TOYOTA stops production in USA (Recall)

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http://theage.drive.com.au/motor-new...0706-zxx4.html

Lexus begins recall of $250,000 flagship
TOBY HAGON
July 6, 2010 - 8:58AM

The latest recall by automotive giant Toyota includes 1120 luxury Lexus models sold in Australia.

Owners of the most expensive Lexus on the market could be without their cars for three days as the Toyota luxury brand addresses another safety recall.

Lexus is in the process of contacting owners of its most expensive models - including two hybrid cars - to fix a safety problem that could lead to engines cutting out.

Part of a global campaign to address potentially faulty valve springs in the engine, the recall affects 1120 vehicles sold in Australia.

Models affected include the GS450h, GS460, LS460 and LS600hL with engines produced between February 2007 and August 2008; that could include cars produced after August.

The repair involves replacing the valve springs in the V6 and V8 engines, a process that takes one day in the V6 and three days in the V8.

"In rare circumstances there's a chance the engine may stall due to the valve springs breaking," says Toyota spokesman Glenn Campbell, who also says "there is a small possibility that abnormal engine noise of unstable idling may occur".

Toyota says there have been no reports of engines failing in Australia but that there had been reports of an engine misfire.

The LS600hL is the flagship of the Lexus range, selling from $243,900 plus on-road costs. It is the most powerful and most expensive hybrid vehicle on sale in Australia, teaming a V8 engine with an electric motor to give V12-like performance.

The LS460 is a similar vehicle but powered only by a V8 engine, while the GS460 and GS450h are smaller luxury sedans that still sell for upwards of $125,000.

Lexus is planning to give owners a loan car to "minimise inconvenience" for the latest in a string of high profile recalls for Toyota and its luxury offshoot.

It is the second recall for the flagship LS models - a limousine that competes with top end Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Jaguar models - with Toyota announcing a fix for the steering control unit earlier this year.

Since the beginning of the year Toyota has recalled some 10 million vehicles, mainly for throttle issues.
Until recently the global recalls only affected 2378 Prius models in Australia, which were brought back to dealerships to address brake feel problems.

More recently a handful of LandCruisers were recalled to fix potentially faulty seatbelt buckles, while Toyota has also tweaked the tuning of its electronic stability control systems on some vehicles sold overseas after reports the systems did not adequately control the car in an emergency situation.

In announcing a $107.9 million loss for the year ended March 31, Toyota Australia CEO Max Yasuda said yesterday the brand was more committed than ever to quality, which helped grow what is now the world's largest car maker.

"Toyota Motor Corporation has formed a Special Committee for Global Quality and Toyota Australia's manufacturing plant at Altona plays a role in this activity," said Yasuda. "We will continue to challenge ourselves to ensure we deliver the highest-quality cars to our customers."

He said the recalls would lead to better Toyota and Lexus vehicles in future and faster response to any problems.

"Having participated in this recall activity, we have responded by undertaking new activities to ensure high quality standards are achieved. This includes further developing our capability for early detection of quality issues and rectification."

The latest recall comes just as Lexus is reinforcing its domination of hybrid sales in the luxury segment.
The brand has embarked on a marketing campaign to reinforce it is the global luxury hybrid leader. Lexus began selling hybrids in Australia in 2006.

Lexus is planning on selling its most affordable hybrid model - the CT200h hatchback - in Australia from next year. It gets a 1.8-litre four-cylinder teamed with an electric motor.

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http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/08/t...field-offices/

Toyota to open six new product quality field offices

by Sam Abuelsamid (RSS feed) on Jul 8th 2010 at 9:27AM

As part of its efforts to improve its responsiveness to customer complaints, Toyota is adding six new product quality field offices (PQFO) around North America starting this month. The new offices are to be co-located with Toyota Motor Sales regional offices and focus on investigating and addressing customer issues like reports of unintended acceleration.

The first PQFO opened earlier this year in New York as a pilot project to address cold weather and corrosion issues. The San Francisco PQFO will open in July with a specialization in hybrid issues. The Jacksonville office will focus on heating and cooling while the Houston office will target truck issues.

Each office will be able to look into any issue and will be staffed with engineers and technicians that will work with dealers and Toyota's U.S. headquarters in Torrance, California to gather data from customers and determine the root cause of complaints. Understanding what customers are doing in the real world is a major component of Toyota's new quality efforts. That customer usage data will be incorporated into future test and development procedures in order to try to avoid the same problems on other products. Full details are available in the press release after the jump.

[Source: Toyota | Image: Hoang Dinh Nam/AFP/Getty]

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http://www.caradvice.com.au/74154/to...erator-issues/

Toyota blames driver error for accelerator issues
By Brett Davis | July 14th, 2010

Toyota has been doing some research into the causes of many accelerator issues the company has had to face in the past year. Over 8 million recalls have been issued that relate to a ‘sticky’ accelerator pedal that seemed to get stuck on the floor mat.

