Toyota recalls and related issues: BusinessWeek-Media owes Toyota an apology
05-26-10 | 08:20 AM
#1336
Lexus Champion
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,459
Likes: 1
From: Makati, Philippines
They said there was a recall for the LS.......but only for select territories. The report said that ALL Lexus LS sold in Japan are affected (with a small few sold in USA, Canada, Europe and Mainland China).
I don't know what the cause is about but here's the text.
http://www.toyota.com.cn/information...hp?newsid=4569
2010/05/21
丰田汽车（中国）投资有限公司召回部分进口雷克萨斯LS460L和LS600hL轿车
（2010年5月21日）丰田汽车（中国）投资有限公司向国家质检总局递交了召回报告，因转向控制系统缺陷，预计将自2010年06月21日起，召回部分2009-2010年款进口雷克萨斯(LEXUS)LS460L和LS600hL，在中国大陆地区共涉及818辆,车辆生产日期如下所示：
车型 生产期间
LS460L 2009年08月26日-2009年09月18日；
2009年11月19日-2010年05月13日
LS600hL 2009年08月18日-2009年09月30日；
2009年11月19日-2010年05月13日
本次召回范围内的车辆的可变齿轮比转向系统（VGRS）的控制程序不恰当，方向盘打满后如果方向盘回轮速度过快，有可能短时造成与方向盘正中位置的偏离角偏大。由于相对轮胎直行方向，短时发生方向盘位置的偏离，可能导致驾驶员判断失误和操作失误，造成安全隐患。丰田汽车（中国）投资有限公司决定免费为存在上述缺陷的车辆更换可变齿轮比转向系统的电控单元(ECU)，以消除隐患。
丰田汽车（中国）投资有限公司将从5月21日起发送用户通知。更换用零件目前仍在准备中，预计将于6月21日前完成，届时将和各地雷克萨斯特许经销店将再次与用户联系，请车主前往就近的特许经销店对车辆进行免费维修。
在受影响车辆完成召回修理前，请有关车主尽量避免方向盘打满后回轮速度过快的操作，如无法避免，请在留意车辆行驶方向的情况下再操作方向盘，同时避免急起步及急加速。
相关车主可向各地雷克萨斯特许经销店或拨打服务热线800-810-2772或400-810-2772进行咨询。同时可登陆质检总局网站进出口商品检验栏目(http://jyjgs.aqsiq.gov.cn)、缺陷产品管理中心网...24687;。
^^^
I can't read Chinese though so maybe someone who understands can
I don't know what the cause is about but here's the text.
http://www.toyota.com.cn/information...hp?newsid=4569
2010/05/21
丰田汽车（中国）投资有限公司召回部分进口雷克萨斯LS460L和LS600hL轿车
（2010年5月21日）丰田汽车（中国）投资有限公司向国家质检总局递交了召回报告，因转向控制系统缺陷，预计将自2010年06月21日起，召回部分2009-2010年款进口雷克萨斯(LEXUS)LS460L和LS600hL，在中国大陆地区共涉及818辆,车辆生产日期如下所示：
车型 生产期间
LS460L 2009年08月26日-2009年09月18日；
2009年11月19日-2010年05月13日
LS600hL 2009年08月18日-2009年09月30日；
2009年11月19日-2010年05月13日
本次召回范围内的车辆的可变齿轮比转向系统（VGRS）的控制程序不恰当，方向盘打满后如果方向盘回轮速度过快，有可能短时造成与方向盘正中位置的偏离角偏大。由于相对轮胎直行方向，短时发生方向盘位置的偏离，可能导致驾驶员判断失误和操作失误，造成安全隐患。丰田汽车（中国）投资有限公司决定免费为存在上述缺陷的车辆更换可变齿轮比转向系统的电控单元(ECU)，以消除隐患。
丰田汽车（中国）投资有限公司将从5月21日起发送用户通知。更换用零件目前仍在准备中，预计将于6月21日前完成，届时将和各地雷克萨斯特许经销店将再次与用户联系，请车主前往就近的特许经销店对车辆进行免费维修。
在受影响车辆完成召回修理前，请有关车主尽量避免方向盘打满后回轮速度过快的操作，如无法避免，请在留意车辆行驶方向的情况下再操作方向盘，同时避免急起步及急加速。
相关车主可向各地雷克萨斯特许经销店或拨打服务热线800-810-2772或400-810-2772进行咨询。同时可登陆质检总局网站进出口商品检验栏目(http://jyjgs.aqsiq.gov.cn)、缺陷产品管理中心网...24687;。
^^^
I can't read Chinese though so maybe someone who understands can
05-26-10 | 08:44 AM
#1337
They said there was a recall for the LS.......but only for select territories. The report said that ALL Lexus LS sold in Japan are affected (with a small few sold in USA, Canada, Europe and Mainland China).
