tagged w/ Toyota
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Honda Motor Company has announced a recall of more than 400,000 cars sold in the U.S. and Canada due to a faulty ignition.
Though not quite as severe as the Toyota recall in January 2010, Honda has recently announced that it will be recalling close to 450,000 vehicles due to an issue with the ignition switch.
The relevant models include the Honda Accord, Civic, and Element. Any of these models that were released in either 2003 or 2004 will be subject to the Honda recall.
Those familiar with the situation state that if there is specific damage, the keys will not be able to be removed from the ignition which could cause the car to veer off road. The specific part at risk is referred to as the ignition interlock lever. Investigation over the issue began in September 2008 when U.S. safety regulators felt that a risk may be present in the engineering of the vehicle.
With the Accord recognized as one of the best-selling models for the company, the Honda recall will no doubt be a blow to investor confidence. However, given the recent trend towards safety following the Toyota recall, many should not look too deep into the issue.
The cars being recalled are 2003 Accord, Civic, 2003/2004 Element Vehicles.
Read More: http://morichesdaily.com/2010/08/honda-recall-accord-civic-element/Honda Motor Company has announced a recall of more than 400,000 cars sold in the U.S.... more
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After receiving more than 3,000 reports of sudden acceleration in Toyota vehicles, the U.S. Department of Transportation has concluded that driver error was actually at fault. According to The Wall Street Journal, investigators analyzing different data recorders from Toyota vehicles found that at the time of these sudden acceleration crashes, the throttles were wide open rather and the brakes were not depressed. Thus, they have reason to believe that drivers were mistakenly stomping on the accelerator rather than slamming the brakes in an attempt to avoid these crashes.After receiving more than 3,000 reports of sudden acceleration in Toyota vehicles, the... more
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(AP) Toyota knew two years ago about the engine problem behind its latest Lexus recall, even changing the spring part to correct it, but did not think a recall was warranted until recently, a company official said Tuesday.
Toyota Motor Corp. started Monday a global recall over engine defects in its Lexus luxury models sold around the world, as well as the Crown sold in Japan, moving to repair some 270,000 vehicles to replace valve springs - crucial engine components that are flawed and could cause vehicles to stall.
In August 2008, Toyota changed that spring part, making it thicker, to prevent the problem, spokesman Hideaki Homma told The Associated Press. That is why the latest recall does not affect vehicles produced after August 2008.
Toyota, the world's top automaker, previously thought the problem was caused by a foreign substance entering during manufacturing of the valve springs, and beefed up checks so that wouldn't happen. But the company had thought the issue was an isolated problem that didn't require a recall.
"We changed the part in August because then the problem won't happen at all, even if tiny particles enter during manufacturing," Homma said. "We are talking about microscopic particles here."
But the complaints started climbing, and Toyota decided recently they weren't isolated problems after all, but a design defect, and decided to issue the recall, Homma said.
Toyota has promised to recall problem cars more quickly to salvage a once pristine reputation now in tatters after recalls ballooned to more than 8.5 million vehicles around the world since October.
Toyota executives have repeatedly vowed to put customers first. But it has been criticized as lagging in its response to quality lapses, and was slapped with a record $16.4 million in the United States for responding too slowly when the recall crisis erupted.
Auto analyst Koji Endo at Advanced Research Japan Co. said automakers routinely improve parts and technology when a product is remodeled, and the facts don't necessarily point to an intentional cover-up.
But he said that recall after recall at Toyota was devastating for its image, underlining how it had not properly paid attention to quality during its booming expansion years.
"They are paying for that now," he said. "Demand had been surging and so it was difficult to balance that with maintaining quality."
Endo said the popularity of the Lexus was likely to drop in the U.S., giving a chance for growth to luxury rivals BMW and Mercedes-Benz amid a gradually recovering market.
Affected in the latest recall were Lexus models GS350, GS450h, GS460, IS350, LS460, LS600h, LS600hL and Crown models, including about 138,000 vehicles in the U.S., nearly 92,000 in Japan, 15,000 in Europe, 10,000 in the Middle East, 6,000 in China, 4,000 in Canada, and 8,000 elsewhere.
Toyota has received about 200 complaints, but no accidents due to the defects have been reported.
The latest woes come on top of a recall last week for 17,000 Lexus hybrids after testing showed fuel can spill during a rear-end crash.
Toyota faces more than 200 lawsuits in the U.S. tied to accidents involving defective automobiles, the lower resale value of Toyota vehicles, and a drop in its stock value.(AP) Toyota knew two years ago about the engine problem behind its latest Lexus... more
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(AP) Toyota Motor Corp. said Thursday about 270,000 cars sold worldwide - including luxury Lexus sedans - have faulty engines, the latest quality lapse to hit the automaker following massive global recalls.
