TOYOTA stops production in USA (Recall)

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http://www.caradvice.com.au/82876/to...ffects-116507/

Toyota HiLux recall affects 116,507
By Brett Davis | September 8th, 2010



Toyota has just announced a recall that will affect 116,507 Toyota HiLux four-wheel drive petrol and diesel vehicles, built between January 2005 and February 2010.

The issue was raised due to a fault that may occur with the tailshaft centre bearing support bracket on four-wheel drive models. In rough conditions – especially continuous corrugated off-road surfaces and cattle crossings – and during on/off accelerator circumstances, the support bracket may break and detach.

Just 19 cases have been reported at this stage so Toyota is advising the recall simply as a precaution. No injuries have resulted from any of the reports either.

Toyota says it will notify all owners of the potential problem asking them to take their cars to a local Toyota dealer to have the parts rectified before any problems occur, free of charge.

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http://theage.drive.com.au/motor-new...908-151ci.html

Toyota's recall a dent in its Australian reputation for toughness Toby Hagon NATIONAL DRIVE EDITOR
September 9, 2010

IN ANOTHER blow to its reputation, Toyota has been forced to issue Australia's biggest vehicle recall of the year, which involves its top-selling HiLux ute.

The recall, which involves 116,507 vehicles, is yet another blow to Toyota's reputation for quality, which is still reeling from recalls affecting more than 10 million vehicles overseas.

Toyota's move means more than 200,000 utes have now been recalled in Australia so far this year, more than double the number sold in the first eight months of the year.

The HiLux is the second-best-selling vehicle in Australia behind the Holden Commodore, but its reputation for ruggedness and reliability has been dealt a blow by the massive recall to repair a potentially faulty bracket on the driveshaft of four-wheel-drive models built between January 2005 and February 2010. The recall of petrol and diesel HiLux models is being conducted in Australia only after 19 failures left the vehicles potentially stranded and stuck in two-wheel drive.

Toyota said the failures occurred in rugged conditions and during extreme driving.

''In remote areas the vehicle is frequently driven at hard acceleration on rough roads that feature conditions such as severe corrugations or high numbers of cattle-grid crossings [when] the rear tailshaft centre-bearing support brackets may give way,'' said Toyota's media manager, Laura Hill. ''This is a rare event, with only 19 cases reported in Australia,'' she said. ''However, all affected HiLux customers will have their vehicles inspected and repaired free of charge.''

The repair involves checking the tailshaft bracket for damage and takes about three hours, although cars with more damage could also require replacement of a cross-member.

Source: The Sydney Morning Herald

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http://www.autoblog.com/2010/09/14/r...speed-reading/

Report: Toyota admits black box bug can give false speed readings

by Zach Bowman (RSS feed) on Sep 14th 2010 at 1

Takeshi Uchiyamada, Toyota executive vice president in charge of research and development, has confirmed that a software glitch has caused the company's event data recorder readers to misinterpret speeds during accidents. According to Automotive News, the executive admits that his company had previously underscored the fact that it couldn't say whether or not there was a problem with the black boxes themselves. The software bug in the readers came to light during the manufacturer's investigation into instances of unintended acceleration. Even so, Uchiyamda (above, left) says that there's no reason to doubt the rest of the readings from the EDRs.

Both Toyota and the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration have found that in the majority of runaway vehicle cases, driver error has been to blame, though some incidents were caused by entrapped accelerator pedals.

Despite the problem, Uchiyamada has warned against using the EDR reader defect to discredit all of the data collected by the devices, noting that the glitch has since been remedied and that the rest of the readings accurately recorded.

[Source: Automotive News – sub. req. | Image: Yoshikazu Tsuno/AFP/Getty]

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http://www.autoblog.com/2010/09/15/r...-acceleration/

Report: Toyota urges judges to throw out unintended acceleration lawsuits

by Zach Bowman (RSS feed) on Sep 15th 2010 at 7:26PM

Toyota has asked a United States judge to throw out the majority of its pending lawsuits on the grounds that the cases are based on anecdotal and circumstantial information. The automaker is currently facing over 300 lawsuits that vary from personal injury to economic loss, nearly all of which are tied in one way or another to the company's rash of unintended acceleration issues. To date this year, Toyota has recalled eight million vehicles globally for varying reasons, including accelerator pedals that could become entrapped.

Some of the lawsuits have been bundled for pre-trial rulings. These consumer cases claim that the quality woes the recalled Toyota models face have driven down the value of those products substantially. Likewise, the company's claims of quality, safety and reliability have been called into question. Toyota has responded by saying that any claims made in its advertisements were opinion and to be taken as such.

The combined lawsuits are being handled in Santa Ana, Californa, where Toyota asked the judge to dismiss the cases against the company.

[Source: Bloomberg]

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http://www.autoblog.com/2010/09/15/r...s-safety-evid/

Report: Preliminary round ruling against Toyota says safety evidence was hidden

by Zach Bowman (RSS feed) on Sep 15th 2010 at 2:33PM

Toyota has run into some trouble in a lawsuit against a former employee. An independent arbitrator has found that the automaker can't bar the release of certain documents by claiming attorney-client privilege in a countersuit by Dimitrios Biller.

Biller served as legal counsel to Toyota for four years from 2003 until 2007. When he resigned from the company, he was given a $3.7 million severance package, but last year was sued by Toyota for $33.5 million for taking internal documents and breaking the terms of his deal.

Biller turned around and countersued, and Toyota immediately attempted to use attorney-client privilege to keep Biller from releasing potentially incriminating documents. But on September 9, a retired federal judge found that Biller has enough evidence to show that Toyota hired a lawyer to hide or destroy some of the company's safety records in an attempt to keep that information from vehicle owners injured in rollover accidents. In some cases, that information could have led to significantly higher settlements.

That lawyer was none other than Biller himself, who turned over 170 documents, including emails he sent that advised the company that settling cases early would be worth not having to turn over "books of knowledge" on the Toyota vehicle safety record.

