The never-ending nightmare for Toyota

[marmar]

Toyota probes Corolla steering, considers recall
By YURI KAGEYAMA, AP Business Writer – 1 hr 49 mins ago


TOKYO – Toyota is considering a recall of its hot-selling Corolla subcompact after complaints about power steering problems — another blow to the world's largest automaker already reeling from a string of recalls for safety problems.

Company President Akio Toyoda, meanwhile, said he won't be attending the U.S. congressional hearing on the automaker's safety lapses, entrusting the job to U.S.-based executives — though he did say he would consider appearing if summoned. He said he wanted to focus his energies on improving quality worldwide.

"I trust that our officials in the U.S. will amply answer the questions," Toyoda told reporters Wednesday. "We are sending the best people to the hearing, and I hope to back up the efforts from headquarters."

He said Yoshi Inaba, who heads Toyota Motor Corp.'s North American unit, was more familiar with the U.S. situation and was the best executive to deal with the hearing. Toyoda said he was still making plans to go to the U.S. and dates have yet to be set.

But in an alarming disclosure that could widen Toyota's recall crisis, the Toyota executive in charge of quality controls, Shinichi Sasaki, said Toyota was taking seriously the complaints about power-steering problems in the Corolla, the world's best-selling car. .............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100217/ap_on_bi_ge/toyota_recall

[liberal N proud]

1. The cloak of secrecy is being lifted from Toyota

They are just being exposed for the fraud they have perpetrated on the consumer for years.

I like Chevy's new slogan, "May the best car win"

[ixion]

2. for decades, Toyotas were considered reliable, well-built vehicles

and they held their blue book value well because of that.

This should be an important lesson for them. When you trade quality for cost-savings, it will bite you in the ass every time.

It seems to be a sadly typical trend. A company produces a good product, so they rise to the top of the heap. That's the way it's supposed to work. Inevitably, though, once at the top, they try and maximize profits by cutting quality. This is true not just for multi-nationals, but for local and regional stores as well.

That a company rises to the top and maintains quality is a sadly rare occurrence. :(