Toyota hit by over 100 Prius brake complaints

[NickD 202]

in a hybrid, don't save any energy that way. But more problems for Toyota, the new spoiled brat generation.

"Toyota hit by over 100 Prius brake complaints

By SHINO YUASA Associated Press Writer The Associated Press

Wednesday, February 3, 2010 7:12 AM EST

TOKYO (AP) — Toyota Motor Corp. has been hit by over 100 complaints in the U.S. and Japan about brake problems with the popular Prius hybrid, the latest in a spate of quality troubles for the automaker as it grapples with massive global recalls.

The Japanese company's sales are being battered in the U.S. — Toyota's biggest market — after recalls of top-selling models to fix a gas pedal that can stick in the depressed position.

The new Prius gas-electric hybrid, which went on sale in Japan and the U.S. in May 2009, is not part of the recalls that extend to Europe and China, covering nearly 4.5 million vehicles.

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has received about 100 complaints involving the brakes of the Prius new model. Two involved crashes resulting in injuries.

Japan's transport ministry said Wednesday it has also received 14 complaints since July last year about brake problems with Toyota's new Prius hybrid.

The 14 complaints included an accident in July 2009, in which a Prius crashed head on into another car at an intersection. Transport ministry official Masaya Ota said two people were slightly injured in the accident.

"The Prius driver in the accident told police that a brake did not work," Ota said. "Other Prius drivers also complained brakes were not so sharp." The complaints in Japan involve the new Prius model, and the vehicles were all made in Japan, he said.

The ministry ordered Toyota, the world's No. 1 automaker, to investigate the complaints. The other 13 cases happened from December to January 2010. Ota said the ministry has yet to receive a formal report on the complaints from Toyota.

Toyota spokeswoman Ririko Takeuchi said the company has received reports about the Prius complaints in North America and in Japan and was now looking into the matter.

Toyota shares plunged 5.7 percent to 3,400 yen ($38) with jittery investors dumping stocks in the wake of the Prius woes in the U.S. and Japan. The benchmark Nikkei stock index edged up just 0.3 percent to 10,404.33 as the drop in Toyota dampened sentiment.

"Investors were worried the latest trouble involving the Prius could get bigger. The problem could pose a bigger question on Toyota's quality and safety," said Kazuhiro Takahashi, market analyst at Daiwa Securities SMBC Co. Ltd.

Also Wednesday, the South Korean government said Toyota's local unit was recalling 444 vehicles over defects in gas pedals and floor mats.

The vehicles were made in North America, and the more than 19,000 Toyota vehicles imported from Japan weren't part of the recall, the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs said in a statement.

Toyota is facing growing criticism that it has not done enough to ensure the safety of its vehicles.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood told The Associated Press Tuesday that federal officials had to alert Toyota to the seriousness of the safety issues that eventually led to the recalls.

"They should have taken it seriously from the very beginning when we first started discussing it with them," he said. "Maybe they were a little safety deaf."

LaHood also said the U.S. government was considering civil penalties for Toyota for having dragged its feet on safety concerns.

Toyota executive vice president Shinichi Sasaki acknowledged Tuesday in a Nagoya, Japan, news conference that it took prodding from NHTSA officials for the company to decide on the U.S. recall.

Toyota has long prided itself on sterling vehicle quality and assembly line methods that empowered workers to ensure faultless production.

The latest recall, announced Jan. 21, over sticky gas pedals affects 2.3 million vehicles in the U.S. alone.

Any serious problems emerging in the Prius, Toyota's flagship green car model, is certain to further tarnish its brand.

The Prius, now in its third generation since its 1997 introduction, is the best-selling gas-electric hybrid in the world, racking up a cumulative 1.6 million units sold so far, according to Toyota.

Hybrids, by going back and forth between a gasoline engine and electric motor, tend to offer better mileage in slow-speed and stop-and-go driving that's common in crowded cities.

———

AP Business writers Yuri Kageyama in Tokyo and Kelly Olsen in Seoul contributed to this report.

Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Original Article can be found at:

http://www.charter.net/news/read.php?id=16...p;lang=en"

[natty bumppo 297]

toyota must enjoy "assuming the position" ...

Edited February 3, 2010 by Natty Bumppo

[mawilson 2,133]

Awesome... #### Toyota, I've been saying that all along.

[The_Dude 1,142]

So the moral of the story is don't by hybrid cars, they will kill you!!!

[mawilson 2,133]

So the moral of the story is don't by hybrid cars, they will kill you!!!

The moral of the story: buy American!

[scandal 951]

Toyota shares drop after U.S. official's 'park it' advice

Transportation secretary now says he misspoke; stock still hobbled

By Shawn Langlois, MarketWatch

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood threw gasoline on Toyota Motor Corp.'s wildly spreading recall fire on Wednesday, warning owners to stop driving their vehicles before he backpedaled just moments later.