Toyota has been investigating around 2000 reports where a crash had occurred due to some kind of accelerator problem and has found that many of the accidents happened as a result of driver error.

Mike Michels, a Toyota spokesman in Torrance, spoke of the research results in a recent report,

“There are a variety of causes; pedal entrapment, sticky pedal, other foreign objects in the car” and “pedal misapplication,” Michels said.

When asked how many of the accidents, specifically, were caused simply by the driver applying the wrong pedal – accelerator instead of brake – Michels said, “Virtually all.”

Other investigations into the problem by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration also found many accidents occurred when the accelerator pedal was open but the brake pedal hadn’t been touched.

On the contrary, the photo shows the pedal fairly jammed down due to the mat alone.

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http://theage.drive.com.au/motor-new...715-10chq.html

Driver error possible in Toyota crashes
JUSTIN HYDE
July 15, 2010 - 6:21PM



US safety agency unsure whether driver error played role in Toyota mishaps.

United States auto safety regulators have drawn no conclusions about whether drivers are to blame for sudden acceleration complaints in Toyota vehicles, the head of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said Wednesday.

NHTSA Administrator David Strickland also told the Detroit Free Press that the agency had "several more months of work" to complete, both on its own probes into Toyota and those it's working on with NASA.

The agency is cooperating with a National Academy of Sciences probe into the broader field of defects in vehicle electronic control, part of a review ordered by US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood after questions about how well NHTSA had handled some 3000 complaints of sudden acceleration in Toyota models, including reports linked to about 90 deaths.

Toyota has maintained that outside of two defects for sticking accelerator pedals and loose floor mats, there were no other faults within its vehicles that could cause sudden acceleration and that drivers were likely mistaking the accelerator for the brake.

NHTSA has also said that it has been unable to find any other causes beyond the pedal and floor mat recalls.

The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday that the agency had analysed data recorders from several Toyotas where owners said sudden acceleration had led to a crash, and found no evidence of electronic failure.

When asked whether NHTSA had settled on any conclusions about sudden acceleration causes, Strickland replied: "None whatsoever."

"We are in process, internally and with NASA, and we have several more months to go."

NHTSA has long maintained that most sudden-acceleration complaints are typically because of driver error.

It told the National Academy of Sciences panel two weeks ago that older drivers are more likely to report sudden-acceleration incidents.

Other experts have said NHTSA and Toyota would have to perform more-thorough probes into the software and hardware controlling key vehicle functions before ruling them out as a possible cause.

Detroit Free Press, MCT

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http://www.caradvice.com.au/74940/to...steering-rods/

Toyota under investigation over potentially defective steering rods
By Brett Davis | July 21st, 2010



Toyota is again facing more scrutiny on the quality of its products. As reported by Automotive News, the company said yesterday it is now facing steering rod inquires filed to the government by a federal grand jury. This prompted an investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in America.

Although it’s unclear at this stage exactly what the potential defect entails, reports have only uncovered that the problem is down to a steering relay rod. Toyota is keeping quiet about what models it potentially affects too but Toyota’s US department, Steve Curtis, has said Toyota will cooperate with the investigations.

Toyota has been under the attention of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Transportation Department due to faulty steering rod issues before. In 2004 and 2005, the company had to recall 977,839 Toyota utes and trucks in the United States because of a steering relay rod that was prone to crack.

The company also paid a $16.4 million fine in April, in relation to late defect notification responses regarding accelerator pedal issues.

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http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/20/t...rod-documents/

Toyota reportedly subpoenaed for steering rod documents

by Chris Shunk (RSS feed) on Jul 20th 2010 at 11:29AM

Automotive News reports that a federal grand jury in New York has subpoenaed Toyota for documentation related to a component in the steering mechanism of some of its vehicles. The company announced that the subpoena came on June 29, but isn't yet saying publicly which vehicles are involved with the issue.

What we do know is that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration initiated an investigation in February of 749,685 2009 and 2010 model year Corolla and Matrix vehicles for a potential steering issue. Toyota has received 437 reports, including 11 injuries and 18 crashes, since 2008, and NHTSA has received 168 complaints. In affected Corolla and Matrix models the electric power steering units are reportedly prone to drifting or locking up, with the problem most notable when cruising at highway speeds. The Japanese automaker has stated publicly that the issue is not a safety recall, though it intends to service the vehicles of Corolla and Matrix owners who say they have an issue. NHTSA still has not revealed the results of it's investigation.

This subpoena is the third Toyota has received so far in 2010, with the first coming in February due to unintended acceleration issues and the second from the Michigan Attorney General for recall issues in March. Toyota has recalled 10.8 million vehicles worldwide for acceleration-related issues.

[Source: Automotive News – Sub. Req. | Image: David McNew/Getty]

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http://theage.drive.com.au/motor-new...721-10jye.html

Toyota receives second US subpoena
July 21, 2010 - 8:57AM



Toyota says its US subsidiary has received a subpoena from a US grand jury to submit documents related to problems with steering relay rods in its vehicles.