Japan's public broadcaster NHK and Kyodo News agency said Toyota, the world's No. 1 automaker, was considering recalling the vehicles but didn't name sources.
Toyota spokesman Hideaki Homma said the company was considering measures to deal with the problem of defective engines that can stall while the vehicle is moving. He would not confirm a recall was being considered.
The automaker has been working to patch up its reputation after recalling more than 8 million vehicles worldwide because of unintended acceleration and other defects.
Of the 270,000 vehicles with engine problems, some 180,000 were sold overseas and the rest in Japan. They include the popular Crown and seven models of luxury Lexus sedans.
Toyota said there have been no reports of accidents linked to the faulty engines. It did not say how it learned about the engine troubles.
The automaker's shares fell 1.1 percent to 3,045 yen in Tokyo on Thursday.
U.S. authorities recently slapped Toyota with a record $16.4 million fine for acting too slowly to recall vehicles with defects. Toyota dealers have repaired millions of vehicles, but the automaker still faces more than 200 lawsuits tied to accidents, the lower resale value of Toyota vehicles and the drop in the company's stock.
In the aftermath of the recalls, Congress is considering an upgrade to auto safety laws to toughen potential penalties against automakers, give the U.S. government more powers to demand a recall and push car companies to meet new safety standards.
Toyota said last week it will recall 17,000 Lexus luxury hybrids after testing showed that fuel can spill during a rear-end crash.(AP) Toyota Motor Corp. said Thursday about 270,000 cars sold worldwide - including... more
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We've exclusively obtained this document detailing the plan for a stop sale of the 2010 Lexus HS250h and a voluntarily recall of all 17,000 vehicles sold following NHTSA testing showing excessive fuel leakage after a standard rear-end collision.
The document seen here references the Noncompliance Information Report filed by Lexus with NHTSA. It details the substantial difference between what Lexus found in its own testing and what NHSTA's tests returned.
"Our testing of (the HS250h) shows that we're in full compliance with the fuel system integrity standard, although NHTSA tests showed that we're not, so we're working to intensely to duplicate the non-conformity that NHTSA identified, and to determine the reasons behind the different results," said Brian Lyons, Toyota Safety Communications.
The voluntary recall places a stop sale on all dealer vehicles and advises consumers to call with their concerns. What it doesn't do is lay out a fix for the problem, which is reminiscent of the fuel spillage issue Ford faced with the Pinto in the mid-1970s.
This is the second safety issue for the HS250h in the last six months, it was also recalled in February because of inconsistent brake feel under certain conditions.We've exclusively obtained this document detailing the plan for a stop sale of... more
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With Ford leading the way, the Detroit Three have made an unprecedented leap in quality.
Domestic brands, as a group, closed the quality gap with foreign brands for the first time since J.D. Power and Associates began tracking the initial quality of new vehicles 24 years ago. Quality is a big selling point for consumers shopping for new cars.
Excluding luxury makes, Ford was the No. 1 brand in this year's study, which measured 228 potential problems during the first three months of ownership of 2010 model-year vehicles. Ford, including Volvo, had 12 models rank in the top three in their segments -- more than other automakers.
The Toyota brand, beset by a recall crisis, plummeted from its tie at sixth place last year to 21st -- a decline that contributed to the shift in performance between Detroit and its rivals.
General Motors, which launched five new models for 2010, saw quality scores decline for three of its four brands. Still, GM had 10 models in the top vehicle rankings.
Chrysler, with its four brands all below average, showed progress. The Ram 1500 pickup showed one of the strongest industry improvements.
Collectively, Detroit-based brands narrowly edged out foreign rivals in a milestone performance, said David Sargent, J.D. Power's vice president of global vehicle research. But he stopped short of calling this a turning point. "To say that the domestics are consistently outperforming the imports," Sargent said, "we would need to see several more years of the domestics being ahead."With Ford leading the way, the Detroit Three have made an unprecedented leap in... more
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Is EV=TMC+Tesla a New Formula?
mikecentrella | June 2nd, 2010
Tesla Motors and Toyota Motor Corporation Intend to Work Jointly on EV Development, TMC to Invest in Tesla
TESLA MOTORS, INC. (Tesla) and TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION (TMC) recently announced that they intend to cooperate on the development of electric vehicles, parts, and production system and engineering support.
The two companies intend to form a specialist team to further those efforts. TMC has agreed to purchase $50 million of Tesla’s common stock issued in a private placement to close immediately subsequent to the closing of Tesla’s currently planned initial public offering.
“I’ve felt an infinite possibility about Tesla’s technology and its dedication to monozukuri (Toyota’s approach to manufacturing),” said TMC President Akio Toyoda.” he went on to say, ”Decades ago, Toyota was also born as a venture business. By partnering with Tesla, my hope is that all Toyota employees will recall that ‘venture business spirit,’ and take on the challenges of the future.”
