Toyota Recalls 470,000 in Japan (http://www.leftlanenews.com/toyota-recalls-470000-vehicles-in-japan.html)
Toyota has recalled 470,000 vehicles in Japan. Although none were exported, the news comes on the heels of Consumer Reports bumping the automaker from its top reliability spot just yesterday. The recall is due to engine, steering and motor problems and covers several models. Toyota is aiming to sell 10.4 million vehicles next year, but it appears that its ambitious goal could come at the cost of reliable automobiles.

Toyota's Crown sedan — model years 1999 through 2004 — was recalled due to an engine problem which could lead to a fuel leak.

Also recalled was the 2003-2005 Toyota Vitz for a defective fuel pump that could cause the engine to stall and not restart.

In addition, Toyota recalled all of its bB vehicles sold between January of last year and March of this year for a bolt connecting the steering shaft with the gear box wasn't properly tightened, possibly causing uncontrollable steering.

Toyota failed to comment on how much the recalls would cost the company.

Toyota, is not having a good time right now.

Oye

Slow down Toyota! The world will be here tomorrow... you can always come back and dominate it later.

Ouch. Toyota mentioned recently that the "worst was over" in terms of recalls but now I'm not so sure. I wonder how much longer these big recalls will continue.

Toyota's next-gen models HAVE to be a big improvement quality-wise over current models or else Toyota will start losing costumers to the competition.

I never buy cars new, always used now and with some years having had the model out. Even my RX300 was really a Harrier for at least two years prior under the Toyota nameplate in non-North American markets.

When companies get big of course there are economies of scale in costs, but something that has to be kept in mind is that quality can and will suffer. That is just part of being human and yeah it sucks to have to pay that in the form of vehicle repairs.

Its for model years 1999-2004 yall, this is not a new car.
I'd rather Toyota and other companies find the problem and fix, then have accidents and get sued.

Cars are more complex than ever, there will be recalls.

Toyota Drops ... (http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/10/17/business/toyota.php?WT.mc_id=rssbusiness)

By Nick Bunkley
Published: October 17, 2007

DETROIT: Consumer Reports magazine says that "bug-ridden redesigns" caused Toyota Motor of Japan to drop unexpectedly to third, from first, in its annual vehicle reliability rankings.

Consumer Reports removed high-end versions of three Toyota models - the Camry and Lexus GS sedans and the Tundra pickup - from its list of recommended vehicles, released Tuesday, and said it would stop recommending new or redesigned Toyota vehicles without data showing that past years' versions were reliable.

It is the first time since the current format of the ratings began in 1996 that a version of the Camry, which is the best-selling car in the United States, has not been recommended.

The survey, published in the magazine's "Best & Worst New Cars 2008" issue that goes on sale in November, is the latest bump in the road for Toyota, whose sterling reputation for vehicle quality helped it surpass General Motors this year to become the world's largest automaker. The number of vehicle recalls by Toyota has surged, and several top executives have left its American operation in recent months for positions with the Detroit automakers.

Meanwhile, Consumer Reports praised what it said were steady increases in the quality of vehicles made by Ford Motor, which is grappling with poor sales and billions of dollars in losses.

The magazine, which is published by Consumers Union, said that 93 percent of the models made by Ford's domestic brands scored average or better in predicted reliability, the automaker's best performance in years.

Results were less impressive for Detroit's other automakers. Fewer than half of GM's vehicles and two-thirds of Chrysler vehicles scored average or better.

Honda and Subaru of Japan ranked first and second.

A Toyota spokesman, John McCandless, said that the company needed to analyze the survey data before commenting in detail on the problems that it identified.

He pointed out that many of the items that respondents complained about on the not-recommended models, like the audio systems and body hardware, were identical to those in higher-rated versions of the same vehicles.

The survey also gave low marks to the V6 Camry's automatic transmission, the V8 Tundra's four-wheel-drive system and the power accessories on the all-wheel-drive Lexus GS.

"None of our internal indicators indicated any problems with the three models that didn't get recommended," McCandless said.

But Steve St. Angelo, manager of Toyota's complex in Georgetown, Kentucky, where the Camry is built, said the transmission complaints could be linked to defects Toyota discovered in a few early models of the latest Camry. St. Angelo said that those issues had been addressed.

"Don't worry about the Camry," St. Angelo said Tuesday night. He and other Toyota executives attended a dinner in Dearborn, Michigan, honoring Toyota's honorary chairman, Soichiro Toyoda, who was inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame.