Toyota says its US subsidiary has received a subpoena from a federal grand jury in New York to submit documents related to problems with steering relay rods in its vehicles.

Under the US legal system, grand juries review evidence to determine whether there is probable cause for an indictment leading to a trial.

"The US Federal Grand Jury of the southern district of New York issued a subpoena on June 29 to our subsidiary for documents related to the malfunctions of steering relay rods," said the world's largest automaker.

"The company and its affiliates will sincerely co-operate with the investigation," Toyota said in a statement on Tuesday.

Japan's Jiji Press said the subpoena related to defective steering relay rods that led the company to recall 4Runner SUVs in 2005. But a Toyota spokeswoman in Tokyo said the company had not confirmed details of the probe.

Toyota has pulled about 10 million vehicles worldwide since late last year, mostly due to sudden acceleration problems.

The company aims to improve its recall process following heavy criticism of the way it handled safety issues in the United States blamed for more than 80 deaths.

In February, a New York grand jury also subpoenaed documents from Toyota relating to the braking system of the Prius hybrid model.

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http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/21/t...le-safety-act/

Toyota 'victims' urge passage of Motor Vehicle Safety Act

by Zach Bowman (RSS feed) on Jul 21st 2010 at 7:24PM

No one can accuse our legislative process of being particularly swift. Even in the midst of one of the most productive congressional sessions in years, it takes plenty of hemming and hawing to push a bill all the way from committee to law. Unfortunately, a group of individuals affected by the recent rash of runaway Toyota vehicles must not have gotten that memo. A group of family members of those who died in instances of unintended acceleration recently met with members of congress to discuss the obstacles facing the Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 2010.

The bill specifically addresses the need for brake override systems on all new cars as well as so-called black boxes, or event data recorders, but it also ensures that federal investigators will be able to quickly access information stored on a vehicle in case of a widespread safety emergency. Meanwhile, the bill has run into some opposition. Most automakers have come out in favor of EDR's, but have found issue with other portions of the legislation.

Other potential snags include worries about the cost of the added technology. As such, proponents of the bill have decided to underscore the need for such a law for fear that the topic will grow cold in the public's memory. Hit the jump for the full press release.

[Source: Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety | Image: Kevin Burkett | CC2.0]

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http://theage.drive.com.au/motor-new...730-10yja.html

480,000-vehicle Toyota recall includes LandCruiser
TOBY HAGON
July 30, 2010 - 9:18AM

A massive global recall of almost half a million Toyotas includes the mighty Toyota LandCruiser in Australia.

Toyota Australia will recall 4368 LandCruisers as part of a global recall to fix a steering defect.

The LandCruiser and its upmarket sibling, the Lexus LX470, are being recalled as part of a global campaign that affects 480,000 vehicles, mostly Avalon sedans (373,000) sold in the United States.

A Toyota spokesman confirmed the recall will affect 2630 LandCruiser Sahara models and 1738 Lexus LX470s sold between 2003 and 2007.

Australia is the second largest market globally for LandCruisers (behind the Middle East), although the latest recall of the 100-Series model only affects more expensive Sahara models with a variable steering system.

"There have been four cases [of steering failures] reported worldwide but none in Australia," said Toyota spokesman Glenn Campbell.

The LandCruiser is known as the king of the outback in Australia, where its reputation for reliability and off-road prowess are almost unmatched in rugged areas.

LandCruisers are favoured by farmers and mining companies as well as being popular with families who use them to ferry kids, although this latest recall doesn't affect models that appeal to the masses.

The recall was announced in the United States yesterday, with a statement saying the steering could disengage on LX470 vehicles built between 2003 and 2007.

The Lexus LX470 is based on the Toyota LandCruiser; models affected include the now discontinued 100-Series.

“Lexus has determined that the construction of the steering shaft on involved LX470s is such that the snap ring on the shaft may disengage when the vehicle experiences an unusually severe impact to the front wheels, such as striking a deep pothole,” the statement said.

“If the snap ring becomes disengaged and the steering wheel is then repeatedly turned to the full locked position, the steering shaft may disengage over time.”

Toyota and Lexus say they have not had any reports of crashes as a result of the steering defect.

“At Lexus, we are committed to setting a new standard for quality customer care and aggressive attention to the safety of our drivers,” said Mark Templin, Lexus group vice president and general manager.

“Our engineers have thoroughly investigated this issue and have identified a robust and durable remedy that will help prevent this condition from affecting drivers in the future.”

In a separate statement Toyota said it would recall the US-made Avalon.

The recall does not affect Avalons sold in Australia. The Avalon produced locally was a very different vehicle to the one sold in the United States, sharing more in common with the locally-produced Camry.

In a statement Toyota said: ‘‘Because of improper casting of the steering lock bar, which is a component of the steering interlock system, there is a possibility that a minute crack may develop on the surface. Such a crack may expand over a long period of repeated lock and unlock operations, and eventually the lock bar could break. If this occurs, the interlock system may become difficult to unlock when stationary.’’