“Toyota is a company founded on innovation, quality, and commitment to sustainable mobility. It is an honor and a powerful endorsement of our technology that Toyota would choose to invest in and partner with Tesla,” said Tesla CEO and cofounder Elon Musk. “We look forward to learning and benefiting from Toyota’s legendary engineering, manufacturing, and production expertise.”
TMC introduced the first-generation Prius hybrid vehicle in 1997, and produced approximately 2.5 million hybrids in the twelve years since. Late last year, TMC started lease of Prius Plug-in Hybrids, which can be charged using an external power source such as a household electric outlet. The company also plans to introduce EVs into the market by 2012.
Tesla’s goal is to produce increasingly affordable electric cars to mainstream buyers – relentlessly driving down the cost of EVs. Palo Alto, CA-based Tesla has delivered more than 1000 Roadsters to customers in North America, Europe and Asia. Tesla designs and manufactures EVs and EV powertrain components. It is currently the only automaker in the U.S. that builds and sells highway-capable EVs in serial production. The Tesla Roadster accelerates faster than most sports cars yet produces no emissions. Tesla service rangers currently make house calls to service its Roadsters.
image:
http://tinycomb.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/tesla-model-s-lights1.jpgIs EV=TMC+Tesla a New Formula?
mikecentrella | June 2nd, 2010
Tesla Motors and... more
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hack26
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added this
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1 year ago
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After years of taking massive lossses because their U.S. manufacturing workers earned more than their foreign rivals, General Motors, Ford and Chrysler are now paying pretty close to the same on average.
But the closing of the wage gap still doesn't extend to management employees, who still earn a lot more, says an economist with the Center for Automotive Research.
Economist Sean McAlinden said wages and benefits now cost GM around $58 an hour, just $2 more an hour than Toyota, the Associated Press reports. But he said Detroit's wages will shrink further compared to Toyota's as it hires more workers at the lower wage and takes on fewer skilled-trades workers, who make more money than other factory workers. Now the wage pressure will be on Toyota:
McAlinden predicted that between 2013 and 2015, Toyota could even be paying $10 more per hour than GM unless the Japanese company reacts and lowers wages.
At least for the production workers, pay has made big changes from 2007 when GM was paying $1,400 more per vehicle than Toyota in North American labor cost. Most of the difference was due to a $950 charge for retiree health care coverage.
Detroit automakers were paying their hourly workers an average of $69,368 per year in 2008, while the biggest foreign-based competitors were paying $70,185, as reported by the Associated Press. But salaried workers were still making a lot more -- an average of $122,963 compared to $81,506 for foreign rivals.After years of taking massive lossses because their U.S. manufacturing workers earned... more
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"I don't care if Ricky Martin is gay. I still want to have sex with him." Stand-up comedian Chris Martin emcees at Cameldy at the Camel April 4, 2010 in Richmond, Virginia."I don't care if Ricky Martin is gay. I still want to have sex with... more
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NEW DELHI: Car maker Toyota Kirloskar Motor today said it may come out with a diesel version of its upcoming compact car, Etios, to make a mark in the Indian small car segment.NEW DELHI: Car maker Toyota Kirloskar Motor today said it may come out with a diesel... more
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Toyota to agree to $16.4M government fine
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Toyota is expected to agree to a $16.4 million fine for its delay in telling the government about defective gas pedals. (KABC Photo)
WASHINGTON -- Toyota Motor Corp. is expected to agree to a fine of more than $16 million, the largest government penalty levied against an automaker, for a four-month delay in telling federal authorities about defective gas pedals on its vehicles, a Transportation Department official said Sunday.
Toyota faces a Monday deadline to accept or contest the $16.4 million fine over evidence it knew about sticking gas pedals in September but did not issue a recall until January.
The Transportation official was not authorized to speak publicly and spoke only on condition of anonymity. The official said Toyota is expected to pay the full amount of the assessed fine within 30 days as a means of avoiding going to court against the government.
The official said Toyota did not intend to accept liability explicitly. But from the government's viewpoint, the official said, the agreement to pay the full fine constituted an acceptance of responsibility for hiding the safety defect in violation of the law.
Toyota did not immediately comment on the fine. Under federal law, automakers are required to notify the government within five business days when they find a potential safety defect.
Toyota announced it would recall 2.3 million vehicles in January to address sticking pedals on popular vehicles such as the Camry and Corolla. The Japanese automaker has recalled more than 8 million vehicles worldwide because of acceleration problems in multiple models and braking issues in the Prius hybrid.
