Recalled Toyota's 19 times safer than walking
A new Congressional logo?I am not a Toyota apologist. Yes, I own and drive a Toyota hybrid, but that's only because they've provided the best choice in hybrid cars when I've hybrid shopped. Nevertheless, I'd dump Toyota as my brand of choice in a heartbeat if I found a more cost-effective hybrid that fulfilled my needs.
Ultimately, the only thing I really like about Toyota are their efforts into hybrid cars. As I stated earlier today, last year Toyota sold about a 1/2 million hybrid cars. Ford, the leading US manufacturer of hybrids, sold about 30,000 hybrids. That's what I like about Toyota. And that's partially while I've defended Toyota during this recall 'scandal'. Inevitably, a healthy Toyota puts pressure on US automakers to develop more fuel efficient vehicles.
Moreover, I've defended Toyota because Congress simply isn't making much sense. And, when someone exerts a lot of effort advancing illogical endeavors, especially on my dime, I take offense. Is Congress just illogical, inept? Is this related to the bailout? I don't know, but something stinks.
For instance, anyone looking at safety, crash and death statistics in the automotive sector - which I assume Congress has done - will find that the Toyotagate recall scandal isn't much of an issue, at least if the actual numbers of crashes and deaths matter. In fact, according to death statistics, it is 19 times safer to drive a recalled Toyota than it is to walk.
Besides, if Congress really wanted to save lives in the automotive sector, they'd simply outlaw SUVs. In one swift move 10,000+ lives per year would be saved, and we could probably stop importing OPEC oil.
Then again, in light of these scandalous walking statistics, I think Congress should form a panel on the benefits of outlawing walking.
Labels: bailout, Congress, fuel efficiency, Hybrid Vehicles, suv rollover
posted by Dahcredyns at
9:22 AM
7 Comments:
Dahcredyns - you're confusing trust with statistics.
Does the public TRUST Toyota to respond appropriately in the future if some major wrong needs recalling?
I agree with you. I'm still sold on Toyotas in the bigger scheme of themes but there is now a seed of doubt that they can be trusted to respond forthrightly if another problem appears?
I think the big winners here is Honda....so far....
Most of us don't trust the US makers already... heh heh
but shouldn't statistics - the facts - be the over-riding determination of trust?
including the recalls, toyota vehicles - even the recalled ones - have been for years, and still are, more reliable and safer than most others.
no toyota is not perfect. but if the threshold is safety, then have safety be the objective threshold.
for ray lahood, for instance, to say stop driving the recalled toyotas (even by mistake, which it wasn't) is a dereliction of duty because its a subjective response devoid of analytical confirmation.
such subjectivity smacks of either ignorance or politics. in either case, i think it inexcusable.
trust trumps statistics because statistics look back not forward and trust looks forward.
Many brands with excellent reputations has them ruined new folks taking over the reins and disregarding the role of trust in reputation.
It's a hard thing to earn and keep and an easy thing to lose.
Any company can make a mistake but where Toyota had a leg up on the competition was that they had a reputation of not hiding it ...but instead admitting it and dealing with it.
People knew Toyota was human and that they'd make mistakes but they trusted them to tell the truth about the mistakes and to deal with them up front.
Now there is doubt...
Do we trust the folks who are now in charge of Toyota to have the same principles as the folks they took over from?
you're right larry.
the problem i have is with the government's handling of this matter. their response is out of whack with reality.
i realize that congress regularly overblows many issues because it simply makes political sense for any number of reasons.
thus, i don't really have a problem with consumers not trusting toyota. that's their right.
i just expect more come from congress. of course, congress has pretty much let me down on most auto-related issues for many years now, so i guess i should be used to it by now!
i just had very high expectations for this session of congress, particularly once the leadership 'demoted' john dingell - a move that gave me more hope than i've had in some time - but in the end they are all still just politicians.
oh.... Congress is full of strutting politicos... who are "looking out" for their constituents.... even if they looks like the hypocrites they are most of the time.
agree.
And the media do their thing.. like chumming the waters for sharks...
but the real tragedy is not so much these things..they are pretty much part of the landscape...
the real tragedy is that Toyota either gambled or grossly underestimated the potential damage that could result if they ended up being perceived as trying to cover up something.
We almost expect that kind of behavior from some American companies but most of us thought that Toyota was different - and the probably still are but this little episode did tarnish their armor a bit.
One of the reasons I always liked Toyota was their demonstrated commitment to quality.
Despite this episode, until proven otherwise, I still have that perception and I think most others also retain it.
I think they can get it back if they learn from this... and I'm hoping they do because as long as they are around, they're going to keep the heat on the American manufacturers to clean up their acts on quality.
A lot of good points in there, Larry, but I think you summed it up best with, "I think they can get it back if they learn from this"
If this doesn't shake Toyota to its foundation, to its very core, and cause an equal and opposite reaction, then Toyota truly has lost its Kaizen.
Still, not that long ago such an embarrassment would have required seppuku, so I wouldn't bet against Toyota, against Japan, against Kaizen just yet.
Not so many decades ago, Japan awoke a sleeping giant to its detriment. I believe it very possible that the tables have just been turned.
We'll see, but I'm certainly very excited to see how this plays out. It'll undoubtedly be looked back upon as a critical moment in history, I'd bet, if they gave such odds in Vegas.
Toyota should have came forward with a full disclosure. Instead of waiting for a huge media blitz and tons of public pressure. I never seen so many car companies having recalls all at the same time. I had no idea my car was affected until I searched on http://www.carpedalrecall.com and found I had a bad Anti Lock control unit on my 2008 Pontiac G8 , So be careful
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