US finds most toyotas were in fact, ok.... their owners are just dumb

[philoldsmobile]

What's the betting this gets far less coverage than the original news story...

http://www.pistonheads.com/news/default.asp?storyId=22212\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">http://www.pistonheads.com/news/default.asp?storyId=22212


USER ERROR BLAMED FOR TOYOTA 'SUDDEN ACCELERATION'
It's the drivers, not the cars say investigators


Proof that the culture of blame in which the US is steeped has gone too far: the US Department of Transportation has revealed that the majority of crashes involving the infamous runaway Toyotas were down to driver error.
The Wall Street Journal reports that the data recorders from dozens of Toyotas and Lexuses involved in crashes apparently caused by 'sudden acceleration' show that the throttles were actually wide open and the brakes not applied at the time of the accidents.

The implication of the early findings of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is that some drivers who claimed their cars surged forward actually hit the accelerator rather than the brakes.

The NHTSA's independent findings tally with Toyota's own view that the incidents were not caused by electronic throttle glitches - even though more than 100 people have sued the car maker, claiming just that.

Overall, the NHTSA has received more than 3000 complaints of 'runaway' Toyotas and Lexuses, including 75 fatal incidents. Only one of these fatal crashes has been attributed to a mechanical glitch - that was traced to a floor mat that forced the accelerator to remain depressed.

Toyota has admitted that there are problems with floor mats catching on accelerator pedals, and throttles that are slow to return to idle, and has recalled more than eight million vehicles worldwide since March to rectify any potential problems.

Toyota remains adamant that there are no defects in its by-wire throttle systems, a claim that has - so far - been borne out by the NHTSA's associate administrator for enforcement, Daniel Smith. "In spite of our investigations, we have not actually been able yet to find a defect in electronic throttle-control systems," Smith told a panel of the National Academy of Sciences last month. "We're bound and determined that if it exists, we're going to find it. But as yet we haven't found it."

The Toyota acceleration saga isn't pulling to a halt just yet, but the moral of the story seems to be this: if you want to stop, it's best not to hit the right-hand pedal...

[HardRockCamaro]

I can understand owners who have been in accidents that were their fault trying to blame the car, but statistically there should not be a higher percentage of them than any other brand right?

[Roadkill]

The whole things stinks of a massive back-hander to me.

[Jamieg285]

Quoting: HardRockCamaro

I can understand owners who have been in accidents that were their fault trying to blame the car, but statistically there should not be a higher percentage of them than any other brand right?

It's just opportunistic.  Once news gets out, even if it's not true, others will jump on the band wagon - "I had an accident in a Toyota, so it MUST be the cars fault"  If others have sued, then why not go for the money too?

[Jamieg285]

Plus, there would also be part of the 'if it's not USA built, it's crap' syndrome that they seem to suffer from.  Toyota aren't american, so they're a lot keener to put the boot in.

[Andy]

Quoting: Jamieg285

Plus, there would also be part of the 'if it's not USA built, it's crap' syndrome that they seem to suffer from. Toyota aren't american, so they're a lot keener to put the boot in.

Wasn't this faulty pedal assembly made in the USA? Could've sworn it was as the Japs use the principle of making a car in each country and using local suppliers on JIT delivery.

[philoldsmobile]

aye, in fact, a while ago i heard the only 100% made in America car was the toyota corolla.

Americans are funny with domestic cars, some areas they love them (like NY where most cars are US brands), others they absolutely hate them. (some areas of cali are real toyota and honda strongholds)

[HardRockCamaro]

Quoting: Jamieg285

Plus, there would also be part of the 'if it's not USA built, it's crap' syndrome that they seem to suffer from. Toyota aren't american, so they're a lot keener to put the boot in.

No way.
The US media, both auto and general, has been far more scathing of Detroit than Japanese cars, especially Toyota who have had a golden get out of jail free ticket until this recent stuff.

The far more interesting thing was the pedal mechanism which is manufactured in the USA to Toyota spec.  The same company produces a nearly identical part for the Cadillac CTS.  The Cadillac part has brass linings, the Toyota part does not so the plastic wears against itself.  The Cadillac part has a double spring mechanism with a retainer in case one breaks so it doesn't interfere with the other.  The Toyota has a much smaller spring inside the larger one and no retainer to stop one from interfering with the other.

While the Americans very often pikey out, just because it's Japanese does not necessarily make it better than Detroit.  Things have changed a lot at the Big Three over the last 5 years...

[philoldsmobile]

Americans are absolute suckers for anything 'imported' - it caries far more cachet

see what they pay for old BMW's Jaguars and Mercs. they cary crazy price tags. make the brand obsolete in the U.S. market (Pugeot, Alfa Romeo, MG etc) and prices go stratospheric.

on the run of the mill cars, the big three only sell if they are cheap, they are viewed in a lot of ways even more harshly than they are over here, because they cary no novelty value.  Something like a chevy cobolt would be competing with kia and hyundai, its a vicious circle, people see them as inferior to the imported opposition, so they cut corners to make them cheap to tempt buyers. cutting corners makes them inferior to their imported piers, meaning they only sell if they are cheap.

its sad how things have changed, but unless the big three change soon, I doubt there is much future for them...

[philoldsmobile]

Quoting: HardRockCamaro

Things have changed a lot at the Big Three over the last 5 years...

this is VERY true, the current caddy CTS is a fantastic car, just superb, but its going to need good marketing, and a decent presence outside the US market place to be a real contender, and we all know the record the US brands have there..lets hope its not too late.

Run of the mill stuff like ford and chevy is in a desperate state, hence all of the big three being in serious financial trouble, a few decent cars after nearly a decade of very poor efforts and relying on patriotic shopping is going to take a LOT of marketing work (look at how hard Skŏda had to work, it can be done, but its a monumental task)

[HardRockCamaro]

There are quit a few cars getting good press:

Buick Enclave - Crossover SUV
Chevrolet Malibu - Medium family car
Chevrolet Camaro - Muscle/sports
Cadillac CTS - Executive saloon
Chevrolet Corvette - especially the Z06 and ZR1
Ford Fiesta - Small car
Ford Fusion - Medium family car - especially in hybrid form
Ford Escape - small SUV, especially in hybrid form
Ford Mustang - Muscle/sports

To name but a few...

The japanese are still failing to break into the truck market with the big 3 selling more than 10 times as many trucks as Toyota/Nissan/Mitsubishi etc combined, and that was during the recession...

The CTS is now world class but the badge will not do it any favours in the UK and marketing is non existent anyway as it the lack of a diesel.  Frankly I don't know why they bother when they don't even make any effort...

[philoldsmobile]

Quoting: HardRockCamaro

The CTS is now world class but the badge will not do it any favours in the UK and marketing is non existent anyway as it the lack of a diesel. Frankly I don't know why they bother when they don't even make any effort..

frustrating isn't it? its almost like they want to fail....