themselves and in instructions that come with them to remove the regular floor mat before using the thicker, rubber mat,” writes the Detroit Free Press. “The all-weather mat has two prominent holes for retaining hooks.”
Dan Edmunds offers this piece of advice: "Don't assume everything is OK because a) you don't drive a Toyota/Lexus product or b) because everything looked OK in a random curbside test. The real world contains far more variables and conditions than you or I can account for."
According to Autoblog, “A grand total of 249,301 cars are being investigated over this potential problem with Ford's all-weather floor mats” -- which is a drop in the bucket compared to Toyota’s multi-million vehicle recall for similar problems.
To date, no accidents or injuries have been reported due to unintended acceleration in either the 2010 Ford Fusion or Mercury Milan.
http://usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/cars-trucks/daily-news/100602-NHTSA-Investigates-Ford-and-Mercury-for-Unintended-Acceleration/
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