The Lexus and Toyota announcements are the latest in a string of high profile recalls that have affected more than 10 million cars around the world.

Australia has been shielded from the larger recalls – involving sticking accelerators on a range of vehicles – although more than 2000 Prius hybrid cars were recalled locally to address brake feel issues.

Toyota was also forced to recall a handful of LandCruisers to fix faulty seatbelts, while the luxury Lexus brand has issued two recalls in Australia so far this year.

Some US-based analysts predicted Toyota was being overly forthright with potential defects, deciding to inspect cars rather than chance the negative publicity of waiting or investigating further.

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Toyota recalls Lexus LX and LandCruiser

http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mell...257770001CC445

More than 4000 Lexus LX470s and 100 Series LandCruisers recalled in Australia

30 July 2010

By MARTON PETTENDY

TOYOTA has announced a worldwide safety recall of its previous-generation 100 Series LandCruiser wagon, including the Lexus version badged as the LX470, affecting more than 4000 vehicles in Australia.

The latest recall from the embattled car-maker includes 2630 Australian examples of the Toyota LandCruiser 100 built between May 2005 and November 2006, and 1738 versions of the Lexus LX470 built between July 2002 and August 2007, totalling some 4368 vehicles.

The recall was announced yesterday and also includes about 373,000 examples of North America’s 2000-2004 model year Avalon sedan, which was not sold in Australia.

As in the US, where about 39,000 versions of model year 2003-2007 LX470s are involved, the recall aims to eliminate the potentially life-threatening risk of steering shaft disengagement in LX and LC100 Sahara models fitted with VGRS steering systems.

“Lexus has determined that the construction of the steering shaft on involved LX470s is such that the snap ring on the shaft may disengage when the vehicle experiences an unusually severe impact to the front wheels, such as striking a deep pothole,” said Toyota Motor Sales USA in a statement yesterday.

“If the snap ring becomes disengaged and the steering wheel is then repeatedly turned to the full locked position, the steering shaft may disengage over time.”

Toyota says it has received four reports of such cases globally, but is not aware of any accidents related to the condition. “At Lexus, we are committed to setting a new standard for quality customer care and aggressive attention to the safety of our drivers,” said group vice-president and general manager of Lexus in the US, Mark Templin.

“Our engineers have thoroughly investigated this issue and have identified a robust and durable remedy that will help prevent this condition from affecting drivers in the future.” Toyota says it will write to the owners of all affected vehicles from mid-August, advising them to contact an authorised Lexus dealer to arrange a free-of-charge fix, which it says involves replacing the snap ring with a newly designed part and the installation of an additional component to prevent separation of the steering shaft.

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, while the latest in a spate of recalls affecting Toyota’s luxury brand involved engine problems with 1120 examples of the top-shelf LS limousine and GS large sedan in Australia earlier this month.

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.

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http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/29/t...disengagement/

Toyota recalls Lexus LX 470 for potential 'steering shaft disengagement'

by Sam Abuelsamid (RSS feed) on Jul 29th 2010 at 9:29AM

While the BP oil well blowout in the Gulf of Mexico may have shifted the media spotlight away from from Toyota's recall problems over the last several months, that doesn't mean the crisis has ended. One of two new recalls announced by the automaker today covers 39,000 Lexus LX 470 SUVs built between the 2003 and 2007 model years.

According to Toyota, a snap ring that retains two sections of the SUV's steering column can get dislodged following a heavy impact on the front wheels of SUV, such as hitting a severe pothole. Without the snap ring in place, using the steering can result in the column working itself free.

Toyota claims that no accidents have resulted from the problem and that a redesigned snap ring will keep the part where it belongs. LX owners can expect to see notifications in their mailbox starting in about two weeks. In the meantime, interested parties can check out the official recall press release after the jump.

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http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/29/b...n-sedans-in-u/

BREAKING: Toyota to recall 373,000 2000-2004 Avalon sedans in U.S. over faulty steering locks

by Chris Paukert (RSS feed) on Jul 29th 2010 at 8:25AM

Toyota Motor Corporation's recall woes have resurfaced today with official word that the company will recall some 373,000 second-generation Toyota Avalon models built between the 2000 and 2004 model years.

According to the Japanese automaker, the full-size sedans' steering lock bars can crack, eventually leading to a break. If that failure occurs, the steering column interlock system can become difficult to unlock when parked, potentially disabling the vehicle. Worse, if the driver is in a right-hand turn with "sufficient lateral acceleration," under very specific conditions, the damaged lock bar can actually engage, locking the steering wheel and disabling steering control of the vehicle, a condition that increases the likelihood of an accident.

For its part, Toyota says it is unaware of any crashes stemming from the Avalon's steering interlock issue, and it will replace the steering column bracket in affected vehicles for free. The complete press release is available after the jump.

[Jason[98.EL]]

WOW

i wonder when it will end

I also wonder when people will finally look at the facts that 4000 vehicles being recalled when toyota said no aus sold vehicles were having issues.