[Source: Automotive News]

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http://www.autoblog.com/2010/09/19/r...riggered-reca/

Report: Toyota settles lawsuit tied to crash that triggered recalls

by Chris Shunk (RSS feed) on Sep 19th 2010 at 8:07AM

Toyota owners had been contacting the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration about unintended acceleration issues for years, but one tragedy put the spotlight on Toyota's problems. Last August, California police officer Mark Saylor and three family members died when the family's 2009 Lexus ES 350 rental flipped and caught fire after a trapped floor mat reportedly caused the vehicle to speed out of control. A month later Toyota, officially recalled 3.8 million vehicles for floor mat issues and by February 2010 over eight million vehicles were recalled for unintended acceleration issues worldwide.

Automotive News now reports that Toyota has settled with the family of Mark Saylor for an undisclosed financial sum just over a year after the accident. Toyota reportedly declined to offer any insight into the agreement, and there's a good chance we'll never know how much money the company paid to settle the case out of court. Toyota is likely years away from putting all of its legal troubles in the rearview mirror, though. The spate of recalls generated numerous other lawsuits and several previously decided court cases were re-opened after the automaker's troubles became front-page headlines.

[Source: Automotive News sub. req.]

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http://www.autoblog.com/2010/10/04/t...on-cars-fixed/

Toyota gives recall update, over 5 million cars fixed

by Zach Bowman (RSS feed) on Oct 4th 2010 at 10:55AM

Toyota has announced it has resolved issues with over five million vehicles involved in the three main recalls of the company's products this year. A total of 1.8 million fixes have been performed on vehicles with sticking accelerator pedals and another 3.1 million vehicles have had their lose or interfering floor mats repaired or replaced. A final 128,000 Prius and Lexus models have had their anti-lock brake system software updated as well. The news comes as part of the Japanese automaker's new safety and quality offensive.

Toyota says that as of 2011, all of its vehicles now come with a new "Smart Stop" system – essentially brake override protection – as standard equipment. The automaker says that it has also opened a new North American facility to train workers in how to handle customer complaints and that new quality control checks will ensure that no faulty hardware makes it into Toyota products in the future. As a result of its efforts, the Toyota says that issues involving unintended acceleration have fallen off by 80 percent. Hit the jump for the full press release.

[Source: Toyota]

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http://www.autoblog.com/2010/10/05/t...surance-claim/

Toyota sued by Allstate over sudden-acceleration insurance claims

by Jeff Glucker (RSS feed) on Oct 5th 2010 at 3:28PM

Like every other automaker, Toyota is always looking to increase the safety of its vehicles, be it through investing millions of dollars towards R&D or incorporating new safety measures as standard equipment. It's also working hard to fully restore its recently tarnished public image. Hurdles do keep popping up now and again, however, with the latest one has been placed by Allstate. According to the Los Angeles Times, the insurance company is seeking $3 million in compensation as a result of 270 claims of sudden acceleration.

The suit was filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court on October 1, 2010. Allstate claims that the suit was a last resort as a result of failed out-of-court negotiations. However, a spokesperson for the automakers says "the unfounded allegations in this suit have no basis."

Toyota recently announced that it has resolved issues with over five million vehicles, as a result of three main recalls. Nearly two million of the vehicles had stuck accelerator issues while the other three million had their floormats replaced or repaired.

Complaints of sudden acceleration have fallen by 80 percent since April of 2010. At its peak, the claims averaged 800 per week but have since fallen to around 150 per week. Toyota has dispatched safety review teams to examine over 4,000 vehicles and has yet to find an instance of sudden acceleration being caused by anything electrical. Regardless, the automaker is increasing the standard safety features fitted to its vehicles, the latest of which is Smart-Stop, a brake override system that engages when the throttle is open greater than 33 percent, the vehicle speed is over 5 miles per hour and the brakes are pressed firmly. Allstate believes that Toyota vehicles should already have featured this technology.

[Source: Los Angeles Times | Image: Ramin Talaie/Getty]

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http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mell...2577C400008378

Toyota recalls another 1.5 million vehicles

More than 25,000 Toyota and Lexus models recalled Down Under to fix faulty brakes
22 October 2010
By MARTON PETTENDY
UPDATED 3:00pm 22/10/2010

TOYOTA Australia has issued a safety recall notice to fix the brakes of 25,783 superseded Toyota and Lexus vehicles in Australia, as part of a global recall involving more than 1.5 million vehicles.

A total of about 1.53 million previous-generation Toyota Avalon, Kluger and Crown and Lexus IS, GS and RX models are affected by the problem worldwide, including about 740,000 vehicles in the US, 600,000 in Japan and 15,000 Lexus models in the UK.

In Australia, a total of 17,582 examples of Toyota’s original Kluger crossover vehicles are involved, including all models produced between May 2003 and November 2005.

Toyota’s first Kluger went on sale here in November 2003, before being rplaced by the current, second-generation model in August 2007. A facelifted, better-value version of the MkII Kluger was launched at the Sydney motor show last week.

Toyota says there have been 27 cases of brake problems reported in Australia for the Kluger, with one accident but no injuries associated with the defect, which relates to brake master-cylinder fluid leakage.

“Brake fluids contain polymers that act as lubricants for certain brake system components,” said Toyota. “If the vehicle receives brake fluid that does not contain polymers, or contains only small amounts, a part of the rubber seal located at the rear end of the brake master-cylinder could become dry and curl.

“If this occurs, a small amount of the brake fluid could slowly leak from the brake master-cylinder cup, resulting in the illumination of the brake warning light.”

Toyota Australia will contact the owners of all affected vehicles by mail, advising them to make an appointment with their preferred Toyota dealer to have their brakes checked and rectified free of charge.

“This safety recall is a preventative action,” said Toyota. “Owners can continue to drive their vehicle when the brake warning light is not illuminated. If the brake warning light illuminates, the brake master-cylinder fluid level should be checked and filled. Vehicles should then be presented to dealers for inspection.”

Simultaneously, Lexus Australia has issued a safety recall notice on a total of 8201 Lexus RX330, IS250 and GS300, also as part of a global recall.

The local Lexus recall affects 6970 examples of the first RX330 crossover sold in Australia from April 2003 and built between February 2003 and October 2005, 651 examples of the IS250 compact sedan built between September 2005 and November 2005, and 580 examples of the GS300 large sedan built between January 2005 and November 2005.

