Toyota roast courtesy us congress

[bassiusmaximus]

This is another reason why you don't want gubment involvment in owning a "private" corporation. Not that the questioning is unwarranted but it does cause people to question their motives. How far do you take it without looking biased?
Many Americans depend on jobs with Toyota. I must say they interviewed an hourly woman employee at a Toyota plant and she said it best. She said "they take pride in their work and that they felt very bad about what has happened. But they would never intentionally make vehicles that would hurt anyone, our moms and other family members drive these cars and so do we." They should have taken her with them to see congress.
That doesn't mean I trust all of management or engineers involved by any means. They have bonuses, and jobs on the line as well, and there are temptations to hide issues and hope they don't come to a head. I am sure there are bad apples in the mix somewhere, every corporation has them. But demonizing and trying to humiliate Toyota as whole isn't the answer. They will be held financially responsible and some worst if more is found out.
I do however feel the NHTSA is weak and doesn't handle problems the way they should. How many of you have had a problem with a vehicle and did a search and found thousands of people have had the exact same problem and the NHTSA has records of the complaints but no recall has been issued. Some of these issues cover several model years. Do a google check on a "Ford GEM Module", and there are many other examples from all manufacturers. It's a calculated risk they take on these issues. And I think the consumer generally ends up on the short end of the stick. I bet their not done grilling the NHTSA. Somebody there has an appointment to be thrown under a bus.
I will say that Akio Toyoda came here on his own. He wasn't arrogant and if anybody who has worked with the Japanese automaker (and I have) will tell you that they do take these issues very personal. It's a matter of national and personal pride with them. And I guarantee this was very painful for him. I am not trying to forget that people were killed by these mistakes but I don't think we should turn into a lynch mob.
Imagine what the unemployment rate will be if Toyota grinds to a halt. Congress better handle this as fair as can be while making sure it is resolved and I would suggest they stuff the "Grandstanding" garbage in the closet. JMHO

[HURRICANEBOB]

Cracked me up when CEO Toyota US Mr Lentz revealed that when NTHSA contacts them with car problems they don't give the automaker the VINs. How you supposed to pin a failure to a production line or a batch?

Second, NTHSA webpage does not allow you to search by VIN. I don't give a crap about all Ford trucks of my model that had recalls, I want just the recalls that apply to my VIN, and the batch my truck was built in.

Toyota US CEO revealed they had records of about 400 accelerator complaints, by NTSHA said they had over 1100. What part of disconnect are we having and why would NTHSA not provide all copies of complaints they get to the manufacturer EVEN IF NTHSA had not triggered and investigation or recall yet?

It does sound to me like in some cases NTHSA is part of the problem. The Director, Dalong, is outspoken......but I kinda think he has his head in the sand. (Well, from a process stand point)

Hey, changing subject some......anybody ever heard of any boat recalls? Where do you get that kinda info?

My sister ought be recalled. He mouth sticks open and when she gets talking her agitation levels experience unexpected acceleration. Once out of control....her brakes don't work well enough to slow her down. They better recall her before somebody gets hurt.

[bassiusmaximus]

Hey, changing subject some......anybody ever heard of any boat recalls? Where do you get that kinda info?

I think its at www.rubalamp.com j/k

My sister ought be recalled. He mouth sticks open and when she gets talking her agitation levels experience unexpected acceleration. Once out of control....her brakes don't work well enough to slow her down. They better recall her before somebody gets hurt.

Whew!! She sounds like a real lemon!!

[mhall]

While I have always been a buy American kinda guy, I to think this is being handled somewhat badly by the Government.

HOWEVER, if it is proven they actually did know of this mistake and turned a blind eye to it, I SAY LAY THE **** HAMMER ON THEM. I would also say that if it was GM, Ford, Chrysler, or whomever else put the public in that kinda jeapordy. Nobody wants to see jobs lost but they need to get to the bottom of this. And from everything people are reporting about personal experiences with these cars it DOES not sound like a gas pedal issue. If you are standing on the brake and taking the car out of gear and something is overriding your actions and causing the drivetrain and engine to keep going, that is an electronic, (computer) malfunction.

I guess what I'm saying is I agree with what you boys are saying but before you all start circling the wagon defending Toyota with this big lovefest, let's get all the facts first. If they knew it and ignored it, HAMMER'EM!

