The Toyota Acceleration Recall is costing Toyota a lot more than half a billion dollars a month. Toyota’s quick success is now falling apart and their once reliable brand reputation is at risk and the recovery looks grim.
With over 2 million Toyota made vehicles involved in the latest recall, consumers all over the country are questioning their safety. Over the last decade there has been 2,000 reports of unwanted acceleration, resulting in 800 accidents and 19 fatalities. This recall follows almost too closely behind the recent recall Toyota made late last year of 4.2 million Toyota and Lexus floor mats that could also get stuck and jam the gas pedal down, causing acceleration and loss of control. All facts that are currently surrounding the Toyota crisis coupled with the timeline of complaints and recalls leading up to this point, have people questioning how long Toyota has been aware of this problem and if the have purposely been slow to react to it. Did Toyota get caught up in their quick success leaving room for error?
Tanya Nichols, a Toyota owner who experienced the unwanted acceleration resulting in an accident is quoted as saying “I am afraid that my car is going to be fixed, and I don’t want it back unless I can be guaranteed it is safe.” When Toyota President and Chief Operating Officer Jim Lentz was told about Tanya’s statement he was then asked if he could in fact guarantee her safety, he said, “ We are confident that we have a fix for both recalls and that this will be under control.” Lentz continued his interview with Matt Lauer of the The Today Show and handled him self and the intense questioning very well. However, it is my opinion that confidence does not guarantee anyone’s safety.
Toyota claims to have pinpointed the issue and dealers around the country are now receiving packets and instructions on how to “fix” the sticking pedal. The process of repair is said to start by the end of this week. Meanwhile, Toyota competitors Ford and GM are taking full advantage of Toyota’s crisis and offering incentives for Toyota owners to trade in their cars for new Ford and GM vehicles.
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