Toyota's reputation takes a hit
MATT KINSEY
Issue date: 3/9/10 Section: Campus News
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manufacturer of high-quality
automobiles is in tatters.
Widespread publicity over
safety problems has caused it
to recall over 6 million vehicles
in the United States.
The heart of the recall is a
problem with runaway acceleration
occurring on a number of
different Toyota models, which
has been linked to a number of
accidents and fatalities.
Recent Associated Press
news releases detail the facts
behind Toyota's woes.
Among the revelations is the
release of a July 2009 internal
Toyota memorandum bragging
about saving $100 million by
striking a deal with U.S. regulators
limiting the extent of a
prior floor mat recall.
Toyota was lambasted in
Congress last week over this
memo.
Toyota claims that the acceleration
problems are mainly
limited to a defect with the
floor mats that causes gas pedals
to become stuck. There are
questions about the efficacy of
the recall. Some outside
experts are questioning
whether the problem may lie
with the electronic components
of the fuel systems in Toyotas.
Even as it works on fixing its
vehicles, Toyota has been
working hard to restore its
image.
In its latest attempt, on Feb.
25, Toyota said it will provide
free at-home pickup of cars
involved in the recall and will
provide Toyota owners with
rental cars while
their vehicles are
being repaired.
Toyota President
Akio Toyoda told
Congress that same
day that new models
will be outfitted
with brake pedals
that will override
gas pedals. Only
time will tell how
successful Toyota's
latest public relations
moves will be.
Centurion Reporter interviewed
Bucks students to see
how all the bad publicity had
affected their attitudes towards
Toyota automobiles.
Zachary Spencer is an eighteen-
year-old sports management
major from Pipersville.
He said: "Some of the company's
problems have to do with
their lack of preparation and
detail to the cars.
Their little mistakes have
caused accidents that should
have been prevented. I would
prefer Ford's over Toyotas.
To me they seem to be more
reliable, and they have been
around a lot longer, and you
can trust the company."
Rich Collemacine, from
Quakertown is, twenty years
old, with no declared
major."Toyotas are unreliable,
and I would not buy one even