Lexus Australia has confirmed no less than 50 cases of the brake problem – which is identical to that of the Kluger – have been reported by Australian owners of the RX330, IS250 and GS300, but says there have been no accidents or injuries as a result.

Yesterday, Toyota’s US sales company yesterday announced it would recall 740,000 vehicles including the model year 2005-2006 Toyota Avalon, 2004-2006 Toyota Highlander (Kluger) and (non-hybrid) Lexus RX330, and 2006 Lexus GS300, IS250 and IS350 due to the possibility that fluid could leak from the brake master-cylinder.

From top: Lexus GS300, Peugeot 308, Volvo S80, Aston Martin DBS, Citroen C3 Pluriel.



Toyota Motor Sales USA said it would notify the North American owners of all affected vehicles by first-class mail beginning in early November. It said its dealers will replace the master-cylinder cup with a newly designed component.

“If the brake warning lamp has illuminated and the vehicle continues to be operated without refilling the master-cylinder brake fluid reservoir, the driver will begin to notice a spongy or soft brake pedal feel and braking performance may gradually decline,” said TMS in a statement issued on October 21.

On the same day, Lexus launched two “voluntary recalls” in the UK, the first to fix brake master-cylinders in about 15,400 versions of the Lexus IS, GS and RX models built between February 2003 and November 2005.

The second recall involves the fuel pump on GS300 models built between September 2004 and February 2006.

“Expansion and contraction of the fuel tank may stretch the fuel pump’s electrical harness,” said Lexus UK. “This may lead to a break in the circuit, causing the fuel pump, and so the engine, to stop without warning. Lexus knows of no reported accidents as a result of this issue.”

Lexus said that while the master-cylinder repair would take about two hours to compete, the replacement of the fuel pump wiring harness in the GS300 would take about three hours. About 2080 Lexus GS300 models are affected in the UK, but GoAuto understands the issue does not affect Australian GS300s.

The recall in Australia follows the local recall of some 116,507 four-wheel-drive petrol and diesel HiLux utes produced between January 2005 and February 2010 to repair tail shaft mountings.

In July, Toyota Australia also recalled 2630 LandCruiser 100s built between May 2005 and November 2006 – plus 1738 versions of the Lexus LX470 built between July 2002 and August 2007 – to eliminate the potentially life-threatening risk of steering shaft disengagement in LX and LC100 Sahara models fitted with VGRS steering systems.

At the same time, Toyota issued a safety recall notice for its latest LandCruiser 200 Series for a problem that could prevent the seatbelt buckles from engaging in 18 diesel-powered GXL models built in May this year.

Earlier that month, Toyota’s luxury brand recalled 1120 examples of the top-shelf LS limousine and GS large sedan in Australia to fix engine problems.

Prior to its latest recall, Toyota Motor Corporation had called back a total of 10.8 million vehicles globally since late last year, to fix faulty floor mats, sticking accelerator pedals and sub-standard ABS braking systems.

The latter issue affected 2378 examples of the latest Prius hybrid in Australia earlier this year.

Toyota’s latest safety recall is the latest in a flurry this month from a number of car-makers in Australia, including Peugeot, Volvo, Citroen and even Aston Martin.

The latest was also issued on October 20 and involves 307 examples of Peugeot’s 307, 308 and Expert models manufactured between December 2006 and February 2008.

“The lighting switch position may be incorrectly detected by the lighting management system,” said Peugeot, which will advise the owners of all affected vehicles by mail.

“In rare cases, this may cause the exterior lights to inadvertently cut out with no action taken by the driver.

“These vehicles had a previous safety recall campaign to download new lighting control software to the management system. There is a possibility that this software upgrade did not complete satisfactorily and therefore, the vehicle requires the latest software upgrade to be performed.”

The day before (October 19), Volvo Car Australia (VCA) recalled 1308 examples of the S60, S80, V70, XC60 and XC70 to rectify a potential airbag problem.

“The main reason for the recall is that we don't want people ignoring the driver message or SRS warning light – if it occurs,” said VCA’s Laurissa Mirabelli. “If they get the warning, they need to see their local dealer.”

Vehicles affected include S60 models with vehicle identification numbers ranging between 000194 and 000701, plus the S80 (VINs 123254 to 136536), the V70 (142445 to 172769), XC60 (087281 to 141518) and XC70 (082543 to 096858),

“If the short circuit occurs during driving and the driver ignores the warning, in the event of an accident where the deployment of the driver's airbag is required, the airbag may not deploy as intended or not deploy at all,” said VCA.

“There may be an electrical short circuit in the driver's airbag clockspring wiring connector. If the deviation occurs, the supplemental restraint system lamp (SRS) will be permanently lit and the message ‘AIRBAG SYSTEM SERVICE REQUIRED’ will be displayed in the Driver Information Module (DIM).”

On October 9 Aston Martin recalled 95 examples of its V8 Vantage, DB9 and DBS sportscars manufactured between March and September 2007 and sold by Aston Martin Melbourne, Aston Martin Sydney, Babagallo Aston Martin, Solitaire Aston Martin Adelaide and Sunshine Aston Martin.

“These vehicles have been equipped with front bottom suspension arm cam-bolts that may be out of specification,” said Aston Martin Lagonda Limited.

“It is possible that these bolts could crack and cause the steering and handling of the vehicle to be affected and can cause a knocking noise from the front suspension.”

The first of five recall notices to be announced in Australia this month came from Citroen, which called back 741 examples of its C3 Pluriel 1.6, C3 1.6 HDi , C3 1.4, C3 1.6, C2 1.6 and Dispatch models.

According to Australian Citroen distributor Ateco Automotive: “Lamps may go out on affected vehicles without being requested to by the driver.

“The position of the lighting control ring is incorrectly detected by the lighting management system.”

Ateco said it would contact all customers to advise them to bring their vehicles into their dealerships for inspection and downloading of new software.

