In the news this morning...

Toyota vows to step up quality amid rising recalls
Reuters | Chang-Ran Kim, Asia auto correspondent
Thu Jul 20, 6:34 AM ET

Toyota Motor Corp., plagued with a rise in vehicle recalls and facing a legal probe into past recall practice, vowed on Thursday to step up quality efforts, saying this was imperative to ensure continued growth.

Japan's top auto maker, which has built its reputation on offering safe and reliable cars at reasonable prices, has recalled more than one million vehicles in Japan alone so far this year, and on Wednesday issued a recall of some 400,000 SUVs in the United States, its single-biggest market.

In a first for the company, Toyota is also being criminally investigated by prosecutors in Kumamoto, southern Japan, over whether its quality-control managers had wrongfully delayed a recall filing that could have prevented a road accident in 2004 that injured a couple and their three young children.

"The world-class quality that we've built is our lifeline," President Katsuaki Watanabe told a mid-year news conference dominated by questions over Toyota's recent quality woes.

"There will be no growth without an improvement in quality. This is the biggest task that this management team must undertake," he said.

Vehicle recalls have been on the rise at most auto makers as they use common components across more models to save costs, and pile on advanced features requiring more electronics parts to add value to their products.

"Given our rapid expansion, there is a need to strengthen the various quality processes," Masatami Takimoto, one of two executive vice presidents overseeing quality at Toyota, said.

At a separate briefing earlier, Takimoto noted that Toyota had last year set up a new division dedicated to gathering information on glitches from users more swiftly.

Another measure, taken in June last year, would enable the company to keep data on vehicles repaired after the period covered by warranty, he said.

Concerning the pending criminal case in Kumamoto, Toyota executives repeated the company's position that all decisions taken in that case were sound, but apologized for shaking up customers' trust.

Japan's transport ministry, which had summoned Toyota's quality officials earlier on Thursday for a briefing on its recall process, said it would consider ordering the company to improve its business operations if it found problems in its system of handling vehicle defects.

SALES ON TRACK THIS YEAR
Despite such setbacks, Watanabe said Toyota was on track to meet its group-based global sales and production forecasts for 2006, of 8.85 million units and 9.06 million units, respectively -- figures that could soon see it overtake General Motors Corp. as the world's biggest auto maker.

In the United States, where Toyota was hit earlier this year by a high-profile sexual harassment lawsuit, sales were likely to outperform the 2.46 million-unit target by "a few tens of thousands of units," an executive said, adding the lawsuit had no visible impact on consumers' purchasing decision.

In Japan, where demand for non-mini cars has been especially weak, Toyota stuck to its target of 1.78 million units this year, betting on support from the remodeling of the high-volume Corolla sedan and the flagship Lexus LS model in the fall.

Last month, rival Nissan Motor Co. had said it could fall short of its domestic sales forecast as consumers shift to 660cc minicars -- a market dominated by Suzuki Motor Corp. and Daihatsu Motor Co.

WANTS TO KEEP GM TIES
Commenting on a possible three-way alliance between Nissan-Renault and GM, Watanabe said Toyota was not studying ways in which it could join that partnership, saying only that it wanted to keep its current relationship with the troubled U.S. auto maker.

"We view GM as a great entity, from which we have a lot to learn," Watanabe said, adding Toyota wanted to maintain its 22-year-old, California-based car assembly plant which it operates with GM.

"We want to keep this relationship going."

 

well.....I guess improving is a good thing...I like the quality of my taco though...nothing wrong with it.

 

I've heard, through the limited time I spend on TTORA, that the 05+Tacomas have a weak point in the gearing or something like that...

I've had 2 service notices on my 02 Tacoma, have to say that I was a little surprised when I saw a 2nd notice...

 

i've heard that about the new tacos and FJs or something similar...

i think toyota should get back to their roots and offer some simpler choices, i wish i could buy a new truck without spending 20k and being forced into a bunch of luxury crap. if i remember right, the only recall on '79 trucks was for a defective exhaust manifold.

still gotta take the '91 to the dealer for the steering...then see what else i "need to replace" for them to fix it!