The Consumer Reports recommendations of Toyota vehicles in the 1970s and 1980s helped its models catch on with American car buyers.

Even though other quality surveys are now available, Consumer Reports remains influential among Toyota customers, said James Lentz, the executive vice president of Toyota Motor Sales USA, the company's sales arm.

"It matters," Lentz said of the magazine's decision to take the company off its automatic recommended list.

David Champion, senior director of the Consumer Reports automotive test center, said this year's survey showed that Toyota and other Japanese carmakers were not "bulletproof," although they make many outstanding vehicles.

"Even though there are some problems with a few models," he told the Automotive Press Association on Tuesday, "Toyota as a whole is still a very reliable brand and, I'm sure, the envy of a lot of other manufacturers."
Toyota to recall cars in Japan

Toyota said that it would recall about 470,000 cars in Japan, including the Crown, Sienta and bB models, on fears of fuel leaks and steering problems, sending the automaker's shares lower, Reuters reported Wednesday from Tokyo.

The recall covers 277,074 Crown and other sedans manufactured between September 1999 and October 2004, 120,406 Sienta, Vitz and other cars made between September 2003 and February 2005, and 74,347 bB vans built between January 2006 and March 2007.

The sedans had a faulty pulsation damper and fuel pipe, which could cause gasoline to leak in the worst-case scenario.

The Sienta and Vitz models had a defective fuel pump, while the bB had a faulty universal joint that could hinder steering. No accidents were reported from the three cases, and none of the faulty vehicles were exported, a Toyota spokeswoman said.

The news sent Toyota's shares down 2 percent to ¥6,280, or $53.73.

oye... Toyota, make cars like you used to! (Well, with the new modern designs that is).

I love the little details Toyota used to include in every model from Tercel to Avalon, ES to LS. Our 00 Corolla LE had damped overhead assist grips, illuminated ignition keyhole, fabric-covered centre console box lid, fully independent McPhersons etc etc. That was probably the most enjoyable small car I've ever had the pleasure to drive/ride in (was the family car).

It's not as easy as people think being the top dog and staying there. :p

Once you're #1 - a whole lotta people want to tear you down.

reading that PR is like rollercoaster ride... AWESOME Ford, BAD Toyota.

At the end, Ford has 3 reccomended models, Toyota has 17.
Article also praises MB, despite the fact it is one of the worst rated brands overall (57% less reliable than average).

TOKYO (AFP) - Toyota Motor Corp. said Wednesday it was recalling more than 470,000 cars in Japan due to problems with the fuel and steering systems in the latest dent to the automaker's reputation for quality.
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The Japanese auto giant will recall 277,074 passenger cars of eight models, including the Crown luxury sedan, produced in Japan between September 1999 and October 2004, the automaker said.

Toyota said the recall was aimed at exchanging parts used in the fuel control system and pipes, which may cause fuel leaks.

The company will also recall 120,406 cars of various models due to malfunction of fuel pumps, and 74,347 cars to change defective parts in the steering system.

Toyota said it had exported some 680 other cars with similar troubles to more than five countries, including Australia, South America and China.

The automaker is ready to exchange defective parts free of charge within the scope of regulations in each of those countries, a company spokesman said.

Toyota, which is on course to overtake US giant General Motors this year as the world's top selling automaker, announced several large recalls last year, prompting a renewed push by executives to resolve quality issues.

The Japanese automaker also recalled more than half a million pickup and sport utility vehicles in the United States in January of this year.

Toyota was last year instructed by Japan's transport ministry to improve its operations after local police alleged that the company knowingly failed to respond to a defect in a sports utility vehicle.

The automaker later submitted to the government a plan to improve its system for recalling defective vehicles following the rare official rebuke.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20071017/bs_afp/japanautocompanyrecalltoyota;_ylt=ApX8aRxn6HPzL7Ym RMSFDOSyBhIF??

Dang, this was going to be my year for a new truck and I was leaning towards the Tundra. The quality control issues are becoming as much of a risk as buying a German, and I'd rather have a German given the choice.

Dang, this was going to be my year for a new truck and I was leaning towards the Tundra. The quality control issues are becoming as much of a risk as buying a German, and I'd rather have a German given the choice.Hmm I didn't know the Germans have something that competes with the Tundra.

and it begins.........................