I'm sure the plant workers and even some upper management knew nothing of this, but if somebody up the food chain did and chose to ignore, guys that would be really, really bad, that's all I'm saying. They will sort it all out, it's gonna be interesting to see how it plays also.

Just another opinion to think about.

[Chubminnow]

I've never owned a foriegn car and never will....I have a few friends, acquaintances, co-workers and even a few family members that own foriegn cars...but I don't understand why, I don't understand their way of thinking. It's a free country so they can buy what they want...but for me, even if you gave me the key's to a foriegn car and offered to pay the taxes and insurance I STILL wouldn't own it. It just goes against the grain for me.

Tie Toyota to the whippin' post!

[DJD]

When Firestone/Bridgestone had their problems and Audi, GM, Ford and on and on I always felt that these companies should pay the fines, legal losses and get it fixed. Same goes for Toyota.

The only difference it that it does seem unfair that the gubment and Unions have an interest in seeing this turn into a feeding frenzy at Toyotas expense...that's all I'm saying and have been saying for months now(started a post on this very point a month ago). It's not right...this sounds like something that a gubment in China or Russia would do. Uh lets see we will own a car company and if a competitor stumbles we will cripple them unfairly to increase our sales and help our workers (unions) pay their bills....after all it's our game and it's our ball and we make the rules....should not be this way folks.

Off topic a little but be aware....Gubment Healthcare is the same way. They will provide a service and sit back and wait for a competitor to make a mistake. Once they do all we will hear is how great it would have been to be on their system and they will try and crush the private sector. Don't think so? Hmmmmm step back and look at it and forget this is toyota just use the same model of gubment in private business just put different targets in that the gubment can benefit from if they crush the competition. It scares me and what scares me more is that people don't see this.

I'm not defending Toyota in any way this just stinks of unfair business practices.

[mhall]

Don, there is no doubt there is some of that going on, I agree and that ''PART'' of this equation is wrong.

[ToolMan184]

I've never owned a foriegn car and never will....I have a few friends, acquaintances, co-workers and even a few family members that own foriegn cars...but I don't understand why, I don't understand their way of thinking. It's a free country so they can buy what they want...but for me, even if you gave me the key's to a foriegn car and offered to pay the taxes and insurance I STILL wouldn't own it. It just goes against the grain for me.

Tie Toyota to the whippin' post!

Do you realize that TOYOTA makes more "AMERICAN" made cars than does Ford, Chevy or Chrysler? If you look at percentage of parts on each brand most Toyots have over 80% of their parts come from the US.

Why did you never hear of the 300,000 vehicles FORD recalled for the exact same problem the TOYOTA has? The parts were made in the same plant, but, you never hear of the FORD recall.

I have been in the Auto industry for well over 25 years and Im here to tell you its a with hunt by our government. They are just trying to protect their interest in GM and Chrysler.

[DJD]

Man I would like to know about those ford vehicles. What when and where? Thanks.

[ToolMan184]

Man I would like to know about those ford vehicles. What when and where? Thanks.

Just search for FORD recalls in 2010 and you will find a plenty. They are not getting hammered like Toyota.

[DJD]

Just search for FORD recalls in 2010 and you will find a plenty. They are not getting hammered like Toyota.

That don't surprise me cause this whole thing is a load of old Donkey Poo if you ask me.

[Devils Horse]

No offense to anyone.

I've never owned a 'foreign' made truck, and don't have any plans to buy one. IMO there is no need, my '99 Tahoe is as good or better than any Japanese truck that ever rolled off the line. So were my 2 GMC Sierras, 4 Ford F150's (one was made in Canada, but I don't consider them Canucky's foreign unless we're playin em in hockey), 2 Ford Rangers (Mazdas, but the titles read Ford), Ford F100, and even that old 3-speed-on-the-column 65 Chevy C10 Apache I drove in high school (the ladies always slid closer when they moved that piece of plywood on their side of the floorboard and saw the road going by underneath).

The wife's Toyota Sienna van has been a good one, and it's her choice what we get her to drive next. But when it comes to my personal trucks there are 2 kinds...American and rice burners.

I love ya Don, but you gotta man up and get rid a that Tyoter.