Toyota's Reputation Takes a Pounding

[FenwickHockey65]

Toyota's reputation takes a pounding
Massive recall is latest evidence that vaunted quality has slipped
October 7, 2009
By Paul A. Eisenstein

Link to article

It can take years to build a reputation. Now Toyota has to wonder and worry how quickly an image can be shattered. This should have been a great year for the Japanese maker, which knocked down king-of-the-hill General Motors in late 2008 to become the world’s best-selling automaker. But Toyota hasn’t had much time to celebrate. The carmaker has been plagued by a variety of setbacks, including slumping sales, under-utilized assembly lines and multibillion-dollar losses.

But perhaps most worrisome of all are signs that the company’s vaunted quality has been slipping. Long hailed as the industry benchmark, some key Toyota products have suffered quality snags in recent years. That includes the new Tundra pickup, which Toyota had hoped would finally give it a foothold in the full-size truck market, the last segment controlled by the Big Three.

On Wednesday, The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said it has launched a probe into Toyota's 2000 and 2001 model year Tundra pickups after authorities received complaints alleging that "severe frame corrosion" caused brake system failures or spare tire separation.

While the company insists it is getting its quality control sorted out, last week’s recall of 3.8 million Toyota and Lexus-badged vehicles certainly doesn’t help on the image front. The recall is meant to replace floor mats that can unexpectedly snag the accelerator pedal, making it difficult to slow a vehicle down. It was ordered after a California state trooper and three family members were killed in a related accident involving a Lexus.

More at the link.

[Zabo]

[All-Or-Nothing]

I don't think most of what has happened lately will have much bearing on Toyota. Reliability and price are some very strong motivators and they have no problems in this area.

[Xanthos]

As much as I wanted to see Toyota fail horribly (because the attitude most of their fans took was the same "blind fanboyism" that they accused us - the domestic car buyers - of having) I would have rather it didn't involve any deaths.

But, as for their declining business... SUCKS FOR YOU TOYOTA!
- X

[Xanthos]

Originally Posted by All-Or-Nothing

I don't think most of what has happened lately will have much bearing on Toyota. Reliability and price are some very strong motivators and they have no problems in this area.

No problems on reliability?

Did you even read the thing? 2000-2001 models with THROUGH-RUST on the frame thats so bad its causing brake failure?

That doesn't seem very reliable to me.
- X

[FenwickHockey65]

Originally Posted by All-Or-Nothing

I don't think most of what has happened lately will have much bearing on Toyota. Reliability and price are some very strong motivators and they have no problems in this area.

Yeah, you keep telling yourself that.

[Zabo]

Originally Posted by FenwickHockey65

Yeah, you keep telling yourself that.

Especially when MSNBC is reporting it..

You know it's not going under the rug. They're still reaming GM over 9 year old recalls..

I just told a friend who's roommate has a Tundra. He shat brix. I lol'd.

EDIT: Also, best line ever: Demitrios Billar; the Ralph Nader of Toyota. XD

[All-Or-Nothing]

Originally Posted by FenwickHockey65

Yeah, you keep telling yourself that.

Maybe I should say it's not mentioned as much by the media so without that a lot of people still view Toyota as reliable, affordable, reasonably nice cars. Maybe all this new attention will change things but i really doubt it will have a severe bankruptcy type of affect.

[Zabo]

Originally Posted by All-Or-Nothing

Maybe I should say it's not mentioned as much by the media so without that a lot of people still view Toyota as reliable, affordable, reasonably nice cars. Maybe all this new attention will change things but i really doubt it will have a severe bankruptcy type of affect.

Oh, like driving people into GM dealerships for the Equinox and Camaro, which can't be kept in stock long enough?

Or the SRX.. or the LaCrosse..

Not to mention those going to Ford dealerships for the Taurus, Fusion, and those eagerly awaiting the Focus and Fiestas..

Sowwy, Toyoduh..

[All-Or-Nothing]

Originally Posted by Zabo

Oh, like driving people into GM dealerships for the Equinox and Camaro, which can't be kept in stock long enough?

Or the SRX.. or the LaCrosse..

Not to mention those going to Ford dealerships for the Taurus, Fusion, and those eagerly awaiting the Focus and Fiestas..

Sowwy, Toyoduh..

Very true.........I think Ford and GM's current and soon coming car lineups will do more to hurt Toyota than anything else.

[MrIcky]

Originally Posted by All-Or-Nothing

Very true.........I think Ford and GM's current and soon coming car lineups will do more to hurt Toyota than anything else.

I hope so, I want American cars to "win". But I want them to win because they have an outstanding product- not because Toyota fails.

[Camaro_Corvette]

It's great that this is finally coming out. Heck, I remember having arguments about Toyotas expansion being too fast back in college, and that was a few years ago.

[Zabo]

Originally Posted by Camaro_Corvette

It's great that this is finally coming out. Heck, I remember having arguments about Toyotas expansion being too fast back in college, and that was a few years ago.

Toyota: Live fast.. f**k up HARD!

[FenwickHockey65]

Originally Posted by MrIcky

I hope so, I want American cars to "win". But I want them to win because they have an outstanding product- not because Toyota fails.

I think it'll be a combination of both...toyota growing too rapidly and not knowing how to handle such rapid growth, and GM and Ford putting out best in class products time after time.