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http://www.caradvice.com.au/88801/to...-in-australia/

Toyota recall to affect 1.53 million cars worldwide and 30,000 in Australia
By Brett Davis | October 22nd, 2010

It may feel a bit like déjà vu, but Toyota has just announced a worldwide recall affecting 1.53 millions cars, including some Toyota Avalon and Toyota Kluger models as well as Lexus GS300, IS250, and RX models.

The recall was issued due to a faulty brake master cylinder seal that could leak brake fluid. No incidents have been reported due to the potential leak, but Toyota is once again taking precautions. Toyota says owners experiencing symptoms of the leak will notice a warning brake light which will illuminate on the instrument cluster.

Toyota says if the problem becomes worse owners will notice a considerably softer and spongier brake pedal. In worst case scenarios, and over a long period of time, all of the brake fluid may leak out resulting in a complete loss of brakes.

Toyota has said it will notify all owners via mail requesting them to take their cars into a local dealer to have the affected components exchanged free of charge.

Specific models affected are said to include:

Toyota Avalon: 2005 to 2006
Toyota Kluger: May 2003 to November 2005
Lexus GS300, IS250 and RX330: 2006

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http://www.autoblog.com/2010/10/21/t...r-brake-and-f/

Toyota recalling 1.66 million vehicles globally over brake and fuel pump woes [UPDATE]

by Chris Paukert (RSS feed) on Oct 21st 2010 at 9:26AM

Embattled automaker Toyota is staring down another massive recall. The safety action affects 1.53 million Toyota and Lexus vehicles globally, with the U.S. making up around 740,000 of that total and about 600,000 units coming out of the company's home market of Japan.

Stateside, models covered under the recall may have a faulty master cylinder seal in the braking system that could leak fluid, triggering a warning lamp and/or potentially resulting in reduced braking capability. Toyota models covered under the recall include the 2005-2006 Avalon and 2004-2006 Highlander (non-hybrid only), while Lexus service bays will open their doors for 2006 model year GS, IS and RX cars and crossovers.

In all, Toyota has called back over 10 million vehicles this year, with the most recent action being the Corolla/Matrix ECU recall that covered 1.1 million cars. Thanks to everyone for the tips.

*UPDATE: Official press release added after the jump.

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http://www.autoblog.com/2010/10/22/h...-same-supplie/

Honda recalls 470K vehicles after Toyota, both used same supplier

by Zach Bowman (RSS feed) on Oct 22nd 2010 at 11:30AM

Honda has announced that it's recalling a total of 470,000 vehicles in the U.S. due to the same failing master cylinder problem that caused Toyota to recall 1.66 million vehicles worldwide this week.

According to The Detroit News, the two automakers used the same supplier for the part, and when owners use a type of brake fluid other than what's used at the factory, a seal within the master cylinder may fail, causing a leak that could eventually lead to loss of braking power altogether. Honda says that a warning light would illuminate before this happened, however.

The Honda recall covers 2005-2007 Acura RL models and 2005-2007 Honda Odyssey minivans, while the Toyota recall includes the 2005-2006 Avalon and 2004-2006 Highlander (non-hybrid only), and 2006 Lexus GS, IS and RX cars and crossovers.

Honda says that at this point, it doesn't know how many of its vehicles have suffered a master cylinder failure nor how many have leaked. The company says it will replace the faulty seal and, if leaking has occurred, the brake booster will be replaced as well.
There's no set schedule for fixing those vehicles that are impacted by the recall, but owners should expect to hear something soon.

[Source: The Detroit News | Image: Stan Honda/AFP/Getty]

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More recalls for Toyota, Honda

http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mell...2577CA0080B866

HiAce bus and 2007 Legend at the centre of more recall strife for Toyota, Honda

29 October 2010

By MARTON PETTENDY

TOYOTA has issued its third safety recall notice in Australia this week, this time to fix flimsy rear propeller shaft guards on no fewer than 13,256 HiAce buses built between January 2005 and June this year.

According to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, the rear prop shaft shield on Toyota’s popular HiAce Commuter Bus “does no meed (sic) the Australian Design Rule (ADR: 58.21) due to a lack of propeller shaft guard rigidity”.

Yesterday’s HiAce bus recall comes two days after Toyota Australia recalled more than 25,000 examples of the previous-generation Kluger SUV and superseded Lexus IS, GS and RX models to fix potentially leaking brake master-cylinders.

This week’s other local Toyota recall – also part of a global recall affecting more than 1.5 million vehicles – was announced to fix fuel suction tube connectors on 674 Lexus GS300s.

While Honda Australia appears to have escaped a global recall to fix a similar brake master-cylinder seal problem on about 528,000 examples of the 2005-2007 Odyssey people-mover, it has now issued a safety recall notice to replace the brake master-cylinder on 482 2007 Legends.

“It is possible that the rubber seal portion at the rear end of the brake master-cylinder may turn and brake fluid may leak from the seal portion, causing the warning light to be illuminated,” said Honda on the ACCC website on October 28.

“In the worst case scenario, the defect may cause brake force reduction,” added Honda, which advises that affected models carry vehicle identification numbers ranging between JHMKB16507C200040 and JHMKB16507C204774.

Finally, in the latest round of Australian vehicle recalls, Nissan yesterday called back 68 of its current X-Trails due to a printing error that overstates the gross vehicle mass (GVM) on the compliance label of the vehicle.

Nissan said the print error occurred between August 16 and 18 this year and had the potential to lead to overloading of the vehicle. Affected X-Trails carry VINs within the ranges of JN1TANT31A0100176 to JN1TANT31A0100402 and JN1TCNT31A0100122 to JN1TCNT31A0100170.

In all three cases, the owners of affected vehicles will be contacted by phone or mail to arrange rectification.

[Ben73]

Hmm I drove a newish Toyota like 2 hours ago. Although I did not notice prado on the recall list. If the throttle gets stuck I'll place 2 feet on the brake and put it in neutral and pull up the handbrake aswell. Not hard really. How about turning the key off/pressing the engine stop button. I find it hard to believe all I said could still not stop it.

