Toyota: Oh How the Mighty Have Fallen

I started writing this post two weeks ago, but I put it off until it seemed like the deluge of news subsided so I wouldn’t have to write multiple posts to cover it. I’m referring of course to the Toyota/Lexus recall.

Much like the Super Bowl last night, no one can stay on top forever. The Colts made just enough oopses to lose their top billing and succumbed to the will of the underdog Saints. Toyota has been ranked number one for a long time in the industry for quality, reliability and value and showed no signs of slowing. However, as if by some act of God, a terrible blithe has befallen the Japanese automotive giant.

Late last year, reports of “unintended acceleration” from some Toyota vehicles began to arise, and, last month, the shit hit the fan. “What’s causing this problem”, you ask, and I answer, “floormats.” You see, with the way the pedal is hinged, the floormat can slide up further than it’s should and prop the go pedal open. Additionally, reports of accelerators sticking started popping up as well, causing mayhem and destruction. The company is looking at a lower friction shim to replace the existing one to eliminate a sticking pedal as well as doing something to rectify the floormat situation. As a result, Toyota is now initiating the largest recall ever on American soil, involving some 2.3 million vehicles. Very not awesome, right? But you know when it rains, it pours. Turns out they had to add another 1.1 million cars to the recall a few days later.

On top of the Toyota and Lexus vehicles being recalled here in the states, some 1.8 million European cars may be effected as well and that’s not even limited to the company’s own products. Don’t forget that the Pontiac Vibe was basically a Toyota Matrix underneath, so GM is covering its ass and testing it for issues. The grand total of all this recalling adds up to somewhere in the ball park of 5 million vehicles. Big oops.

The forecast continues to look like rain for Toyota as issues with the brakes on the Prius and Lexus HS250 roll in with the rest of this storm system. They haven’t really decided what they are going to do about this one yet, but they say it has something to do with the software controlling the anti-lock braking system. I say they might wanna hop on it in a hurry because the issue is on the rise with 800 reports as of today.

So the Colts made a few crucial mistakes and lost the Super Bowl. What is Toyota losing? Your first guess should be, “a lot.” Check out this number. In one week, Toyota’s market share dropped by $21 billion. I’m pissed if I lose $21 dollars playing poker, but $21 billion?! Oh my damn. But it’s not over yet. The model lines in question have been ripped from the top picks of Consumer Reports, other car companies are offering incentives to pick up perturbed ex-Toyota drivers (even Chrysler’s no-happening ass jumped in on that), and the media storm has been utterly brutal for the company’s public relations. Sure, they’ve issued apologies, but the damage is done.

We’ve seen this happen before with Ford, GM, Audi…just about every firm that dares to make cars for the masses. However, I think what makes this situation so much worse is that Toyota knew about these problems last year and took such a long pause to do anything about it. The National Highway Safety and Traffic Administration rejected Toyota’s voluntary recall for the malfunctions, insisting they it be a mandatory recall due do the serious nature of the problem. Not until a few more accidents and possible deaths does Toyota get on doing that recall at all. Tisk Tisk, Toyota. Tisk Tisk.

Now, as a result of taking so much time to issue a mandatory recall, Toyota could be facing fines, and have to deal with lawsuits for damages to customers. Add to that the fact that your opponent will take advantage of your errors and you’ll see how much trouble Toyota could really be in just with the piss poor timing of this. Hyundai, Kia, Ford and a few others have some vehicles coming to a dealer near you that are fully capable of making Toyotas look mentally slow.

It’s taken companies years ,and even decades, to regain the trust of the consumer enough to turn a profit. I honestly wish Toyota the very best as they wade in this troubled water, but they’ve got to pay the price for this flub. And it’s just the order of the universe. Nothing lasts forever. The first will be made last, and the last made first. It’s in the Bible…

…but, I have another theory. Anybody else getting the subtle feeling like maybe the government had something to do with the recall not being issued sooner? I mean, yes Toyota didn’t seem to do much after initially trying to issue the voluntary recall, but what if the NHSTA acted an ass? They are a government institution and, last time I checked, government had stake in GM and Chrysler. I’m sure Obama wants a return on our money (which he is just going to keep to himself) and we-don’t-need-no-stinkin’-hand-outs Ford is the only one turning a profit at the moment. Did the powers in D.C. conspire to topple Toyota to save their investment or is this all just a case of the company letting this slip through the cracks? All I know for sure is that time is a snitch.

Triple_Deuce