Is Toyota Getting Bad Rap From the Press? Cat Thinks So

Cat Ellis writes articles for us. She’s a die hard Toyota girl, and she wanted to give her two cents about the latest Toyota Recalls.

The recent Toyota recalls have certainly garnered a lot of attention in the media. And, why not? It makes for great drama, and drama sells. Toyota has had a long standing reputation of making reliable, safe vehicles that hold their value well.

As a long time, highly satisfied Toyota owner, I became very curious as to whether or not the media hype was an accurate reflection of the recall situation. Like many current Toyota owners, this could easily be the deciding factor whether or not I will purchase another Toyota again in the future.

Cat Ellis Of Showroom Logic Defends The Toyota Recalls

One of the biggest selling points for Toyota cars and trucks has historically been how well they hold their resale value. Toyota vehicles have traditionally required very little in the way of maintenance costs over the life of the vehicle. Where most new vehicles suffer massive depreciation, the initial depreciation associated with purchasing a new Toyota has been mild in comparison. When Toyota owners have traded in or sold their used car or truck, they have been able to recoup much more of their initial cost.

For those buying a used Toyota, one could reasonably expect the vehicle to last a long time without a major repair, and continue to hold its value better than other used cars and trucks. Potential repair costs are usually the biggest concern for used car shoppers. Toyota has proven to be a predictable, low-cost-to-own choice in used cars for people all over the world for decades. It takes a long time to build up that kind of reputation.

These recalls involved over 8 million vehicles worldwide. (That does not mean that all the vehicles recalled had experienced problems.) On the surface, this sounds alarming, however when one takes a look at exactly what was involved and the numbers associated with each recall, a different picture begins to emerge

Now, here come the recalls in question. Recalls involving floor mats, sticky accelerators, and ABS braking software have been in the news since 2007. These recalls involved over 8 million vehicles worldwide. (That does not mean that all the vehicles recalled had experienced problems.) On the surface, this sounds alarming, however when one takes a look at exactly what was involved and the numbers associated with each recall, a different picture begins to emerge.

The initial recall involving floor mats was the result of optional all-weather mats and unsecured mats intended for SUVs that ended up in other models. The recall involved just under 4 million vehicles worldwide, representing approximately half of all vehicles affected by all three recalls combined. Another point to consider is that there was nothing with the Toyota vehicles themselves. The issue was with the floor mats. The fix required nothing more than removing the mats.

This recall was ultimately amended to involve sticking accelerator pedals. This expanded recall involved all the same vehicles as the first. What was expanded were the precautions taken to prevent accelerator pedals from being caught by the inappropriate floor mat or floor mat installation. The amended recall provided for a reshaped pedal to avoid entanglement with floor mats, a brake override system, a newly designed floor mat, the removal of the old mat, and a reimbursement to the owner if they did not want the new floor mat. Again, there was nothing wrong with the vehicle itself, but was a precautionary measure.

The second recall involved sticking accelerator pedals that had nothing to do with floor mats. Certainly, a vehicle accelerating suddenly and not responding to the brake would be enough to rattle anyone. However, when tests were performed on affected models, independent sources like Car and Driver and Edmunds.com were able to slow and stop the Toyota vehicles in question.

The third recall involved a much smaller numbers of the newer 2010 Toyota Prius. The ABS braking software caused braking malfunctions, leading to the recall and rewrite of the software. The response time for this recall and solution was very quick, just a matter of days.

While the sticking accelerator recall did not include the Prius, some Prius owners have claimed that their vehicle suddenly accelerated. However, the Prius has a unique feature, something akin to a “black box”. Information from these devices have been checked by third-party and government inspectors, and have come to the conclusion that driver error is to blame. According to the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA), the information is more consistent with having the accelerator fully engaged, rather than the brake. In other words, the driver had their foot on the wrong pedal.

Pressing the accelerator instead of the brake has been a common driver error for as long as folks have been driving. The question is, how many of the problems reported that prompted the sticking accelerator recall were also driver error? Unfortunately, Event Data Recorders (black boxes) are not currently standard on most vehicles, though that will be changing in 2012.

While many media outlets speculated that these recalls would result in a massive drop in Toyota sales, this has not proven to be the case. Based on interviews with US auto owners conducted by marketing research firm TRC, Toyota’s solid history of designing and manufacturing quality, safe cars and trucks is winning out over media hype. The interviews revealed that most people still perceive Toyota as a safe, reliable automaker based on the product’s historical performance. This bodes well for Toyota maintaining their reputation of manufacturing vehicles that hold their value, and keeping Toyota at the top of the pack for reliable used cars and trucks.

My own experience as a Toyota owner has been a good one. I have owned both a Corolla and a Camry. They have both been economical to own, needing only routine maintenance that would be required of any other vehicle. Both were purchased as used Toyotas, and both have lasted over a decade. My Corolla made it to over 210,000 miles, and my Camry is still riding like new at around 150,000 miles. Both vehicles have been very inexpensive to operate, even with rising gas prices. After looking at all the information, I would absolutely purchase another Toyota.

After looking at all the information, I would absolutely purchase another Toyota

For those looking to buy a safe, reliable car or truck, Menlove Toyota Scion in Bountiful, Utah has a large inventory of both new and used Toyotas. Menlove Toyota Scion also has their own financing, as well as Service and Part Center for your convenience. Their Toyota Dealer web site,  provides Bountiful-area car shoppers with details about Menlove’s inventory, hours, and current new and pre-owned specials. Utah auto shoppers would do well to check them out.