The au gov needs to get tough on these imports like the U.S do

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http://www.caradvice.com.au/76591/to...cts-4368-cars/

Toyota LandCruiser and Lexus LX470 recall affects 4368 cars
By Brett Davis | August 2nd, 2010

On July 30, the Australia government issued a recall warning for the Toyota LandCruiser 100 Series and Lexus LX470 four-wheel drive. The recall was issued because of multiple reports of a faulty steering rod, which, as mentioned in an earlier report, was thought to have only affected American-sold vehicles. It has now been confirmed for Australian-sold vehicles as well.

The recall specifically involves LandCruisers with a chassis number between: VIN: JTEHC05J# 04030122 and 04042432 and also VIN: JTEHT05J# 02080021 and 02117147, produced between May 2005 and August 2007.

The Lexus LX470 counterpart chassis numbers are: VIN: JTJHTOOW# 03523007 and 04029736, produced between July 2002 and August 2007.

The recall report says affected vehicles might have a faulty steering pin which could disengage under complete steering lock manoeuvres and through heavy impacts upon the front wheels (an unpleasant pothole, for example). If the pin becomes disengaged, there is a possibility of complete loss of steering.

The report says all owners of the vehicle will be contacted by Toyota via post from August 13. The repairs are said to commence on August 14.

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http://www.autoblog.com/2010/08/01/r...n-doc-release/

Report: Feds block Toyota 'unintended acceleration' doc release

by Zach Bowman (RSS feed) on Aug 1st 2010 at 3:25PM

A new report from the The Wall Street Journal claims that the Department of Transportation is blocking the release of National Highway Transportation Safety Administration findings on the Toyota unintended acceleration issues. According to the article, NHTSA has compiled all the relevant information and written a report on its findings, but George Pearson, the former head of the agency's recall division, says that he was told that the Transportation Department doesn't want the information released. Why? Pearson didn't say, but the Journal seems to think that the information could add fuel to the argument that NHTSA is too close to automakers.

Meanwhile, the Transportation Department says that the report is incomplete, and that it will take more time to properly review all of the data associated with the issue. Pearson, on the other hand, claims that the report shows that in the majority of unintended acceleration cases, the vehicle's black boxes clearly indicated that the accelerator was depressed and the brake pedal was not. That means that the cases could be chalked up to driver error – something that would serve to vindicate Toyota. Thanks for the tip, MKIV!

[Source: The Wall Street Journal]

[mik]

you`ll like this toon if it works

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http://www.autoblog.com/2010/08/03/r...-claims-by-20/

Report: Toyota was aware of unintended acceleration claims by 2003, says lawsuit

by Zach Bowman (RSS feed) on Aug 3rd 2010 at 10:30AM

According to The Washington Post, attorneys working on a class-action lawsuit against Toyota claim that the company has known about issues of unintended acceleration in its vehicles since as early as 2003. The lawyers have reportedly discovered a field report written seven years ago by a technician that outlined an instance of unintended acceleration. The report allegedly called for immediate action due to how dangerous the problem could become and expressed concern about the potential frequency of the issue.

Earlier this year, the federal government hit Toyota with a $16.4 million fine for failing to recall vehicles afflicted by unintended acceleration quickly enough. At the time, it was believed that Toyota had known about the issue for about a month prior to alerting regulators – well beyond the single week that the law gives automakers to notify the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration of potential problems.

[Source: The Washington Post | Image: Jonathan Nackstrand/AFP/Getty]

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http://www.autoblog.com/2010/08/06/r...toyota-sudden/

Report: Man convicted in fatal crash set free with Toyota sudden acceleration appeal

by Zach Bowman (RSS feed) on Aug 6th 2010 at 9:58AM

Koua Fong Lee, the man who was convicted in 2006 of killing three people when his Toyota Camry struck a vehicle at a stoplight, has been acquitted of any crime. Lee served a total of two-and-a-half years in prison after his defense attorney failed to adequately show that he had been applying the brake on his vehicle the whole time. In the wake of a number of unintended acceleration claims on similar Toyota vehicles and increasing outcry for his release (including a big ABC News feature), Lee's case was reopened. In four days of testimony, his new counsel had a series of drivers who had experience unintended acceleration in their Toyotas take the stand. Eventually, the presiding judge heard enough and released Lee prosecutor dropped the charges against Lee.

Lee served two-and-a-half years of an eight-year sentence for vehicular homicide after his first attorney actually suggested to the jury that Lee could have mistaken the accelerator for the brake pedal. Combined with the defendant's limited English and the fact that few people had heard of unintended acceleration at the time of the first trail, the judge sentenced Lee to the maximum penalty under the law. Now that he's been released, Lee says that he'll focus on getting to know the youngest of his four children. Thanks for the tip, Brian!

[Source: AOL Autos | Image: Ben Garvin/Associated Press]

[mik]

it will take a while for Toyota to live this one down.