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http://www.autoblog.com/2010/10/29/r...uiet-about-un/

Report: Suit alleges Toyota pushed owners to stay quiet about unintended acceleration

by Zach Bowman (RSS feed) on Oct 29th 2010 at 8:58AM

Something tells us we're going to be wading through news of various lawsuits against Toyota for a good while. According to various news sources, the Japanese automaker is now facing accusations that it clandestinely sought to buy back vehicles with unintended acceleration issues in order to hide the problem from the public. Part of the alleged buy-back deal involved having owners sign a confidentiality statement that forbade them from talking to anyone – including regulators. In addition, those who took part in the program could not sue Toyota later down the line.

The lawsuit also points to internal Toyota documents that may indicate that company technicians and engineers were actually able to replicate the problem. At the heart of the suit, plaintiffs are alleging that Toyota acted negligently by failing to act on complaints of unintended acceleration for years.

The lawsuit bundles together more than a dozen plaintiffs into one larger, easier to handle suit.

Toyota, meanwhile, says that those who sold back their vehicles were simply asked to sign a waiver of liability – consumers weren't required to sign and the waiver didn't say anything about confidentiality. Thanks for the tip, Rudy!

[Sources: The Detroit Free Press, Bloomberg, Reuters via Yahoo News | Image: Ramin Talaie/Getty]

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http://www.autoblog.com/2010/11/03/r...eleration-law/

Report: Toyota requests federal court throw out acceleration lawsuits

by Chris Shunk (RSS feed) on Nov 3rd 2010 at 8:32AM

We weren't at all surprised when hundreds of lawsuits popped up in the wake of Toyota's recall of millions of vehicles due to unintended acceleration issues. We're just as unfazed by the fact that earlier this week, Toyota filed a motion asking that the lawsuits be thrown out. The Detroit Free Press reports that Toyota claims many of the lawsuits are unwarranted due to the fact that some of the plaintiffs hadn't disclosed acceleration issues prior to the lawsuit. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration claims that there were over 3,000 complaints filed by Toyota owners and at least 89 deaths as a result of accelerator-related defects.

Defendants often file motions to have lawsuits thrown out of court, but will it happen, especially in such a high-visibility case? Hard to say, but any time over 10 million vehicles are recalled globally for such a serious issue, we get the feeling that the courts will remain busy for quite some time.

[Source: The Detroit Free Press]

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http://theage.drive.com.au/motor-new...116-17urm.html

Faulty Camry likely caused fatal US crash
November 15, 2010 - 8:29PM

US police suspect problems with a Toyota Camry's accelerator or floor mat caused a Utah crash that left two people dead and two others injured.

Highway Patrol Sergeant Nathan Croft told the Salt Lake Tribune that 66-year-old Paul Vanalfen's 2008 Camry slammed into a rock wall in Wendover on November 5, killing him and 38-year-old Charlene Lloyd, his son's fiancee.

Police said Vanalfen died at the scene, and Lloyd, who had been critically injured, died the following day.

Vanalfen's wife, Shirlene, 61, and son, Cameron, 34, were treated and released for injuries at Salt Lake's University Hospital, said spokeswoman Cathy Wilets.
Advertisement: Story continues below

Shirlene Vanalfen, of Washington Terrace, Utah, told the paper on Saturday that the family is considering litigation but declined further comment.

Tyre skid marks at the crash site showed Vanalfen tried to stop the Camry as it exited Interstate 80, but the car went through an intersection before hitting the wall, Croft said on Saturday.

The Camry's brakes appeared to be in working order, he said.

In the past year, Toyota Motor Corp has recalled millions of vehicles because of floor mats that can snag gas pedals or accelerators that can sometimes stick.

Hundreds of lawsuits were filed against Toyota after the automaker began issuing the worldwide recalls.

Croft told the newspapers that Vanalfen's Camry was subject to at least three recalls, one mandatory and two voluntary. The mandatory recall and repair, for a sticking accelerator, had been completed, he said.

He said authorities are continuing to investigate whether the recalls and repairs for a short accelerator pad and a sticky floor mat were also completed.

Croft said investigators' suspect that one of those problems caused the crash.

"We can't say definitely, but there is a strong likelihood that in fact did cause the crash," Croft told the newspaper.

Toyota told The Associated Press that it was "supporting the Utah Highway Patrol with their investigation."

"Toyota sympathises with the friends and family of Paul Vanalfen," Toyota Motor Corp spokesman Paul Nolasco in Tokyo said on Monday.

Nolasco said he did not have details on whether the Camry underwent any fixes under its recall. He said it was premature to draw any conclusions with the investigation ongoing.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said it has received about 3000 reports of sudden acceleration from Toyota drivers in the past decade, including 93 deaths. The government, however, has confirmed only four deaths from one crash.

In September, Toyota settled a lawsuit for an undisclosed amount with the relatives of four people killed when a driver was unable to stop a runaway Lexus in August 2009.

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http://www.caradvice.com.au/91312/us...f-fatal-crash/

US police say faulty Toyota Camry likely cause of fatal crash
By Tim Beissmann | November 16th, 2010

US reports claim Utah police believe an accelerator-related defect could be responsible for the high-speed crash of a Toyota Camry that left two dead.

The driver, 66-year-old Paul Vanalfen, and 38-year-old Charlene Lloyd, died after their 2008 Camry crashed into a rock wall in Wendover, Utah, on November 5.

Two other family members were injured in the accident and admitted to hospital, but have been released.

Highway patrol Sergeant Nathan Croft told reporters the skid marks on the road revealed the driver tried unsuccessfully to stop the car before an intersection as it left a highway.

He said there did not appear to be anything wrong with the vehicle’s brakes.

Millions of Toyota Motor Corp. vehicles have been recalled in the past 12 months over issues with sticking accelerator pedals and floor mats that could interfere with the pedals.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration received reports of up to 93 sudden acceleration-related deaths over the past decade from Toyota drivers, however only four have been confirmed by the US Government.

Sgt Croft confirmed Mr Vanalfen’s Camry had undergone one mandatory recall for a sticking accelerator pedal, but it was still uncertain whether two voluntary repairs to correct a sticky floor mat and a short accelerator pad had also been completed.

He said police and investigators suspected one of those issues could have caused the crash.

“We can’t say definitely, but there is a strong likelihood that that in fact did cause the crash,” he said.

