Toyota Suspends Sales of 8 Models

[TimSJ]

Didn't see anything up about this yet. but this is a big deal. They have suspended the sales of 8 models of which many are their most popular models.

http://www.businessweek.com/autos/au..._suspends.html

This could really hurt Toyota. If you remember back to the 80's Audi had a similar issue and it nearly killed the brand and the company.

The models include:
Camry
Corolla
Rav4
Matrix
Highlander
Sequoia
Tundra


I really feel for the sales guys at the Toyota stores these are basically the bread and butter cars that make up likely 75% of what Toyota sells. There are going to be some hungry salesmen/women.

[transplant99]

Really not good....shares are already down over 6% in an hour of trading.

I wonder if Toyota, which was a real quality vehicle for a long time, started to sacrifice QC for profits when the global market was opening up for them. Wouldn't be teh first time a corporation lost its perspective on what made them so successful to begin with.

[Bring_Back_Shantz]

I got a letter about this a month or so ago but they weren't clear on what models would be recalled.

Glad to see my Tacoma isn't on that list.

[TimSJ]

I think Toyota's arrogance got to them a bit. They were flying and could do no wrong for a long time. when this initially hit last year they stonewalled and tried to sweep it under the rug a bit.

This is a prime opportunity for the big 3 to go on an offensive and get some share back from them.

I was reading an article in one of our industry papers today saying that it could take them up to 12 months to make enough replacement pedals and get them all installed. That is once they have a fix and apparently they don't really even have a handle on what the problem is at this point.

In some instances if customers are complaining they will rent a car for them until a fix is available. That is going to cost some huge $$$

[ma-skis.com]

We just bought a matrix before the news came out and they called us last night to tell us they couldn't deliver the vehicle for another 2 weeks ... I wonder how serious this will end up being ... .

[burn_this_city]

Toyota doesnt keep any parts inventory on hand, only enough to maintain production and small amounts of replacement parts. Thats why its such an issue. The likelyhood of the pedal sticking are fairly minor. They only had a handful of cases and it was on higher mileage vehicles without floormats.

[TimSJ]

That is not entirely true. Initially they were blaming the problems on the floor mats and instructed everyone to take the floor mats out of the car.

Then in the last number of weeks a number of accidents were happening and the floor mats were in the truck of the car upon investigation. They really don't know what the problem or the fix is yet.

If it turns out to be an electrical type of issue as most of the gas pedals merely send a signal to the engine it could mean very large problems for Toyota.

[slcrocket]

Hmmm...I just bought a 2010 RAV4 three months ago.

[burn_this_city]

Originally Posted by TimSJ

That is not entirely true. Initially they were blaming the problems on the floor mats and instructed everyone to take the floor mats out of the car.

Then in the last number of weeks a number of accidents were happening and the floor mats were in the truck of the car upon investigation. They really don't know what the problem or the fix is yet.

If it turns out to be an electrical type of issue as most of the gas pedals merely send a signal to the engine it could mean very large problems for Toyota.

Looks like the 09's and up have drive by wire. You're probably right.

[CaptainCrunch]

Won't somebody think of the share holders.

[TimSJ]

I am just relaying what i am hearing being in the industry.

Most cars are not a straight up throttle cable anymore and have gone to a "Drive by Wire" system. most are or are going to an electronic pedal that send a signal to the engine computer and the computer tell the engine what to do. There is still a throttle cable type assembly under the hood but it very likely is connected to a wire and a computer today than it is to be directly tied to the gas pedal.

[4X4]

Heard this on the morning news. Turns out my Tacoma isn't on the list, but my first thought was that I'm glad I drive stick. I'm sure that if my pedal got stuck, I'd immediately drop it in neutral. I doubt that's necessarily the first reaction for someone that is used to automatic.
Scary for sure. A person driving an auto, who might get a bit flustered under the circumstances, could possibly turn the vehicle off, losing braking and steering, and still traveling at a good clip. Yikes.

[mykalberta]

I heard they are shutting down all plants until this is resolved. Strange the first I heard of this was today.

GO FORD GO (as the only NA car-maker not the take any bailout money).

[Hack&Lube]

These are the problems you get when you have drive-by-wire!

[Canada 02]

apparently, the faulty part was made in Canada

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/repor...rticle1445925/

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

These are the problems you get when you have drive-by-wire!

The germans have been using drive-by-wire for a LONG time with none of these problems.

If it's good enough for aircraft, they should be able to figure it out for cars.

[Burninator]

Originally Posted by 4X4

A person driving an auto, who might get a bit flustered under the circumstances, could possibly turn the vehicle off, losing braking and steering, and still traveling at a good clip. Yikes.

Couldn't you just slam on your breaks? Or would the breaks not be strong enough to overcome the engine?

I drive a standard as well and your first instinct would be to slam on the breaks and in a standard you (well I typically) also push the clutch down when breaking hard. So you would not only cut off power to the wheels you would actually stop as well.

[Shazam]

Good thing I have a Ford. The engine fire at least stops the car.

[REDVAN]

When I bought my car I made sure I got one where the pedal is actually connected to the throttle, not some BS foreign car where it's all electronics and beepity-beep doo-hickies.

[Canada 02]

I'd still rather buy a Toyota than most anything from the big 3.

that says a few things

1. my lack of knowledge of what the north american automakers have to offer
2. the big hurdles the big 3 have to overcome to change public perception
3. the big 3 need better products
4. all of the above