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http://www.autoblog.com/2010/08/07/t...-throttle-sys/

Toyota quality chief: "I still think our electronic throttle system is perfect."

by Jeremy Korzeniewski (RSS feed) on Aug 7th 2010 at 7:03PM

For years, Toyota was seen as an infallible, safe choice for consumers seeking high-quality, reliable and safe vehicles. That may still be the case, but recent events have made it abundantly clear that Toyota is as capable of making major mistakes as any other giant automaker.

Perhaps some of that lost image will be restored after a series of independent investigations into Toyota safety are concluded, assuming of course that the findings are favorable for the automaker. Steve St. Angelo, Toyota's North American quality chief, believes they will be. At the Council for Automotive Research's annual Management Briefing Seminars, St. Angelo said, "I can't find a technician who has found a sticking pedal... I am 100-percent confident that there is nothing wrong with our electronic throttle control system."

St. Angelo continued, saying that 80 percent of all owners of vehicles recalled for sticky accelerator pedals and bad floor mats have had their vehicles repaired. Interestingly, the quality chief added, "Recall is not a four-letter word," suggesting that it's best to admit to issues up front and repair them in a timely fashion – a practice Toyota hopes will keep customers returning to its showrooms.

[Source: Detroit News | Image: Justin Sullivan/Getty]

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http://theage.drive.com.au/motor-new...811-11z19.html

Toyota: the accelerator didn't do it RICHARD BLACKBURN
August 11, 2010 - 12:17PM

An investigation into accidents involving Toyotas with sticking accelerator pedals has found that human error may have played a major part.

Most drivers involved in Toyota's now-infamous "unintended acceleration" crashes didn't hit the brakes before impact, an investigation by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has found.

A report in US car industry publication Automotive News says administration investigators found that the brakes hadn't been applied in 60 per cent of the crashes blamed on sticking Toyota accelerator pedals.

The crashes led to a recall of more than 7.5 million Toyota vehicles in the US for sticking accelerator pedals.

The Automotive News report says investigators have studied the black box-style data recorders in the cars involved, which begin recording just before an airbag is deployed.

The results indicate that of the 58 recording devices studied, 35 showed that, at the moment of impact, the driver hadn't depressed the brake pedal. A further 14 had partially applied the brake, while nine had applied the brake at the "last second".

But Toyota critics say the findings don't exonerate the car maker, as the study was limited to vehicles built after 2007. They claim most unintended acceleration crashes happened before that date.

The report also found no electronics-related defects in the car's braking system. Critics claim there is an unsolved problem with the electronics system in Toyotas, but the company maintains the unintended acceleration be traced to either the accelerator either catching on floor mats, or a mechanical fault in the pedal. Both problems have been addressed in the recall.

The administration is continuing to investigate the Toyota crashes, working with US space agency NASA.

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http://www.autoblog.com/2010/08/10/n...s-with-toyota/

NHTSA: No evidence of electrical problems with Toyota

by Zach Bowman (RSS feed) on Aug 10th 2010 at 5:27PM

It appears that the Wall Street Journal was correct when it reported that the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration had found that the majority of Toyota unintended acceleration claims was due to simple human error. Investigators with NHTSA have reviewed 58 cases of runaway Toyotas and found that in 35 instances, no brake was applied. That means in all likelihood, the driver may have stepped on the throttle instead. In the remainder of the cases, investigators attributed the company's problem to throttles that were either trapped by floor mats or became stuck mechanically.

What does all of that mean? So far, the NHTSA has found no indication that unintended acceleration is caused by anything other than mechanical issues. Critics and victims of the runaway vehicles had posited that there might be some sort of software flaw that caused the cars to take off. The news vindicates Toyota's findings on the matter, though NHTSA is quick to point out that the issue is still under investigation and that this is only a preliminary report.

[Source: The Detroit News | Image: Justin Sullivan/Getty]

[ebxr8240]

Tmk they checked the software in ECU and tried to reproduce / replicate the same actions...
Just because it didn't happen on tests DOESN'T mean there's NOTHING wrong...

I can see however that some people maybe taking this too far..
It's NOT hard to turn key off or throw trans into neutral....
Esp when money / compensation is involved... Both ways...

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http://www.caradvice.com.au/78189/to...-driver-error/

Toyota recall: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration blames driver error
By Brett Davis | August 16th, 2010



The NHTSA has been investigating the recent Toyota recall issues that provoked unintended acceleration issues. It found that 35-58 percent of the cases were not down to electronic faults but down to the driver simply not applying the brakes.

Toyota first suggested the unintended acceleration issue was not down to an electrical fault, and out of the 6200 complaints, the NHTSA says 2000 of them were due to floor mat interference and driver errors. So although the mat getting caught under the accelerator pedal is an issue in itself, the car’s electronic circuitry, it seems, was not the sole cause of the problem as first thought.

Toyota has also been doing testing on some 4000 on-site vehicles and found no cases of the vehicle accelerating under some form of electrical fault. Still not putting an end to the issue though, the investigations will continue, even with the help of NASA, until a more definite result can be concluded.