The police report also noted two of the passengers, Ms Lloyd and her fiancé, Cameron Vanalfen, were not wearing seatbelts.

Toyota responded by expressing its sympathy to those affected by the accident. Spokesman Paul Nolasco said Toyota was supporting police with the investigation and said it was too early to draw conclusions from the incident.

No Toyota or Lexus vehicles sold in Australia were affected by the accelerator pedal or floor mat recalls. Toyotas sold in Australia sourced related components from different suppliers.

[vztrt]

http://www.autoblog.com/2010/11/16/c...oyota-recalls/

Camry crash in Utah puts attention back on Toyota recalls

by Zach Bowman (RSS feed) on Nov 16th 2010 at 4:27PM

A new incident involving a 2008 Toyota Camry is raising concerns about unintended acceleration once again. On November 5, 66-year-old Paul Vanalfen was exiting Interstate 80 in Utah when his vehicle drove through a stop sign and struck a rock embankment, killing Vanalfen and his son's 38 year-old fiance Charlene Lloyd at the same time. Vanalfen's son and wife were also injured in the accident. Early reports indicate that the Camry may have continued to accelerate, even as Vanalfen did his best to stop the vehicle. Skid marks at the scene indicate that this isn't a case of pedal misapplication, leaving investigators to conclude that a malfunction may have caused the incident.

Vanalfen's Camry was the subject of a total of three recalls, and at this point, it's unclear whether or not the Toyota had undergone the repairs.

Toyota, meanwhile, says that it's too early to draw any conclusions about the cause of the incident, and that it's assisting Utah Highway Patrol investigators any way it can. Click past the jump to read the company's statement.

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http://www.autoblog.com/2010/11/22/a...tion-lawsuits/

AP: Judge won't dismiss Toyota unintended acceleration lawsuits

by Zach Bowman (RSS feed) on Nov 22nd 2010 at 3:59PM

Last week, U.S. District Judge James Selna announced that he would not dismiss a bevy of lawsuits against Toyota that claim the company's rash of unintended acceleration complaints have caused vehicle values to fall. The company's attorneys had attempted to argue that around 24 of the suits should be thrown out on the basis that the plaintiffs hadn't suffered any financial loss and that owners hadn't spent money in an effort to fix whatever ailment befell their vehicle. Meanwhile, lawyers on the other side of the aisle argue contend that owners who didn't suffer through an unintended acceleration event still have a case against the Japanese automaker.

Selna seemed to side with the plaintiffs, though the judge is slated to come to a final decision later this week.

Toyota is worried that if the cases are allowed to proceed, a flood of new litigation will wash in from anyone with a Toyota in the driveway.

[Source: The Crestview News Bulletin]

[vztrt]

Prius Recal

http://theage.drive.com.au/motor-new...130-18evf.html

Toyota to fix Prius overheating problem Richard Blackburn
November 30, 2010 - 3:17PM

Toyota says it will repair faulty coolant pumps on about 650,000 Prius hybrids after report of overheating.

Toyota will call more than 650,000 Prius back to their local dealerships to fix a coolant pump problem that could cause the vehicle to overheat and lose power.

A Reuters report from the US says the problem, the latest in a string of quality concerns to plague the maker in the past year, has not been deemed a safety issue.

But the maker told Reuters it would pay to fix all the vehicles at an estimated cost of $US65 million ($67.3 million) in labour costs alone.

Advertisement: Story continues below The campaign applies to previous generation Priuses built between 2004 and 2007.

Most of the cars were sold in the United States. Toyota Australia has not yet confirmed whether local models are affected.

The company says it hasn't received any reports of accidents or injuries stemming from the overheating problem.

It told Reuters the design of the defective electric water pump let air bubbles enter the cooling system, slowing down the circulation of coolant and raising water temperatures.

A warning light would come on if the system began to heat up, but if it was ignored the car could overheat and go into a "limp-home mode", where engine power is cut.

The issue is the second this year to beset the world's top-selling hybrid car. In February, about 400,000 Priuses were recalled for a braking problem. About 2400 cars were affected in Australia.

Reuters reports that since last November, Toyota has recalled about 14 million vehicles worldwide, including more than 8 million cars in the United States for sticking floor mats and pedals.

[Ohio XB]

Due to the number of recalls in the past year I would have to say that we will see more. It would seem there was a general falling down of concern for quality that affects their entire line-up going back possibly to 2004 or even 2002. With the great halo effect that Toyota has had with their previous quality reputation the effects of the last recalls has not been enough to affect Toyota to the point of what would have happened to any American car company with the same problems, but I think they are nearing their breaking point and their faithful owners are going to say "That is just too many."

We'll see.


Steve

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http://www.autoblog.com/2010/11/30/t...-coolant-risk/

Toyota to repair 650,000 Prius models globally over coolant risk

by Zach Bowman (RSS feed) on Nov 30th 2010 at 10:56AM

Toyota has announced that it will voluntarily repair 650,000 Prius models for a fault in the hybrid cooling system. According to Reuters, a glitch in the vehicle's coolant pump could cause the vehicle to overheat and lose power, though no accidents or injuries have been reported in association with the problem to date. It's worth noting that this isn't an official recall in conjunction with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, it's a service action.

According to the report, the way the electric water pump is designed can allow air bubbles into the system, a development that can slow coolant circulation and increase the heat build-up in Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive components. if the overheating problem isn't tended to in a timely fashion, it could trigger a warning light and cause the vehicle to slip into limp mode.

The repair notice covers 2004-2007 model year Prius vehicles, 378,000 of which were sold in the U.S.. Toyota will repair the problem free of charge starting in December, and Prius owners can expect to be notified of the campaign shortly. The Japanese automaker is also stressing that it has changed the coolant pump design in the Prius since 2007 and that none of the company's other hybrid vehicles are affected by the problem.

[Source: Reuters | Image: Alex Nunez/AOL]

[4.0i OHC]

This should put an end to the myth that Toyotas are reliable. I feel sorry for the families of those who have lost their lives because of this.

