Transport chief (LaHood): Stop driving recalled Toyotas

[brooklynite]

Source: MSNBC

WASHINGTON - Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood is telling owners of recalled Toyotas to stop driving the vehicles and get them fixed.

LaHood's warning came Wednesday in testimony before a House Appropriations subcommittee on transportation. LaHood says his advice to owners is to "stop driving it. Take it to a Toyota dealer because they believe they have a fix for it."

Toyota's most recent recall in the United States affects 2.3 million vehicles with the potential for sticking gas pedals.

LaHood told reporters earlier in the day that Toyota owners should contact their dealer immediately and "exercise caution until repairs can be made."

Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35216587/ns/business-autos/

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This seems to be unraveling quickly for Toyota. Good thing we've got a healthy auto industry to step in......

[Purveyor]

1. That is quite a 'call', indeed! eom

[no_hypocrisy]

2. Dangerous for other drivers to share the road with Toyotas that have been repaired yet.

[divideandconquer]

3. It's not fair to other drivers forced to share the road with these unsafe Toyota's

Now even the Prius is under investigation in Japan as well as here.

[high density]

4. I think in a few months we'll find out the problem still exists on repaired vehicles

The explanations so far from Toyota make no sense.

[madokie]

30. They're just kicking the can on down the road

pun intended. TOYota = can :-)

One thing about it Ford is healthy and this may help to heal GM.

[Hepburn]

5. My friend had a horribe problem with her gas pedal the other day on her new Toyota...

...and she took it to the dealership and they gave her a ration of shit and told her nothing was wrong with her new car. I told her to call a tow truck and have that car taken IMMEDIATELY back to them and insist that they check it out thoroughly. If they refuse, start going up the ladder from the service rep all the way to the owner of the dealership. Her freaking gas pedal stuck while she was driving on the freeway...and Toyota totally ignored her complaint.

Unreal!

[ixion]

6. Spoken like a true bureaucrat

Yeah, I'm sure most people have a whole fleet of cars at their disposal. :eyes:

[joeglow3]

7. Does this mean people will wise up and buy American?

While there were clear quality differences 20 years ago, I am amazed at the number of ignorant sheep who flock to foreign cars and pay a 20% premium when that gap is next to nothing. In fact, it looks like it may even have gone the other way.

[nodehopper]

9. Toyota is an excellent car, especially an excellent used car

Certainly better than American-made Ford (Fix Or Repair Daily). It sucks that they've had these problems, it's good that they are doing a recall and that they have a fix, but buying Toyotas, especially for people who need used cars, or cars that will run for a really long time, is a wise choice. Sorry, I would love to support American-made, union-made cars, but I don't know of any that run with as few problems after 10 and even 15 years as Toyotas.

[RamboLiberal]

10. Have a fix? I really question that

From all I've been reading I'm convinced that while there may be some problem with the gas pedals that they also have some kind of problem in the electronics that control acceleration. I'm betting that on some vehicles they will find after the fix of the gas pedal that there will still be problems.

[apnu]

15. From what I heard the acceleration issue is a software problem. Basically a bug (nt)

[apnu]

11. Well this Ford owner for 10 years begs to difer.

I bought a 1999 Ford Escort (manual, 5 speed) and a 2006 Escape Hybrid. Both cars have performed and exceeded my expectations. I remember when I drove the Escort off the lot, the salesman said: "Keep up with the suggested maintenance cycle in your manual and this car will drive forever." I did and the car ran perfectly until I traded it in for the hybrid. That too, runs just as well as the day I bought it. I rotate the tires when I'm supposed to and change the oil (I use the synthetic stuff -- it works wonders) when I'm supposed to and the car performs exactly as expected. (I'm getting an average of 28 MPG right now.) A Ford will run great it you maintain it, just like any other car.

Buying used cars depends on how well maintained the car was by its previous owners. I've seen some nasty Toyota's on used lots and I've seen some good ones. I'll grant that used Toyota's have a better rep for enduring owner abuse than American makes, but I'll never understand why. I did have one car, a Subaru, that I bought for next to nothing and was badly abused by its previous owners. That thing really wouldn't die. The body rotted off it before it was dead. I drove it to the scrap yard, that was a tough car.

[nodehopper]

23. YMMV, of course

But in general from everything I've read up on buying used cars, people recommend Toyotas or Volvos as the most durable ones, and Volvos are more expensive to repair in the US...totally true about the previous owners, too, good point.

[joeglow3]

24. Mine too.

My wife and I recently traded in our 10 year old Blazer – 120,000 miles and NO problems, for a minivan. We wanted to go for one that was 3 years old to maximize the value (depreciation of vehicle versus remaining useful life). Since it was the vehicle my wife would be driving the kids around in, I had no problem what she went with. At the lot, we were between a Honda Odyssey and a Chrysler T&C Touring. They both were fully loaded (only difference was a minor size difference of the interior) and had the same mileage (within 1,000 miles). I asked the salesman what was I getting for the $5,000 more the Honda was costing. His response (and it is someone we trust) was next to nothing. He stated that 10 years there was a quality gap, but that it is gone and many people are still willing to pay for it.
We did some research and came to the same conclusion (at least, per Edmunds and Consumer Reports).

Thus, I have to disagree completely with you and question the basis for your view on CURRENT cars being produced.

[divideandconquer]

36. J.D Power lists Caravan with higher reliability than 3 year old Odesseys

<http://www.jdpower.com/autos/articles/2009-Vehicle-Dependability:-Pickups-and-Vans>

[joeglow3]

38. Interesting. Thanks

I should have mentioned a benefit of the T&C was the Stow & Go. We have used it a number of time and it is GREAT. That said, glad to see this reaffirms our choice.

