Reuters: Inside Toyota's epic safety breakdown

[adrian1480]

Inside Toyota's epic safety breakdown


http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE61851220100209

The article is worth your time, but for the laziest: Toyota seemed to change its focus on quality and safety first as it tried to grow to become the #1 automaker. It stretched them. Perhaps too much too soon. After the US government got wind of the potential length, width, and breath of the problem (early 09, i think), they started talking to Toyota. Toyota mostly ignored requests to tighten up their operation, disliking foreigners (in this case, a foreign governmental entity) making technical requests of them. They failed to listen to concerns being voiced internally and externally and concerns being presented by consumers over the last several years.

When that sh!t hit the fan (January, 2010), Toyota got disorganized. Major divisions of Toyota failed to communicate well with each other, leading to further confusion amid the millions of recalled vehicles and embarrassments. They failed to respond when they could (should) have. They still aren't sure what the problem may actually be.

Perhaps it's the curse that comes with trying to be *the biggest* and stay *the biggest*. you inevitably cut corners or accept production errors in order to keep the lines moving and keep up with the Jones'. in this case, it'll be one of the costliest and embarrassing shifts in recent history.

Toyota was probably better off not trying to take over the marketplace.

What's the over/under of them recovering their public perception? Especially given that it's likely far from over and that their latest "fix" may not work? Then there's the Prius..

resale value is dropping faster than rain.



word on the street is that many dealerships aren't accepting Toyota's as trade-in's for now because they don't know if/when they'll be able to resell them.

[adrian1480]

...and in related news:



...a 77 year-old grandmother died in the last couple of days because her 2005 Camry sped out of control.

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUST...7:b30407840:z0

for those who won't read, she was a slow-driving grandmother who died on a 2-lane neighborhood road (35mph limit) after reaching speeds of 80mph and subsequently crashing. the car had only 17,000 miles on it.

[stickypaws]

Just another example why it's important to keep companies from becoming monopolies.

[immiketoo]

AMEN to Capitalism!!!

[BlackSapphireZ]

tsk tsk tsk... Honda will take over now

[jibaholic101]

toyota is going down...

[KingOfJericho]

They had a big article about this in the WSJ today. I think that what they've done is reprehensible and they should be held fully accountable for the related deaths.

[Spec 1]

Shame on Toyota. I fully believe what was mentioned about them not knowing what the cause is. Their first fix was literally a zip-tie, followed by their 2nd fix of a ECU flash, now they're on their 3rd fix PROMISING this will take care of it. Yea right.

The damages keep getting bigger (Omg I feel so bad for that grandmother's family) and more people continue to die. This is going to be a huge hit to Toyota and I agree they should have to pay for this. As details come out, they've been aware of the problem but just haven't wanted/cared to fix it. Now they're even finding out that individuals in the US government who are supposed to be repremanding Toyota have skewed views because of contracts their states have or are currently trying to procure with Toyota!!!! Can you believe that!?!?

[adrian1480]

Originally Posted by KingOfJericho

They had a big article about this in the WSJ today. I think that what they've done is reprehensible and they should be held fully accountable for the related deaths.

here here.

[majin ssj eric]

Originally Posted by adrian1480

...and in related news:



...a 77 year-old grandmother died in the last couple of days because her 2005 Camry sped out of control.

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUST...7:b30407840:z0

for those who won't read, she was a slow-driving grandmother who died on a 2-lane neighborhood road (35mph limit) after reaching speeds of 80mph and subsequently crashing. the car had only 17,000 miles on it.

Couldn't possibly have been driver error, huh?

[94JZA80]

Originally Posted by majin ssj eric

Couldn't possibly have been driver error, huh?

+1

not that it excuses Toyota from taking responsibility, but Toyota is having to take responsibility for far more than just its own mistakes - it is having to take responsibility for consumer stupidity as well. despite malfunctions, many accidents and deaths could have been prevented were there not so many utter idiot @ssholes behind the wheel.

for instance, one recent tragedy concerns a family of four. the father, an off-duty officer, was driving his family somewhere in their Camry when the car started accelerating inexplicably. instead of putting the car in neutral and using the brakes, the cop calls 911 to report his emergency, and prays aloud with his family while awaiting further instructions/help from 911 . they eventually crashed and died all b/c some bright light behind the wheel didn't think to take the car out of drive and use the brakes. i can't find an online source for this - i heard the audio recording of the 911 call and the crash on the radio.

nevertheless, automobile manufacturers know that 99% of drivers have an IQ lower than 50, and have to take this stupidity into account BEFORE its too late...Toyota has itself in a predicament, that's for sure...