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http://www.autoblog.com/2010/12/03/c...ta-denies-its/

Camry pedal recall prompts secondary repair, Toyota denies it's recalling a recall

by Jeremy Korzeniewski (RSS feed) on Dec 3rd 2010 at 11:28AM

"On November 30, 2010, Toyota issued a Technical Service Bulletin that instructs technicians how to repair two weld nuts that may be damaged when removing the bolts used to attach the accelerator pedal to the bulkhead." So says the automaker in a statement you'll find after the jump.

It seems this pair of weld nuts on the 2007-2010 Toyota Camry and 2005-2010 Avalon are occasionally stripped during the process of performing one of two recalls instituted last year by Toyota – either inserting a little metal spacer in the throttle pedals in order to ensure the pedals don't stick in the open position or when slicing three-quarters of an inch off the bottom of the pedals so that they can't interfere with the floor mats.

According to Toyota, it's not particularly uncommon for nuts such as this to become stripped when removed, which is certainly true. Where some reports differ from Toyota's own statement is whether or not owners prompted the secondary repairs after noticing that their pedals weren't firmly attached to their cars after the original recalls were completed.

Consumer Reports writes that "as many as 500 owners of those cars have complained of gas pedals that feel loose or have play side-to-side." Toyota, on the other hand, claims that "no customer vehicles on the road are affected" and that "suggestions that this TSB was issued to resolve customer complaints about accelerator pedal feel after the recall or that this TSB is a recall are wrong."

Whose report is accurate? That's up for discussion. Feel free to read Toyota's official statement after the jump and read CR's initial report here and try to figure out this mess for yourself.

[Sources: Consumer Reports, Toyota]

PRESS RELEASE

Facts Regarding Recent Technical Service Bulletin for Toyota Camry and Avalon

Some recent media reports have inaccurately characterized a Toyota Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) involving certain Camry, Camry Hybrid and Avalon as a recall, or have implied that customer vehicles may not have been repaired correctly. Toyota is providing the following facts to clarify and prevent potential misinformation.

On November 30, 2010, Toyota issued a Technical Service Bulletin that instructs technicians how to repair two weld nuts that may be damaged when removing the bolts used to attach the accelerator pedal to the bulkhead.

The TSB was issued following inquiries to the Toyota Technical Assistance System by a few technicians who were instructed how to repair the weld nuts prior to returning the vehicle to its owner. Since repair of the weld nuts is an extremely rare repair, the information is not included in the repair manual and the purpose of a TSB is to provide such information as needed.

As with any threaded fastener, the weld nuts may accidentally be stripped when removed. In the unlikely case when a threaded weld nut is stripped, technicians repair the weld nuts before returning the vehicle to operation. No customer vehicles on the road are affected.

Suggestions that this TSB was issued to resolve customer complaints about accelerator pedal feel after the recall or that this TSB is a recall are wrong. No TSB is planned for other models since this component is unique to the Camry and Avalon platform.

Toyota has completed over 5 million accelerator pedal entrapment and sticking pedal remedies which require removal of the accelerator pedal, including over 1.3 million Camrys and 265K Avalons. In the course of servicing so many vehicles, occasional questions about the procedure and guidance to technicians is not uncommon.

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Nothing really bad.

http://www.autoblog.com/2010/12/13/t...rake-light-br/

Toyota recalling 94,000 2011 Sienna minivans over brake light bracket issue

by Jeff Glucker (RSS feed) on Dec 13th 2010 at 5:32PM

Toyota has issued a voluntary recall for approximately 94,000 2011 Sienna minivans produced before the beginning of November 2010. The recall is a result of a Stop Lamp Switch Bracket placed near the parking brake. When the parking brake is fully applied it may deform the switch bracket. This could result in the brake lights remaining lit or even partial engagement of the brakes resulting in a reduction of brake effectiveness over time.

No other vehicles have been affected by the issue and no accidents or injuries have been reported as of a result. Owners of affected vehicles will receive a notice in the mail by the middle of January, which contains instructions on how to handle any affects they might feel if their switch bracket has been deformed. A second notice will be sent out in February to inform customers that replacement parts are now available and appointments can be made with local Toyota service departments. Hop the jump for the full details.

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http://www.caradvice.com.au/95910/to...-buyers-study/

Toyota avoided by 19 percent of US new car buyers: study
By Tim Beissmann | December 21st, 2010

Almost 20 percent of prospective new vehicle buyers in the US avoided the Toyota brand in 2010 due to concerns over safety and quality.

According to the ‘2010 Avoider Study’ by industry analysts J.D. Power and Associates, around 19 percent of new car buyers surveyed avoided the Japanese brand due to “bad reputation of manufacturer”, up from three percent in 2009.

A total of 15 percent of those surveyed were “concerned about the future of the brand” (up 11 percent), while a further 15 percent personally had a “bad experience with this manufacturer” (up 12 percent).

The study was based on the responses of around 25,000 new vehicle owners who registered a vehicle in May 2010. The survey was conducted between August and October.

Toyota released a statement regarding the study, admitting the vehicle owners were surveyed during a period of high profile, highly publicised recalls.

“It is not unexpected that many potential buyers’ perceptions of Toyota’s long-standing reputation for quality and reliability might be influenced,” the statement read.

“Since that time, there have been many positive indicators showing that shoppers are again strongly considering Toyota, recognising our commitment to the safety, quality and value of our vehicles.”

According to J.D. Power, Toyota is the third-most considered brand in the US, after BMW and Honda.

In a different study, Kelley Blue Book’s ‘Market Intelligence Brand Watch’ found that Toyota was still the most considered brand among new vehicle buyers.

One-in-four people surveyed by KBB considered Toyota in the purchasing process, followed by Ford (24 percent) and Honda (23 percent).

Toyota Motor Co sales in the US are down slightly so far in 2010, in a market that has grown on average by more than 10 percent.

[vztrt]

http://theage.drive.com.au/motor-new...221-1942t.html

Toyota to pay $32.4 mln in extra fines over recalls
December 21, 2010 - 2:59PM



Toyota has agreed to pay 32.4 million US dollars in fines over its handling of two auto recalls, bringing total penalties levied on the firm to 48.8 million this year, officials said.

"Toyota will pay the maximum fines allowable under the law -- 16.375 million US dollars in one case and 16.050 million in the other -- in response to the department's assertion that it failed to comply with the requirements of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act for reporting safety defects to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)," Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said in a statement.

The two penalties come on top of Toyota's record 16.4-million-dollar fine assessed in April to settle claims the automaker hid accelerator pedal defects blamed for dozens of deaths.

Toyota issued a series of mass recalls of around 10 million vehicles worldwide in late 2009 and early 2010 that undermined the company's once stellar reputation and triggered US congressional investigations.
Advertisement: Story continues below

"Safety is our top priority and we take our responsibility to protect consumers seriously... I am pleased that Toyota agreed to pay the maximum possible penalty and I expect Toyota to work cooperatively in the future to ensure consumers' safety." said LaHood.

The 16.375-million-dollar fine was tied to an investigation completed Monday over Toyota's recall of nearly five million vehicles with accelerator pedals that can become entrapped by floor mats, the Department of Transportation said.

"NHTSA's investigation led the agency to believe that Toyota had not fulfilled its obligation to report a known safety defect within five days, as is required under the law," it added.

The 16.05-million-dollar fine stems from an NHTSA probe into whether the automaker properly notified the agency of a safety defect in several Toyota models in 2004 and 2005 that could result in the loss of steering control.

The defect led to a 2004 recall in Japan for Hilux trucks that Toyota initially said did not extend to US models. In 2005, Toyota informed NHTSA that the steering relay rod defect was present in several models sold in the United States and conducted a recall for nearly one million vehicles.

NHTSA said it learned in May of complaints from US consumers and others that Toyota had not disclosed additional information.

"Automakers are required to report any safety defects to NHTSA swiftly, and we expect them to do so," said NHTSA Administrator David Strickland.

Both fines levied against Toyota are the maximum in civil penalties for each of the two violations stemming from the pedal entrapment and steering relay rod recalls.

In 2008, Toyota ended the 77-year reign of General Motors as the world's largest automaker but the road has been a bumpy one for the Japanese giant, facing the impact of the economic crisis, recalls and recently a strong yen.

Sales are falling in the United States, with the automaker slipping from second to third place this year behind reviving giants Ford and market leader GM.

Toyota reported a 7.3 percent sales drop in November and its market share could fall by 17 percent to just over 15 percent in 2010, according to IHS Automotive.

To stem the bleeding, the automaker has added an extra four weeks to new vehicle testing, sped up its decision-making process and appointed regional quality control officers.

Analysts say Toyota has become more aggressive in catching possible defects as part of a campaign to improve its consumer image, but warn that continued frequent recalls damage its branding as a quality carmaker.

Only a week ago, Toyota recalled some 94,000 of its 2011 Sienna minivans in the United States to replace a brake bracket that could get stuck.

[vztrt]

http://www.caradvice.com.au/96012/to...ng-of-recalls/

Toyota agrees to pay $32.6 million over handling of recalls
By Tim Beissmann | December 21st, 2010

Toyota Motor Corp. has been fined the maximum penalty allowed under US law for the timing and handling of its vehicle recalls from years past.

US Department of Transport secretary, Ray LaHood, today revealed Toyota had agreed to pay two fines totaling $US32.4 million ($32.6 million) for failing to comply with the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act by reporting defects to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

“I am pleased that Toyota agreed to pay the maximum possible penalty and I expect Toyota to work cooperatively in the future to ensure consumers’ safety,” Mr LaHood said.

“Safety is our top priority and we take our responsibility to protect consumers seriously.”

The fines are in addition to $US16.4 million ($16.5 million) that Toyota paid to settle a similar violation earlier this year, and take the total to $US48.8 million ($49 million) so far.

Today’s fines related to a floor mat-related unintended acceleration recall from 2007 and the 2004-2005 recalls of selected light trucks over alleged loss of steering control.

Interestingly, Toyota did not admit to violating federal safety requirements, despite agreeing to the settlements.

Toyota North America’s chief quality control officer, Steve St. Angelo, said the agreements represented an opportunity for Toyota to develop a more constructive relationship with the NHTSA and focus more on listening to customers and meeting their expectations for safe and reliable vehicles.

“Toyota is pleased to have resolved these legacy issues related to the timeliness of prior recalls dating back to 2005,” Mr St. Angelo said.

“All 30,000 of our US team members, and the tens of thousands of Americans at dealers and suppliers across the country, have worked very hard over the past year to put these issues behind us and set a new standard of responsiveness to our customers.

“As we have demonstrated in recent months, our North American operations now have a greater voice in making safety decisions, and we are taking appropriate action whenever any issues emerge.”

Automotive News is reporting that Toyota could face a further related fine, with an investigation currently looking into the corporation’s handling of four recalls between 2007 and 2010 for cases of unintended acceleration.

Before Toyota’s three fines of around $16 million each, the largest penalty for a similar offence in the US was handed down to General Motors, who paid just $1 million in relation to a windscreen wiper defect in 2002-2003 model year vehicles.

[vztrt]

http://www.autoblog.com/2010/12/20/s...rand-still-ne/

[/QUOTE]
Study: More new car shoppers avoiding Toyota, but brand still near top of consideration lists

by Zach Bowman (RSS feed) on Dec 20th 2010 at 3:29PM

According to Automotive News, new car shoppers are beginning to shy away from Toyota thanks to the company's less-than spotless quality and safety reputation as of late. A new study by J.D. Power and Associates has revealed that around 19 percent of new car buyers surveyed said that they had steered clear of Toyota because of the company's sullied reputation. Last year, that number was a mere 3 percent. Even worse for the Japanese manufacturer, around 15 percent of those in the study said that they'd personally had a bad experience with the automaker and another 15 percent said that they were concerned about the future of Toyota. Those numbers mark a 12 and an 11 percent increase over last year's figures, respectively.

Even so, according to the J.D. Power and Associates study, Toyota is still the third most considered automaker out there, falling just behind BMW and Honda. In a separate study, Kelley Blue Book found that Toyota is still the number-one most considered automaker, even in spite of the company's rash of recalls and safety woes.

[Source: Automotive News – sub. req.]
[/QUOTE]