Out of the 9.4 million vehicles recalled, 7.5 million of those were from America, where also, 89 reports of death had occurred due to the problem in some form or another.

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http://www.autoblog.com/2010/08/17/t...-car-doing-th/

Toyota responds to concerned owners with 'Why is my car doing this?'

by Chris Shunk (RSS feed) on Aug 17th 2010 at 10:29AM

If you didn't think that Toyota has been getting a lot of 'unintended acceleration' questions from concerned customers, this might change your mind. The Japanese automaker has posted a short release on the company's media website called "Why is my car doing this?" that explains how technology in cars today can "cause engine rpm to increase slightly without warning." The informative little missive explains how cold start idle-up, transmission shift, catalytic converter protection, air conditioning idle-up and power steering idle up can raise the pulse of your engine.

We were hoping that the rest of the world already knew that, for example, jamming the A/C when it is hot will cause the engine to rev a bit higher, or that starting your vehicle when it's cold outside will cause the engine to race for a few minutes. Guess not. Our favorite example is for protection of the catalytic converter. Toyota tells us that, on manual transmission models, the engine control computer will "keep the engine rpm above idle as the driver shifts between fifth and sixth gear at high speeds" to prolong the life of the emissions component.

While the list of reasons your engine may idle may sound incredibly obvious, it suggests that some customers are a bit skittish every time they turn on their Toyota, and that can't be good. Hit the jump to read for yourself.

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http://www.autoblog.com/2010/08/20/r...y-of-problems/

Report: Toyota's event data recorders have a history of problems

by Zach Bowman (RSS feed) on Aug 20th 2010 at 11:28AM

According to a report in The Washington Post, the event data recorders the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration used to investigate claims of unintended acceleration in Toyota vehicles have a history of problems. In one incident, a Toyota pickup that struck a tree in a single car accident was recorded as going 177 mph – far faster than any T100 we've ever seen. A separate reading from the same device put the truck's speed at a more feasible 75 mph. The article even says that Toyota itself has warned about the reliability of data collected from the so-called black boxes by stressing that the recorders were not intended to be used as crash-reconstruction devices. In the recent past, Toyota has already been accused of being 'secretive' about providing access to their black box data.

The EDRs in question apparently also have a history of being inaccurate about more than just speed. In another case, the device onboard recorded that both passengers had their seat belts unbuckled at the time of impact when in reality, one individual was safely buckled in.

Unfortunately, government researchers have little other recourse when it comes to substantiating or refuting claims of runaway Toyota products. NHTSA just recently released a preliminary report saying that over half of the instances in which the vehicles seemed out of control were actually attributable to the driver applying the wrong pedal at the wrong time. The Washington Post has indicated that the unreliability of the EDRs leaves some question as to the validity of those findings. They may have a point. Thanks for the tip, FYI!

[Source: The Washington Post | Image: Justin Sullivan/Getty]

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http://www.autoblog.com/2010/08/25/r...cquittal-case/

Report: Toyota subpoenas Camry in Lee acquittal case

by Zach Bowman (RSS feed) on Aug 25th 2010 at 6:29PM

Koua Fong Lee can't seem to catch a break. Lee was convicted of killing three people in 2006 when his Toyota Camry struck a vehicle at a stoplight, but he was later freed after prosecutors discovered that Lee may have been a victim of unintended acceleration. He served two and a half years in prison while the justice system ground along, and now Toyota has subpoenaed his 1996 Camry. The manufacturer wants Lee to turn the car over for an examination on the quick. Unfortunately, Lee no longer has the car. It's been locked up in the custody of the St. Paul Police Department since the 2006 accident.

With Lee's name clear, a total of four federal lawsuits have been filed against Toyota by the family members of those killed in the accident. Each claims that Toyota knew of the unintended acceleration issue well before the Lee accident and failed to follow up on those reports in any substantial way. Meanwhile, Toyota claims that the accident wasn't due to unintended acceleration. You can see the conundrum here. If Toyota proves that the accident wasn't the result of unintended acceleration, then it may be the case that Lee was at fault.

Lee's lawyer has expressed obvious concern over allowing Toyota to examine the vehicle unsupervised. So for now, it remains in St. Paul PD custody.

[Source: The Pioneer Press | Image: Ben Garvin, AP Photo/Pioneer Press]

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Next lot of recalls

http://www.autoblog.com/2010/08/26/o...models-over-s/

Official: Toyota recalling 1.1M Corolla and Matrix models over stalling fears *UPDATE

by Steven J. Ewing (RSS feed) on Aug 26th 2010 at 2:54PM

Toyota has been in the hot seat this year for its high-volume safety recalls, has issued yet another action that covers its 2005-2008 model year Corolla sedans and Matrix hatchbacks. Approximately 1.13 million vehicles are affected by a problem which could cause the 1ZZ-FE 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine to stall. Three accidents have been reported thus far, though Toyota hasn't confirmed that these incidents were indeed caused by this engine stalling issue.