 

400,000 seems small compared to all the recall's G.M., Ford, and Chrysler have had over the years.

Keep up the good work TOYOTA!

 

Agreed. I remember I would have had to buy a bunch of extra crap I didn't want just to get the e locker and beefed up suspension when I was looking at Taco's in 02 or 03. Just for fun I went over to Edmunds to see what the situation is now. Check out this "Off Road" package.

OC Off-Road Package #1
Includes power windows, power door locks, keyless entry, black power mirrors, cruise control, sliding rear window with privacy glass, chrome grille surround and rear bumper, color-keyed front bumper and overfenders, metallic tone I/P, upgrade fabric, leather wheel and shifter, sunvisors with mirrors and extensions, SR5 badging, driver's seat lumbar support, off-road suspension, Bilstein shocks, 16" x 7" alloy wheels, P265/70R16 tires, locking rear differential, limited slip differential, fog lamps, skid plate (engine/transfer case), 115V/400W deck power point, sport seats and TRD Off-Road graphics. NOT AVAILABLE with AL, CP, LD, PY, SL, VD, WR.

Out of all that crap, I'd only really want:
off-road suspension, Bilstein shocks, locking rear differential.


WTF? How do PDL, PW, CC, keyless entry, or chrome grille have anything to do with off roading?

 

i hope they do...
all toyotas have a good rep so far in my book
seems like this is what GM and such have gone (are going) thru
as a mech eng. student at Kettering (old GMI (general motors institute)) I get a lot of the news (and the friendly jabs for being a toyota owner) from friends and others that have jobs at GM or suppliers, and their line-ups are always improving

I dont want it to be if you are looking for a car it has to be either an old toyota (import) or a new GM (domestic)

 

do all the packages have the same first few things such as door locks and crap? cuz in many cases you can only pick one package, so in the manner of getting a diff lock, you have to get rid of convenience package #1... I see it as them saying "all features of conv package #1 plus diff lock, shocks...etc"

 

Wonder if the increase in recalls has anything to do with more and more Toyota's being built in North America?!?

 

Interesting thought!

 

Say all the posative you want about the recall and toyota customer service. I got the recall notice for the relay rod. They said they wouldn't do it because they wanted to replace my tierods. I just did them 2 months ago, and after replacing them I keep them lubed with fluid film ever 2 weeks.... So much for customer service.... But I am happy with the truck...

 

Try another dealer, or contact the regional rep.

 

Yeah. we still get recall notices on my dads 2000 f150. well not lately but i think hes had 5 or 6 recall notices come in the mail. He wrecked it in 02 and bought a tundra. lol.

 

I would rather they do a recall and keep check on their quality than keeping things quiet.
F. ex. GM is facing a potential recall over the 2003 H2, there has been over 60 cases of the front wheel falling off due to weak steering knuckle. GM claims it is the owners fault, but still upgraded it on the newer models. Sounds fishy to me. They should just have the 2003 recall/check/replace before someone plows over a car on the road while their front wheel is 50 feet ahead of them. Someone will end up suing them on this.

 

Glad to see they realize their sales are based on the reputation for quality.

I didn't buy my 4Runner because it was comfortable

 

I totally agree with you scofco. I remember seeing some comparison between trucks, and the taco got dinged because it offered too much of a truck ride. What the heck is that supposed to mean? If I wanted a cushy feeling vehicle, I'd get a car. If i wanted to get a truck that will get me through the unimaginable. I could add more, but it's quittin' time Friday afternoon. Sayonora work!

 

I LIKE the way my taco rides...I came from street racing though, so my MX6 was slammed, and springs and shocks as hard as rocks, my girlfriend drives an 02 Ford Ranger Edge, and she doesnt like the way my Taco rides either...Hell, I love it.