Concerns about sticking gas pedals and complaints from Toyota owners in the U.S. were rising at the end of 2009, according to chronologies of the investigation Toyota provided to the government.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said documents provided by Toyota showed the automaker had known about the sticky pedal defect at least since Sept. 29, 2009, when it issued repair procedures to distributors in 31 European countries to address complaints of sticking pedals, sudden increases in engine RPM and sudden vehicle acceleration.
The documents also showed that Toyota knew that owners in the United States had experienced the same problems.
The Japanese automaker has been weighing its options since the fine was announced in early April but analysts expected it to pay the penalty.
The company has been named in 138 potential class-action lawsuits over falling vehicle values and about 100 personal injury and wrongful death cases in federal courts. Federal prosecutors and the Securities and Exchange Commission are conducting investigations related to the recalls.
"When you look at the toll it's taken on Toyota's reputation, when you look at the number of vehicles involved, when you look at the hardship it's placed on Toyota's customer base, it's only right for Toyota to take this fine," said Dennis Virag, president of Automotive Consulting Group based in Ann Arbor, Mich.
Transportation officials have not ruled out additional fines. The department is reviewing whether Toyota delayed for six weeks the late January recall of the 2009-2010 Venza in the United States to address floor mats that could entrap the accelerator pedal after making a similar recall in Canada.
Toyota recalled the Venza in Canada in December and reported to the U.S. government on Dec. 16 that the floor mats could move forward while the vehicle is in use and "may interfere with the accelerator pedal."
Toyota told U.S. authorities at the time that the floor mats in question were not imported into the U.S. but the Venza was added to the floor mat recall in late January.
http://digiads.com.au/car-news/images/2006/11/thumbs/lrg_article_8430-img_0.jpgToyota to agree to $16.4M government fine
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Toyota is... more
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"ABBA was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I thought Neil Young said rock and roll would never die." Stand-up comedian Chris Martin opens for The Recliners March 19, 2010 at Cafe Diem in Richmond, VA.
Chris Martin Comedy"ABBA was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I thought Neil Young said... more
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The US transport department is asking Toyota to pay a record fine of $16.4m (£10.7m) for holding back information about faulty accelerator pedals.
link : http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8604150.stmThe US transport department is asking Toyota to pay a record fine of $16.4m... more
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suzane
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2 years ago
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The National Highways Traffic Safety Administration issued a large fine to the company after the chaos caused by the faulty pedals, which they state Toyota knew about in September but held back the information.
"Worse yet, they knowingly hid a dangerous defect for months from US officials and did not take action to protect millions of drivers and their families."
The article on the BBC describes the fine of 16 million as a record amount.The National Highways Traffic Safety Administration issued a large fine to the company... more
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"He's not the lead singer of Coldplay but he has had sex with Gwyneth Paltrow." MC Jason Klingman introduces stand-up comedian Chris Martin at the Curmudgeons of Comedy World Tour at Wabi-Sabi in Petersburg, Virginia March 5, 2010."He's not the lead singer of Coldplay but he has had sex with Gwyneth... more
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"They interviewed the killer whale at Sea World on Nightline. He said near-sighted and mistook his trainer for a penguin. He's going back into rehab for penguin addiction. I was trying to fee my goldfish the other day and he lunged at me. Damn, I hate these copycat killers." Stand-up comedian Chris Martin wrestles with a Toyota microphone February 28, 2010 at Super Friends Camp at the New York Deli in Richmond, Virginia. David Marie-Garland is MC.
http://chrismartincomedy.com"They interviewed the killer whale at Sea World on Nightline. He said... more
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A team of experts says it is impossible that Toyota's electronics systems are bug-free.A team of experts says it is impossible that Toyota's electronics systems are... more
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http://skunkpost.com/news.sp?newsId=1883
News you probably already know... delivered by guys you probably don't know (but we really wish you did).
This week's headlines include Toyota Recalls, ticklish Congressman, fare dashers, and the Niagara Ice Boom. If you have any ideas for headlines for next week's episode please suggest them by commenting below.
http://skunkpost.com/news.sp?newsId=1883http://skunkpost.com/news.sp?newsId=1883
News you probably already know...... more
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News you probably already know... delivered by guys you probably don't know (but we really wish you did).
This week's headlines include Toyota Recalls, ticklish Congressman, fare dashers, and the Niagara Ice Boom. If you have any ideas for headlines for next week's episode please suggest them by commenting below.
http://skunkpost.com/news.sp?newsId=1883News you probably already know... delivered by guys you probably don't know (but... more
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Mossy Toyota sells flood car, refuses to take it back, and takes the consumer into arbitration now in it's fourth year of litigation with no end in sight. Current assigned arbitrator has a 40-0 record against consumers.Mossy Toyota sells flood car, refuses to take it back, and takes the consumer into... more
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JPerz
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added this
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2 years ago
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