To fix this problem, Toyota will replace the engine control modules on the recalled vehicles starting in mid-September. Owners will be notified by mail in the coming weeks and the service will be provided at no charge.

This is not the first time this year that the Corolla and Matrix have been the subject of safety issues. In early 2010, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration investigated almost 750,000 2009 and 2010 model year vehicles for a potential steering issue, and Toyota provided a free fix for customers. An official recall was not issued, though, as Toyota maintains that this problem is not a safety concern.

Follow the jump to read Toyota's official press release.

*UPDATE: We mustn't forget that the Pontiac Vibe is built on the same architecture as the Corolla/Matrix, and General Motors has just issued a press release (available after the jump) stating that certain 2005-2008 model year Vibes are being recalled for this same issue.

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http://www.caradvice.com.au/81636/to...las-in-the-us/

Toyota to recall 1.1 million Corollas in the US
By Brett Davis | August 27th, 2010

Toyota has announced today that it will recall over 1.1 million Toyota Corolla and Toyota Corolla Matrix cars for an engine defect in the US, which is said to cause spontaneous stalling. The recall is said to affect American-sold vehicles only, with model years ranging from 2005 to 2008.

The problem is down to the engine control module, or engine computer, whereby critical components are made from materials that could be prone to cracking over time. This is said to cause stalling problems. According to reports, there’s been at least three accidents caused by the defect, leading to the recall being issued.

Toyota Motors, North America manager of technical affairs, wrote in a letter to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration,

“Toyota concluded that this problem would likely continue to occur, and, therefore, in order to address customer concerns, decided to conduct a voluntary safety recall of all vehicles within the affected range.”

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Next lot.

Toyota recalls HiLux as light trucks bite the dust

http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mell...257798001637E5

Ford and Toyota join growing list of recalls as utes find going tough in the outback

8 September 2010

By RON HAMMERTON

AUSTRALIA'S harsh conditions are taking a toll on some of the world’s toughest utes, with two more safety recalls announced today to bring the total number of utes recalled for mechanical failures in Australia this year to more than 250,000.

The most popular ute in the country, Toyota’s top-selling HiLux, and Ford’s ageing Ranger one-tonner are the latest to suffer the indignity of a trip back to the dealer to fix problems that have surfaced on outback roads.

Earlier this year, Mazda’s BT-50 – a twin to the Ford Ranger and made at the same plant in Thailand – was recalled, as was Nissan’s European made D40 Navara and related Pathfinder SUV, and Holden’s locally built VE Ute.

Most of the recalls relate to failures that have surfaced in extreme conditions, with three of them relating to bonnet catches that can fail.

The biggest roundup was announced today when Toyota recalled 116,507 four-wheel-drive petrol and diesel HiLux utes produced between January 2005 and February 2010.

Toyota said in a statement that if the vehicle was frequently accelerated or decelerated on rough roads, in extreme conditions such as corrugations or cattle grids, the rear tailshaft centre bearing support brackets could give way.

It said 19 such cases had been reported, resulting in “one incident” but no injuries. No two-wheel-drive HiLuxs are involved.

Toyota says the recall is a preventative action, and owners, who will be notified directly by the company, can continue to drive their vehicles.

The recall is Toyota’s sixth in Australia this year, and a further blow to the company’s previously “bullet-proof” reputation that has taken a battering in the wake of international recall troubles.

The HiLux is not only Australia’s number one light commercial vehicle but also Toyota’s top-selling vehicle so far this year, racking up 27,448 sales to the end of August compared with Corolla’s 26,022.

Ford Australia today also recalled its HiLux rival, the Ranger, to fix two separate problems – potential failure of bonnet hook on a total 30,465 PJ and PK Rangers, and potential broken brackets holding automatic transmission shift cables on 4110 automatic PJ Rangers.

Mazda has already recalled its near-identical BT-50 ute for both these problems. In fact, the bonnet hook recall on 21,662 BT-50s was made on May 5 – four months before Ford’s similar safety announcement.

According to Ford, the safety hook that holds the bonnet shut if the bonnet striker fails might itself fail if used continually in severe road conditions. If this happens, the bonnet might fly up.

The recall for automatic transmission cable brackets relates to brackets that “may not meet specification”, resulting in the bracket cracking or breaking, making gears difficult or impossible to select.

Mazda’s recall notice for this cable bracket failure said the problem arose from unnecessary welding of the bracket, causing it to crack. Its recall was made on September 1.

The Ranger and BT-50 utes are both entering run-out phase, with Mazda and Ford both set to reveal replacements at the Australian International Motor Show in October, both based on Ford’s Australian-developed T6 ute.

Last May, Nissan recalled 54,732 D40 Navara and R51 Pathfinder vehicles after they too suffered bonnet fastening problems in rough conditions, but only on vehicles fitted with heavy steel bull bars.

Holden’s VE Ute recall, involving 34,432 vehicles, was to fix tailgate latches that could be knocked open if the tailgate was hit from the inside by an unfastened load.