And I changed the front brake pads last summer and I will agree with the TONS of dust comment.

[superconnected]

14. My Carolla was a dog. My Taurus still runs great - it's a 2000.

My Honda wasn't that bad but I got tired of it getting stolen.

[nodehopper]

22. you had it stolen more than once??

Maybe older Toyotas were better. I had one from 1991, and it ran great until 2008 in my possession, and still runs great, except now my boyfriend's sister drives it.

[superconnected]

27. The last time the honda accord was stolen, it was found next to two other ones

that were also stolen and looked identical except for color, abandoned in the back of an apartment complex.

Honda accords are the most stole car. Don't dare leave one at a park-n-ride. I no longer take commuter buses because I don't expect my car to be there when I get back, even though it was only the honda that ever got stolen and I drive a different car now. There's no feeling like your finding your car gone. Especially in the the dark about 9pm when you got off the commuter bus and worked since 7am at Microsoft. I'm still scarred.

I went to the Taurus that has a key with a chip in it so it won't start without that exact key. Still won't leave it in a park-n-ride though - unreasonable fear left over from the accord.

[nodehopper]

29. yikes! sorry that happened to you....

[WriteDown]

16. What's in like in 1989?

How do you post on the internet from then.

[nodehopper]

20. not sure what that's supposed to mean

but until a year ago when we moved I had a 1991 toyota and my boyfriend had a 1989 toyota, both ran with minimal problems. Before that I had two used Toyotas, both great. My father had a used Ford that experienced total failure in the middle of the road, and a Pontiac, which was OK but required quite a bit of upkeep.

[joeglow3]

25. That is exactly what I said.

This was true 10-20 years ago. It is NOT anymore. But, if you want to piss away money for next to no difference and send your money overseas, it is your choice.

[nodehopper]

28. well my point was

that as someone in a financial position to buy a car for 2-3K, that is to say, an OLD car, I'd go with a Toyota every time. I guess if I were even in a position to buy a new car I'd look into it more.

[joeglow3]

31. Fair enough. However, the article is not about cars built then.

Hence, why I am referring today. Additionally, I said hopefully people whill buy American more. Obviously, I am referring to new cars and buying American used cars really doesn't mean jack.

[nodehopper]

35. that makes total sense.

[divideandconquer]

33. Bulls#it! A Jeep 4.0 is the longest lasting engine

Toyota engines sludge up with the best of them. A Jeep 4.0L engine will bury 2 Toyota engines.

[nodehopper]

34. like I said to someone upthread--YMMV--literally :)

[amandabeech]

37. You simply cannot kill that engine.

I'd put that right up there with the Dodge/Plymouth/Chrysler slant 6 from the '70s.

I lost my Jeep in an accident, but that motor wouldn't quit. The only thing that I replaced in 120,000 miles was the electric motor for the wiper blades and a couple of sets of tires.

I'm very happy with my 03 Taurus SES. Drives great, especially on the highway. It has the larger motor that gets .5 less per gallon, but makes accelerating onto the DC beltway very easy. See the spot and punch the accelerator. No worries about that piece of equipment getting stuck!

[snarkolepsy]

12. Where's the competition?

Show me an American car that gets 50mpg and I will buy one today. I'm car shopping right now and I really really wish it made sense for me to buy anything made in America rather than a Prius, but it just doesn't. 50mpg combined, in a practical configuration, that holds up very well over time, and is only $21k MSRP to boot; the American companies choose to not even try to compete with that.

The Fusion hybrid is a good choice for some I guess, if your priority in a car is all about power (every other word in the Fusion hybrid commercials is desperately trying to convince you of just how much power the car has) -- but I care much more about milage,configuration, and price than power.

I'm all for supporting American workers -- but I'm not sure I can convince myself to pay substantially more money to get a substantially worse car.

[joeglow3]

26. Really? That is the basis for your opinion of the entire line of vehicles?

Using your logic, you should NEVER buy a foreign vehicle because their pickups suck.

[boppers]

32. I want an american small sedan that gets 28mpg, and can go over 140mph, for less than 8K used..

I haven't found one yet, maybe it'll take another 5-10 years for the current models to catch up... so I'm driving a used Saab for now.

[Zoigal]

8. Just saw on "breaking news" that he said that he "mispoke"......z

[brooklynite]

13. UPDATE - DOT's LaHood: 'Stop Driving' Remark On Toyota 'Misstatement'

from the http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20100203-712593.html?mod=WSJ_latestheadlines">Wall Street Journal:

WASHINGTON (Dow Jones)--U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said he misspoke Wednesday when he urged owners of recalled Toyota Motor Corp. (TM) vehicles to stop driving their cars.

The remark was an "obvious misstatement," LaHood said after testifying in a House hearing on budget issues. He said that he intended to urge Toyota owners to take their vehicles to dealers to have them examined and, if necessary, fixed.

During the hearing, LaHood said, "My advice is...stop driving it. Take it to the dealer," so that potentially faulty gas pedals can be fixed, LaHood said. His staff immediately sought to clarify the remark.

Whatever the "correct" answer was, he clearly wasn't saying something the Administration agreed with. Almost as messy.....

[slackmaster]

17. It would be chaos if everyone suddenly stopped driving their Toyotas

The freeways would be clogged up with cars, like that scene in the beginning of the movie Falling Down.

[Lugnut]

18. I'm glad I drive a Buick.

So, who do all the affected Toyota owners see about transportation? What a disaster.

[AngryAmish]

19. I am so glad the administration is handling this coolly and rationally

True leadership there.

[deadmessengers]

21. I'm sure glad I bought a Honda.

10 years, 140,000 miles, and still going strong!