I don't know what the cause is about but here's the text.
http://www.toyota.com.cn/information...hp?newsid=4569
2010/05/21
丰田汽车（中国）投资有限公司召回部分进口雷克萨斯LS460L和LS600hL轿车
（2010年5月21日）丰田汽车（中国）投资有限公司向国家质检总局递交了召回报告，因转向控制系统缺陷，预计将自2010年06月21日起，召回部分2009-2010年款进口雷克萨斯(LEXUS)LS460L和LS600hL，在中国大陆地区共涉及818辆,车辆生产日期如下所示：
车型 生产期间
LS460L 2009年08月26日-2009年09月18日；
2009年11月19日-2010年05月13日
LS600hL 2009年08月18日-2009年09月30日；
2009年11月19日-2010年05月13日
本次召回范围内的车辆的可变齿轮比转向系统（VGRS）的控制程序不恰当，方向盘打满后如果方向盘回轮速度过快，有可能短时造成与方向盘正中位置的偏离角偏大。由于相对轮胎直行方向，短时发生方向盘位置的偏离，可能导致驾驶员判断失误和操作失误，造成安全隐患。丰田汽车（中国）投资有限公司决定免费为存在上述缺陷的车辆更换可变齿轮比转向系统的电控单元(ECU)，以消除隐患。
丰田汽车（中国）投资有限公司将从5月21日起发送用户通知。更换用零件目前仍在准备中，预计将于6月21日前完成，届时将和各地雷克萨斯特许经销店将再次与用户联系，请车主前往就近的特许经销店对车辆进行免费维修。
在受影响车辆完成召回修理前，请有关车主尽量避免方向盘打满后回轮速度过快的操作，如无法避免，请在留意车辆行驶方向的情况下再操作方向盘，同时避免急起步及急加速。
相关车主可向各地雷克萨斯特许经销店或拨打服务热线800-810-2772或400-810-2772进行咨询。同时可登陆质检总局网站进出口商品检验栏目(http://jyjgs.aqsiq.gov.cn)、缺陷产品管理中心网...24687;。
^^^
I can't read Chinese though so maybe someone who understands can
I don't know what the cause is about but here's the text.
http://www.toyota.com.cn/information...hp?newsid=4569
2010/05/21
丰田汽车（中国）投资有限公司召回部分进口雷克萨斯LS460L和LS600hL轿车
（2010年5月21日）丰田汽车（中国）投资有限公司向国家质检总局递交了召回报告，因转向控制系统缺陷，预计将自2010年06月21日起，召回部分2009-2010年款进口雷克萨斯(LEXUS)LS460L和LS600hL，在中国大陆地区共涉及818辆,车辆生产日期如下所示：
车型 生产期间
LS460L 2009年08月26日-2009年09月18日；
2009年11月19日-2010年05月13日
LS600hL 2009年08月18日-2009年09月30日；
2009年11月19日-2010年05月13日
本次召回范围内的车辆的可变齿轮比转向系统（VGRS）的控制程序不恰当，方向盘打满后如果方向盘回轮速度过快，有可能短时造成与方向盘正中位置的偏离角偏大。由于相对轮胎直行方向，短时发生方向盘位置的偏离，可能导致驾驶员判断失误和操作失误，造成安全隐患。丰田汽车（中国）投资有限公司决定免费为存在上述缺陷的车辆更换可变齿轮比转向系统的电控单元(ECU)，以消除隐患。
丰田汽车（中国）投资有限公司将从5月21日起发送用户通知。更换用零件目前仍在准备中，预计将于6月21日前完成，届时将和各地雷克萨斯特许经销店将再次与用户联系，请车主前往就近的特许经销店对车辆进行免费维修。
在受影响车辆完成召回修理前，请有关车主尽量避免方向盘打满后回轮速度过快的操作，如无法避免，请在留意车辆行驶方向的情况下再操作方向盘，同时避免急起步及急加速。
相关车主可向各地雷克萨斯特许经销店或拨打服务热线800-810-2772或400-810-2772进行咨询。同时可登陆质检总局网站进出口商品检验栏目(http://jyjgs.aqsiq.gov.cn)、缺陷产品管理中心网...24687;。
^^^
I can't read Chinese though so maybe someone who understands can
05-30-10 | 08:43 PM
#1338
Guest
Posts: n/a
Very interesting read below. UI isn't even written in most of those reports...
89 Dead In The NHTSA Complaint Database? It’s A Sham
http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/89-...80%99s-a-sham/
89 Dead In The NHTSA Complaint Database? It’s A Sham
By Bertel Schmitt on May 30, 2010
This week, NHTSA came out and said that after a recount of their complaints database, they found 89 dead bodies in their computers, allegedly killed by evil runaway Toyotas. The MSM ate it up. If it bleeds, it leads. Even if it smells. In this article, we will show you the secrets of the incredible killing machine at NHTSA.
Of course it was one of those devilish coincidences that on the same day the House Energy And Commerce Committee convened and passed an amended version of the Motor Vehicle Safety Act. The act, if approved, gives sweeping powers to NHTSA. Maximum fines to automakers rise from $16.4m to 200m. Black boxes become mandatory in all new cars. Funding for NHTSA is doubled to $280m over 3 years. Drivers will pay a “vehicle safety user fee.” As far as the NHTSA is concerned, the 89 people in their computer died for a good cause: The advancement of the NHTSA. But did they really die?
It is an open secret that the NHTSA database is an invitation to fraud. There is no fact checking. Anybody can file on-line complaints at NHTSA without a VIN number. Anybody can file any bogus report with any number of deaths. It will stay in the database and will be counted.
For a closer look, I downloaded the complete NHTSA complaint database to my computer, all 400 Megabytes of them. With the help of Microsoft Access, I pulled all records for incidents with Toyotas from the year 2000, and where the culprit was “VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL.” I counted the deaths: 5727 complaints yielded 100 deaths in 78 cases. Didn’t the NHTSA say 89? Oh well, maybe the NHTSA overlooked some. They had made mistakes before. One third of the alleged deaths occurred in a vehicle with no reported VIN number.
I started looking at the reports.
In that case, the driver was found with a blood alcohol level of .103. A search warrant was issued for the Sensing and Diagnostic Module of the Lexus. The data recorder found the vehicle “accelerating with no braking prior to crash and a speed of 49 mph at crash.” Unintended acceleration? Not according to court and police, but it counts for the NHTSA as one dead.
My head started to shake so hard, it did hurt. I gave up further analysis of this database. It is a sham. In many of the cases in that database unintended acceleration isn’t even alleged. Nevertheless, the cases are filed under “VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL” and bodies are counted. The ones that allege unintended acceleration are not investigated, but counted. There are many duplicates, upping the count, even triplicates: One ES350 crashes three times on the same day, killing 2 people each, bringing the carnage to six dead. People are charged with DUI and manslaughter, but their victim counts. Police reports give causes for accidents such as “improper lane change” and say that there were no car defects. But the bodies count against Toyota.
Even without outright fraud, which this database invites, it is a collection of “the car made me do it” after people ran red lights, lost control when speeding, or were drunk. The real cases have documents, police reports etc. with them. As in the case of the drunk Lexus driver, the case could be quickly closed. But it is not. The ones without documents (such as the one with 4 deaths) should be thrown out immediately for lack of evidence. But they are not.
The people who run this database don’t need a $280m budget. They need a new job. Like counting the muskox population of Nome, Alaska. If they mess that up, there will be a career-limiting outcry from PETA to the Sierra Club. But their work on that collection of crooks and liars will remain unpunished.
What I don’t understand is that the MSM didn’t dig deeper in that morass. Never was investigative journalism easier. 100 people dead. Hundreds of millions of dollars involved. And the research can be done without getting one’s behind out of the chair in front of the computer. With that, I hand you over to our frequent commentator Carquestions who looked a bit deeper into that database.
PS: If you have nothing better to do, a file with the alleged dead since 2000 can be downloaded here in easy Excel format. For further investigation, go to the NHTSA complaint database and input the ODINO for the record you want to research. Do not shake your head violently, serious trauma can occur.
89 Dead In The NHTSA Complaint Database? It’s A Sham
http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/89-...80%99s-a-sham/
89 Dead In The NHTSA Complaint Database? It’s A Sham
By Bertel Schmitt on May 30, 2010
This week, NHTSA came out and said that after a recount of their complaints database, they found 89 dead bodies in their computers, allegedly killed by evil runaway Toyotas. The MSM ate it up. If it bleeds, it leads. Even if it smells. In this article, we will show you the secrets of the incredible killing machine at NHTSA.
Of course it was one of those devilish coincidences that on the same day the House Energy And Commerce Committee convened and passed an amended version of the Motor Vehicle Safety Act. The act, if approved, gives sweeping powers to NHTSA. Maximum fines to automakers rise from $16.4m to 200m. Black boxes become mandatory in all new cars. Funding for NHTSA is doubled to $280m over 3 years. Drivers will pay a “vehicle safety user fee.” As far as the NHTSA is concerned, the 89 people in their computer died for a good cause: The advancement of the NHTSA. But did they really die?
It is an open secret that the NHTSA database is an invitation to fraud. There is no fact checking. Anybody can file on-line complaints at NHTSA without a VIN number. Anybody can file any bogus report with any number of deaths. It will stay in the database and will be counted.
For a closer look, I downloaded the complete NHTSA complaint database to my computer, all 400 Megabytes of them. With the help of Microsoft Access, I pulled all records for incidents with Toyotas from the year 2000, and where the culprit was “VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL.” I counted the deaths: 5727 complaints yielded 100 deaths in 78 cases. Didn’t the NHTSA say 89? Oh well, maybe the NHTSA overlooked some. They had made mistakes before. One third of the alleged deaths occurred in a vehicle with no reported VIN number.
I started looking at the reports.
First report, 4 dead, no VIN. Description: “LEICESTER, MASS. — POLICE SAY IT APPEARS THE FOUR TEENAGERS WHO WERE KILLED IN A CAR CRASH IN LEICESTER WERE WEARING THEIR SEAT BELTS, AS WAS THE LONE SURVIVOR. LEICESTER POLICE CHIEF JIM HURLEY SAYS NEITHER ALCOHOL NOR DRUGS WAS A FACTOR IN THE CRASH.” Unintended acceleration?
Next one, no VIN, 3 dead, allegedly: “THREE PEOPLE WERE KILLED WHEN A CAR LOST CONTROL IN WHITTIER AND SLAMMED INTO A TREE. … IT WAS NOT CLEAR WHAT CAUSED THE CRASH, BUT DRIVERS OFTEN COME DOWN THE HILL AT DANGEROUSLY HIGH SPEEDS, SALAZAR SAID.” Unintended acceleration?
Next one, no VIN. 2 dead, allegedly. Happened May 31,2003. Reported to NHTSA 7 years later on April 1, 2010: “1994 TOYOTA CAMRY. CONSUMER STATES DISCONTENT REGARDING A FATAL ACCIDENT WITH THIS VEHICLE AND WONDERS IF DEFECTS WERE THE CAUSE. THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND IT RAN OFF THE ROADWAY AND STRUCK A REINFORCED WALL.” Unintended acceleration?
Next one, no VIN, 2 dead, allegedly. Happened July 14, 2007. Reported to NHTSA February 16, 2010: “ON JULY 14, 2007 MY PARENTS WERE INVOLVLED IN A SINGLE-CAR CRASH IN THE RESIDENTIAL AREA OF NEW BLOOMFIELD, MO. MY 84-YEAR-OLD FATHER WAS DRIVING A 2004 TOYOTA AVALON, SUDDENLY LEFT THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROADWAY, FLIPPED THE VEHICLE, AND LANDED UPSIDE DOWN, BACK ON THE PAVEMENT. MY 79-YEAR-OLD MOTHER WAS KILLED INSTANTLY FROM HEAD TRAUMA, AND MY FATHER PASSED AWAY FROM INJURIES SUSTAINED IN THE ACCIDENT 7 WEEKS LATER. THE AUTHORITIES COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT, AND MY FATHER COULD NOT REMEMBER ANY DETAILS … WE HAVE BEEN VEXED BY THE WHOLE INCIDENT, AND IT NEVER OCCURRED TO ME TO REQUEST HAVING THE AVALON INSPECTED (HIGHLY RATED VEHICLE AND ALL…), UNTIL ALL THE RECENT MEDIA OF OTHER DEATHS INVOLVING TOYOTA VECHICLES. I DO NOT HAVE THE VIN # AVAILABLE PRESENTLY, BUT CAN OBTAIN IT.” Unintended acceleration?
Next one, no VIN, 2 dead, allegedly. Happened Nov. 29, 2007. Reported to NHTSA February 16, 2010: “THE CONSUMERS FRIEND AND AN ACQUAINTANCE WERE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. ACCORDING TO THE REPORT, THE CONSUMER’S FRIEND PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF A TRUCK. THE CONSUMER DISAGREED WITH THE THEORY THAT HER FRIEND WOULD HAVE JUST PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF A TRUCK. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED HER FRIEND MAY HAVE EXPERIENCED SOME TYPE OF MECHANICAL PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE CONSUMER ASKED HAD THE VEHICLE BEEN INSPECTED, SHE WAS TOLD THAT WAS NOT AN ISSUE. “Unintended acceleration?
This database has everything, including admissions of drunk driving (1 dead) and manslaughter:
“ON 10/17/09 AT ABOUT 5:40 PM, AFTER DRINKING A VODKA WITH ICE, MY HUSBAND AND I WENT TO DINNER IN OUR 2005 LS430 LEXUS. WE INTENDED TO GO TO DINNER A RELATIVELY SHORT DISTANCE AWAY. I TURNED ON MILITARY TRAIL, PROCEEDED TO THE LEFT LANE TRAVELING SOUTHBOUND TOWARDS NORTHLAKE BLVD, PALM BEACH GARDENS, FLORIDA. AS I APPROACHED A TRAFFIC LIGHT MY LEXUS UNEXPECTEDLY SPED UP. I TRIED TO APPLY THE BRAKE. THERE WERE CARS STOPPED IN FRONT OF ME AT THE RED LIGHT. DESPITE MY EFFORTS MY CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. I TOOK EVASIVE MANEUVERS TO AVOID THE STOPPED VEHICLES IN FRONT OF ME. THE LEFT TIRES OF MY LEXUS WENT UP ON THE CENTER MEDIAN AND MY CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE THROUGH THE INTERSECTION. I MISSED THE VEHICLES STOPPED AT THE TRAFFIC LIGHT AND TRAVELLING THROUGH THE INTERSECTION. MY CAR WOULD NOT STOP ACCELERATING. I STRUCK A CORVETTE STOPPED IN THE LEFT NORTHBOUND LANE OF MILITARY TRAIL. AFTER STRIKING THE CORVETTE, I CONTINUED THROUGH THE SOUTHBOUND LANES UNTIL I INTENTIONALLY DROVE MY CAR INTO A FIRE HYDRANT IN ORDER TO STOP AND AVOID STRIKING GAS PUMPS AT A SHELL STATION. MY HUSBAND AND I WERE INJURED IN THIS CRASH. THE DRIVER OF THE CORVETTE PASSED AWAY. MY LEXUS IS STILL IN POLICE CUSTODY. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE AT THIS TIME. I WAS CHARGED WITH DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE (MANSLAUGHTER), AND 3 OTHER CHARGES. I AM VIGOROUSLY FIGHTING THOSE CHARGES AS I WAS NOT IMPAIRED AND, AS EVIDENCED BY MY EVASIVE MANEUVERS, HAD CONTROL OF MY CAR. BUT FOR THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION, THIS ACCIDENT AND DEATH WOULD HAVE NOT OCCURRED. IN NOV. 2008, MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING THE SAME LEXUS AND AS HE PULLED INTO OUR GARAGE THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP AND HIT CABINETS IN OUR GARAGE. LOOKING BACK AND COMPARING WHAT HAPPENED IN MY ACCIDENT ON 10/17/09 IT IS CLEAR THAT MY HUSBANDS EARLIER ACCIDENT WAS THE RESULT OF SOME SORT OF MALFUNCTION OF OUR LEXUS ACCELERATOR SYSTEM. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE AT THAT TIME.”
Next one, no VIN, 3 dead, allegedly: “THREE PEOPLE WERE KILLED WHEN A CAR LOST CONTROL IN WHITTIER AND SLAMMED INTO A TREE. … IT WAS NOT CLEAR WHAT CAUSED THE CRASH, BUT DRIVERS OFTEN COME DOWN THE HILL AT DANGEROUSLY HIGH SPEEDS, SALAZAR SAID.” Unintended acceleration?
Next one, no VIN. 2 dead, allegedly. Happened May 31,2003. Reported to NHTSA 7 years later on April 1, 2010: “1994 TOYOTA CAMRY. CONSUMER STATES DISCONTENT REGARDING A FATAL ACCIDENT WITH THIS VEHICLE AND WONDERS IF DEFECTS WERE THE CAUSE. THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND IT RAN OFF THE ROADWAY AND STRUCK A REINFORCED WALL.” Unintended acceleration?
Next one, no VIN, 2 dead, allegedly. Happened July 14, 2007. Reported to NHTSA February 16, 2010: “ON JULY 14, 2007 MY PARENTS WERE INVOLVLED IN A SINGLE-CAR CRASH IN THE RESIDENTIAL AREA OF NEW BLOOMFIELD, MO. MY 84-YEAR-OLD FATHER WAS DRIVING A 2004 TOYOTA AVALON, SUDDENLY LEFT THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROADWAY, FLIPPED THE VEHICLE, AND LANDED UPSIDE DOWN, BACK ON THE PAVEMENT. MY 79-YEAR-OLD MOTHER WAS KILLED INSTANTLY FROM HEAD TRAUMA, AND MY FATHER PASSED AWAY FROM INJURIES SUSTAINED IN THE ACCIDENT 7 WEEKS LATER. THE AUTHORITIES COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT, AND MY FATHER COULD NOT REMEMBER ANY DETAILS … WE HAVE BEEN VEXED BY THE WHOLE INCIDENT, AND IT NEVER OCCURRED TO ME TO REQUEST HAVING THE AVALON INSPECTED (HIGHLY RATED VEHICLE AND ALL…), UNTIL ALL THE RECENT MEDIA OF OTHER DEATHS INVOLVING TOYOTA VECHICLES. I DO NOT HAVE THE VIN # AVAILABLE PRESENTLY, BUT CAN OBTAIN IT.” Unintended acceleration?
Next one, no VIN, 2 dead, allegedly. Happened Nov. 29, 2007. Reported to NHTSA February 16, 2010: “THE CONSUMERS FRIEND AND AN ACQUAINTANCE WERE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. ACCORDING TO THE REPORT, THE CONSUMER’S FRIEND PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF A TRUCK. THE CONSUMER DISAGREED WITH THE THEORY THAT HER FRIEND WOULD HAVE JUST PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF A TRUCK. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED HER FRIEND MAY HAVE EXPERIENCED SOME TYPE OF MECHANICAL PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE CONSUMER ASKED HAD THE VEHICLE BEEN INSPECTED, SHE WAS TOLD THAT WAS NOT AN ISSUE. “Unintended acceleration?
This database has everything, including admissions of drunk driving (1 dead) and manslaughter:
“ON 10/17/09 AT ABOUT 5:40 PM, AFTER DRINKING A VODKA WITH ICE, MY HUSBAND AND I WENT TO DINNER IN OUR 2005 LS430 LEXUS. WE INTENDED TO GO TO DINNER A RELATIVELY SHORT DISTANCE AWAY. I TURNED ON MILITARY TRAIL, PROCEEDED TO THE LEFT LANE TRAVELING SOUTHBOUND TOWARDS NORTHLAKE BLVD, PALM BEACH GARDENS, FLORIDA. AS I APPROACHED A TRAFFIC LIGHT MY LEXUS UNEXPECTEDLY SPED UP. I TRIED TO APPLY THE BRAKE. THERE WERE CARS STOPPED IN FRONT OF ME AT THE RED LIGHT. DESPITE MY EFFORTS MY CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. I TOOK EVASIVE MANEUVERS TO AVOID THE STOPPED VEHICLES IN FRONT OF ME. THE LEFT TIRES OF MY LEXUS WENT UP ON THE CENTER MEDIAN AND MY CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE THROUGH THE INTERSECTION. I MISSED THE VEHICLES STOPPED AT THE TRAFFIC LIGHT AND TRAVELLING THROUGH THE INTERSECTION. MY CAR WOULD NOT STOP ACCELERATING. I STRUCK A CORVETTE STOPPED IN THE LEFT NORTHBOUND LANE OF MILITARY TRAIL. AFTER STRIKING THE CORVETTE, I CONTINUED THROUGH THE SOUTHBOUND LANES UNTIL I INTENTIONALLY DROVE MY CAR INTO A FIRE HYDRANT IN ORDER TO STOP AND AVOID STRIKING GAS PUMPS AT A SHELL STATION. MY HUSBAND AND I WERE INJURED IN THIS CRASH. THE DRIVER OF THE CORVETTE PASSED AWAY. MY LEXUS IS STILL IN POLICE CUSTODY. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE AT THIS TIME. I WAS CHARGED WITH DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE (MANSLAUGHTER), AND 3 OTHER CHARGES. I AM VIGOROUSLY FIGHTING THOSE CHARGES AS I WAS NOT IMPAIRED AND, AS EVIDENCED BY MY EVASIVE MANEUVERS, HAD CONTROL OF MY CAR. BUT FOR THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION, THIS ACCIDENT AND DEATH WOULD HAVE NOT OCCURRED. IN NOV. 2008, MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING THE SAME LEXUS AND AS HE PULLED INTO OUR GARAGE THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP AND HIT CABINETS IN OUR GARAGE. LOOKING BACK AND COMPARING WHAT HAPPENED IN MY ACCIDENT ON 10/17/09 IT IS CLEAR THAT MY HUSBANDS EARLIER ACCIDENT WAS THE RESULT OF SOME SORT OF MALFUNCTION OF OUR LEXUS ACCELERATOR SYSTEM. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE AT THAT TIME.”
My head started to shake so hard, it did hurt. I gave up further analysis of this database. It is a sham. In many of the cases in that database unintended acceleration isn’t even alleged. Nevertheless, the cases are filed under “VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL” and bodies are counted. The ones that allege unintended acceleration are not investigated, but counted. There are many duplicates, upping the count, even triplicates: One ES350 crashes three times on the same day, killing 2 people each, bringing the carnage to six dead. People are charged with DUI and manslaughter, but their victim counts. Police reports give causes for accidents such as “improper lane change” and say that there were no car defects. But the bodies count against Toyota.
Even without outright fraud, which this database invites, it is a collection of “the car made me do it” after people ran red lights, lost control when speeding, or were drunk. The real cases have documents, police reports etc. with them. As in the case of the drunk Lexus driver, the case could be quickly closed. But it is not. The ones without documents (such as the one with 4 deaths) should be thrown out immediately for lack of evidence. But they are not.
The people who run this database don’t need a $280m budget. They need a new job. Like counting the muskox population of Nome, Alaska. If they mess that up, there will be a career-limiting outcry from PETA to the Sierra Club. But their work on that collection of crooks and liars will remain unpunished.
What I don’t understand is that the MSM didn’t dig deeper in that morass. Never was investigative journalism easier. 100 people dead. Hundreds of millions of dollars involved. And the research can be done without getting one’s behind out of the chair in front of the computer. With that, I hand you over to our frequent commentator Carquestions who looked a bit deeper into that database.
PS: If you have nothing better to do, a file with the alleged dead since 2000 can be downloaded here in easy Excel format. For further investigation, go to the NHTSA complaint database and input the ODINO for the record you want to research. Do not shake your head violently, serious trauma can occur.
05-31-10 | 02:03 AM
#1339
Lexus Champion
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 8,695
Likes: 2
From: CA
In the meantime, NASA/NHTSA/etc continues their 15 month+ long investigations, which may find driver error in quite a few of these cases. And even if TMC is fully exonerated, I'm not holding my breath for the MSM or even New Media outlets to report it other than page A15 etc., but they could surprise one yet. And good on TTAC for pointing the fraud perpetrated by unscrupulous or misled media types out.
06-25-10 | 01:53 PM
#1341
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 756
Likes: 2
From: ab
HS250H to be recalled possible fuel leaks after collisions.
http://www.autoblog.com/2010/06/25/b...ve-fuel-leaka/
Come on Toyota/Lexus, enough of this!
http://www.autoblog.com/2010/06/25/b...ve-fuel-leaka/
Come on Toyota/Lexus, enough of this!
06-25-10 | 02:52 PM
#1342
Pole Position
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 399
Likes: 0
From: Los Angeles, CA
HS250H to be recalled possible fuel leaks after collisions.
http://www.autoblog.com/2010/06/25/b...ve-fuel-leaka/
Come on Toyota/Lexus, enough of this!
http://www.autoblog.com/2010/06/25/b...ve-fuel-leaka/
Come on Toyota/Lexus, enough of this!
06-25-10 | 03:09 PM
#1344
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 8,349
Likes: 0
From: QC/FRANCE
I guess Toyota-Lexus wont be recovering from this from this bad publicity for a while.
06-30-10 | 02:25 PM
#1345
Pole Position
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 399
Likes: 0
From: Los Angeles, CA
Toyota may recall Lexus LS460 on faulty engine
DETROIT (Reuters) – Toyota Motor Corp is considering recall of one of its top-of-the-line sedans, Lexus LS460, owing to concerns that its engines may stall, the Nikkei business daily reported.
Tens of thousands of vehicles will likely be recalled worldwide, the daily said without naming sources.
The Nikkei said the 4.6-liter engine of the sedan, launched in 2006 and partly remodeled last year, is said to stall while the vehicle is in motion and may not start again.
Lexus U.S. officials said the carmaker is investigating the issue but did not say whether the luxury sedan would be recalled.
If the LS460 is recalled, it would be the latest in a string of recalls for Toyota since last fall. Since last September, Toyota has recalled more than 10 million vehicles worldwide, most for the potential of unintended acceleration.
Just last Friday, Lexus told U.S. safety regulators it was halting sales and recalling about 17,000 Lexus HS250h gasoline-electric hybrid sedans due to a potential fuel leak. Toyota acted after a U.S. government crash test that showed fuel leaking after an HS250h was struck from the rear by a car traveling about 50 miles per hour (80 kilometers per hour).
About 13,000 model year 2010 HS250h vehicles were sold in the United States, and about 17,000 have been built to sell in the U.S. market, Toyota told its U.S. Lexus dealers in a letter last Friday.
Toyota's own crash test did not show the fuel leak problem. The automaker, in the letter to U.S. Lexus dealers, said it was trying to understand why the government tests showed the fuel leakage problem while the company's own crash tests did not.
The automaker told dealers it has not received any reports of injuries or accidents linked to the potential problem with the HS250h sedan. And Nikkei reported that Toyota said there were no reported accidents related to the 460LS issue, either.
Toyota is investigating the cause and would likely need to replace engine-related parts or upgrade control software, the daily said.
Lexus sold 4,863 of the 460LS sedans in the first five months of this year in the United States, up from 3,925 units in the same period in 2009.
Lexus through May had sold 5,889 of the HS250h in the United States. The model had yet to be introduced by May last year.
(Reporting by Koustav Samanta in Bangalore and Bernie Woodall in Detroit; Editing by Don Sebastian and Steve Orlofsky)
Tens of thousands of vehicles will likely be recalled worldwide, the daily said without naming sources.
The Nikkei said the 4.6-liter engine of the sedan, launched in 2006 and partly remodeled last year, is said to stall while the vehicle is in motion and may not start again.
Lexus U.S. officials said the carmaker is investigating the issue but did not say whether the luxury sedan would be recalled.
If the LS460 is recalled, it would be the latest in a string of recalls for Toyota since last fall. Since last September, Toyota has recalled more than 10 million vehicles worldwide, most for the potential of unintended acceleration.
Just last Friday, Lexus told U.S. safety regulators it was halting sales and recalling about 17,000 Lexus HS250h gasoline-electric hybrid sedans due to a potential fuel leak. Toyota acted after a U.S. government crash test that showed fuel leaking after an HS250h was struck from the rear by a car traveling about 50 miles per hour (80 kilometers per hour).
About 13,000 model year 2010 HS250h vehicles were sold in the United States, and about 17,000 have been built to sell in the U.S. market, Toyota told its U.S. Lexus dealers in a letter last Friday.
Toyota's own crash test did not show the fuel leak problem. The automaker, in the letter to U.S. Lexus dealers, said it was trying to understand why the government tests showed the fuel leakage problem while the company's own crash tests did not.
The automaker told dealers it has not received any reports of injuries or accidents linked to the potential problem with the HS250h sedan. And Nikkei reported that Toyota said there were no reported accidents related to the 460LS issue, either.
Toyota is investigating the cause and would likely need to replace engine-related parts or upgrade control software, the daily said.
Lexus sold 4,863 of the 460LS sedans in the first five months of this year in the United States, up from 3,925 units in the same period in 2009.
Lexus through May had sold 5,889 of the HS250h in the United States. The model had yet to be introduced by May last year.
(Reporting by Koustav Samanta in Bangalore and Bernie Woodall in Detroit; Editing by Don Sebastian and Steve Orlofsky)
06-30-10 | 03:00 PM
#1347
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 22,608
Likes: 102
From: Waiting for next track day
Not for a long while. My wife needs an SUV and she totally refused the idea of the Highlander hybrid just because its a toyota. I am not saying its rationale, but I am not dumb enough to argue with a 9 month pregnant woman
. I think in the end we will stick with the MDX or even the RX ( if she can over the need for the 3rd row)I have to say I agree. Even the LS has issues now. I must say I am surprised
06-30-10 | 04:54 PM
#1348
Moderator
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 12,064
Likes: 74
From: San Francisco, CA
sigh, this is just really bad news. one of the best selling points of the Lexus brand is coming to a end
06-30-10 | 05:34 PM
#1349
Guest
Posts: n/a
I agree this needs to be nipped in the bud. It all goes back to my thread about "German/Japanese brands and price/quality/value erosion". At this rate with Acura looking like crap and being Honda plus, Infiniti relying on leases with new high MSRPs and with Lexus quality taking hit after hit, well Audi and the Germans will reap the rewards.
What is the point exactly of buying a Japanese brand, mainly Lexus, if quality is a big concern?
Lexus get it together. Seriously. (and the sad part is I know these are all the OLDER design vehicles with the old processes, we won't see improvements for a year or two at best)
What is the point exactly of buying a Japanese brand, mainly Lexus, if quality is a big concern?
Lexus get it together. Seriously. (and the sad part is I know these are all the OLDER design vehicles with the old processes, we won't see improvements for a year or two at best)
06-30-10 | 06:15 PM
#1350
i was joking with my friend saying that lexus finally level out with bmw and mb by degrading on quality.
on a serious note. i have been saying this since 2006 (and mike has been saying it for a long time too). lexus needs to drastically improve their quality and reliability back to the level of around 2001-2003. that's their prime, and that's what they need. reliability is arguably the biggest reason most people buy them (me included), if they lose that, then it's a big big problem
imho, lexus still has what it takes to make great reliable vehicles (unlike bmw and mb and audi, having problems is almost like part of the ownership experience), but they don't have that long to get back on track before they burn out their last chip
on a serious note. i have been saying this since 2006 (and mike has been saying it for a long time too). lexus needs to drastically improve their quality and reliability back to the level of around 2001-2003. that's their prime, and that's what they need. reliability is arguably the biggest reason most people buy them (me included), if they lose that, then it's a big big problem
imho, lexus still has what it takes to make great reliable vehicles (unlike bmw and mb and audi, having problems is almost like part of the ownership experience), but they don't have that long to get back on track before they burn out their last chip