For Toyota's stock, the hasty and somewhat confusing clarification barely stemmed the bleeding. The shares fell as much as 8% before bouncing off the session lows

AM Report: What's Next for Toyota?

The car maker is still reeling from the impact of faulty gas pedals, prompting a government inquiry and threats of penalties, the News Hub panel reports.

to close down 6% at $73.49.

The latest investor exodus began during LaHood's testimony before the House Appropriations committee.

"My advice is, if anybody owns one of these vehicles, stop driving it, take it to the Toyota dealer because they believe they have the fix for it," he said.

LaHood followed up by telling reporters that he misspoke. He then issued an official statement in which he vowed to remain vigilant.

"NHTSA will continue to hold Toyota's feet to the fire to make sure that they are doing everything they have promised to make their vehicles safe," LaHood commented. See First Take commentary.

Edmunds.com Chief Executive Jeremy Anwyl pointed out that the "flip-flop" has only added to the "confusing and contradictory information" facing Toyota drivers.

"In this situation, there are facts and there is speculation, and no factual revelation popped up this morning to cause anyone any additional concern," he said.

Toyota said on its Web site that it appreciates LaHood's clarification, and that it wants to make sure customers understand the situation.

"If you experience any issues with your accelerator pedal, please contact your dealer without delay," the company said in a statement. "If you are not experiencing any issues with your pedal, we are confident that your vehicle is safe to drive."

LaHood's comments weighed heavily on the stock a day after a new batch of problems arose regarding Toyota's green flagship Prius, which has prompted complaints over its brake system. See full story.

The recall fiasco hit Toyota hard in January in the U.S. market, where vehicle sales dropped almost 16% from a year ago as car buyers fled to the likes of Ford Motor Co and Hyundai.

The global picture for Toyota's sales is also bleak. Executive Vice President Shinichi Sasaki said at a press conference in Japan on Tuesday that the company's sales, not only in America but around the world, will likely drop by double digits.

S&P Equity Research analyst Efraim Levy cut his rating on Toyota's stock to hold from buy and slashed his price target by $15 to $82 a share.

"While we think TM will work aggressively to woo consumers and take advantage of rising vehicle demand, with its tarnished image, in our view, and ahead of tomorrow's expected earning release, we now recommend a cautious approach," he said. "We expect to hear more about the costs of the recall, and TM's strategy to deal with related issues."

[The_Dude 1,142]

The moral of the story: buy American!

Screw that, buy German!!!

Although I would buy a 1969 Camaro SS/RS or a 1967 Pontiac GTO. How's that for American?

Edited February 3, 2010 by Rob and Mel

[Niels Bohr 72]

They bought American. It broke.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

Fred has reported no problems with his car.

[SMOKE 1,426]

we have a toyota forklift at work. the accererator sticks & the brakes don't work for sh!t. toyota sucks!

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

This is what happens when the government owns car companies. Now they have issued a "do not drive" alert against Toyota. Who didn't see THIS coming???????? Government buys auto manufacturewr that cannt make a car people want, government then has an interest in un-appealing cars, government then makes effort to damage competittors. The government cannot operate in a competitive environment.

If I had wanted to own GM I could have bought stock before.

The moral of the story: buy American!

That IS the moral of the story...it is true. Wait until they turn on the other American manufacturers that didn't "need" the government to bail them out.

[The_Dude 1,142]

This is what happens when the government owns car companies. Now they have issued a "do not drive" alert against Toyota. Who didn't see THIS coming???????? Government buys auto manufacturewr that cannt make a car people want, government then has an interest in un-appealing cars, government then makes effort to damage competittors. The government cannot operate in a competitive environment.

If I had wanted to own GM I could have bought stock before.

That IS the moral of the story...it is true. Wait until they turn on the other American manufacturers that didn't "need" the government to bail them out.

So you think this is all a conspiracy by the government to increase GM sales? Step away from the crack pipe gary.

[spookyturtle 9,465]

The moral of the story: buy American!

So you think this is all a conspiracy by the government to increase GM sales? Step away from the crack pipe gary.

Maybe he should go back to watching his sister sunbathe.

[scandal 951]

This is what happens when the government owns car companies. Now they have issued a "do not drive" alert against Toyota. Who didn't see THIS coming???????? Government buys auto manufacturewr that cannt make a car people want, government then has an interest in un-appealing cars, government then makes effort to damage competittors. The government cannot operate in a competitive environment.

It's good we have people like Gary around to spot these terrible government conspiracies. We'd be lost withoutcha!

[Ali G. 37]

This is what happens when the government owns car companies. Now they have issued a "do not drive" alert against Toyota. Who didn't see THIS coming???????? Government buys auto manufacturewr that cannt make a car people want, government then has an interest in un-appealing cars, government then makes effort to damage competittors. The government cannot operate in a competitive environment.

You are joking right? What do you think this is, the former Soviet Union or something?

Maybe the government secretly replaced all of these faulty components. Even better, staged the death of these folk.