Sludge smudges Toyota

[DainBramaged]

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070207/AUTO01/702070349/1148

Engine problem is latest issue to dent automaker's reputation

snip>Toyota agreed last fall to settle the case but maintains that its engines were not defective. It said the settlement terms mirror a program to reimburse customers for sludge-related engine damage or repairs that it put in place in 2002. A Louisiana state court is expected to approve the settlement this week after a hearing today.

With engine replacements costing as much as $10,000, the final tab could run into the billions. But the damage to Toyota's reputation might be even more costly for the Japanese automaker.

Toyota is not the only automaker that has received complaints from consumers whose engines are damaged by sludge -- and the source of the problem and who bears responsibility are disputed issues.

But the high-profile case is the latest in a series of recalls and other signs suggesting that the Japanese automaker's quality controls aren't foolproof.

"It would be accurate to say that there have been enough issues with Toyota in the past couple of years that they don't have the spotless image they had a couple of years ago," said Karl Brauer, editor in chief of Edmunds.com, an automotive research Web site.<snip


Another hidden recall by Toyota.

And only GM cars suck.


:eyes:

[theoldman]

1. The problem was primarily in the V-6 engine used in the

Avalon and Lexus 300 located in Southern states. The engine oil would stop flowing and the engine would freeze up.

[ClintonTyree]

2. I'm probably not the only one....

that read your post and thought you were talking about "Drudge" instead of real sludge. :)

American auto makers should have the problems Toyota has. :eyes:

[DainBramaged]

4. Sure, and Union Workers are to blame right?

[ClintonTyree]

6. Someone have an image problem?

No, it would be MANAGEMENT that's to blame. Unfortunately the rank and file are the ones that pay the price for managements' mistakes. Get a grip on yourself. Jumping down someone's throat over a statement that had nothing to do with unions smacks of poor self image. I've been a union member all my life and have never blamed a union for anything. It's a fact, Detroit has made some terrible mistakes as far as marketing and R&D. Is that the union member's fault? No, they just carry out the orders the "brain trust" gives them. While Detroit was pushing monstrous hunks of steel down the American consumers throats Toyota and the other Japanese/Korean/European manufacturers were actually LISTENING to what the American consumer was saying.
Chill out.

[jakefrep]

3. Toyota's shit stinks after all.

Who knew? :shrug:

[DainBramaged]

5. I guarantee if this was a story about GM or Ford, there would be a hundred replies

to this thread bashing the shit out of them.:grr: