Toyota bites the bullet on brakes
By Yuri Kageyama |
February 10, 2010, Wednesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
TOYOTA is recalling about 437,000 Prius and other hybrid vehicles worldwide to fix brake problems - the latest in a string of embarrassing safety lapses at the world's largest auto maker.
"I don't see Toyota as an infallible company that never makes mistakes," President Akio Toyoda told a press conference yesterday in Tokyo.
"We will face up to the facts and correct the problem, putting customers' safety and convenience first."
With the Prius announcement, the number of vehicles recalled globally by Toyota has ballooned to 8.5 million, including for unsafe floor mats and faulty gas pedals slow to return to the idle position. The 2010 Prius wasn't part of the earlier recalls.
There have been about 200 complaints in Japan and the United States about a delay when the brakes in the Prius were pressed in cold conditions and on bumpy roads.
The delay doesn't indicate a brake failure, according to Toyota. The company said the problem can be fixed in 40 minutes with new software that oversaw the controls of the anti-lock brakes.
"Let me assure everyone that we will redouble our commitment to quality as the lifeline of our company," Toyoda said.
Toyota officials went to Japan's Transport Ministry earlier yesterday to formally notify officials the company is recalling the 2010 Prius gas-electric hybrid, the world's top-selling hybrid car.
Toyota is also recalling two other hybrids in Japan, the Lexus HS250h sedan, sold in the US and Japan, and the Sai, which is sold only in Japan.
The 223,000 cars being recalled in Japan include nearly 200,000 Priuses.
In the US, Toyota will recall 133,000 Prius cars and 14,500 Lexus HS250h vehicles. Nearly 53,000 Priuses are also being recalled in Europe.
Toyota is suspending production of the Sai and Lexus HS250h in Japan until updated software is ready.
The Prius repairs will start in Japan today. US owners will start receiving letters about the recall next week.
Toyoda has been criticized for being largely invisible after the firm announced on January 21 the gas-pedal recall in China, the US and Europe.
He said he planned to go to the US soon to talk with American workers and dealers to bring the ranks together.
Analysts said fears of an even bigger consumer backlash prodded Toyota into recalling the Prius.
"If they hadn't done the recalls, their image would have suffered even more," said Ryoichi Saito, auto analyst at Mizuho Investors Securities in Tokyo.
US safety officials have launched an inquiry into problems with Toyota brakes.
"I don't see Toyota as an infallible company that never makes mistakes," President Akio Toyoda told a press conference yesterday in Tokyo.
"We will face up to the facts and correct the problem, putting customers' safety and convenience first."
With the Prius announcement, the number of vehicles recalled globally by Toyota has ballooned to 8.5 million, including for unsafe floor mats and faulty gas pedals slow to return to the idle position. The 2010 Prius wasn't part of the earlier recalls.
There have been about 200 complaints in Japan and the United States about a delay when the brakes in the Prius were pressed in cold conditions and on bumpy roads.
The delay doesn't indicate a brake failure, according to Toyota. The company said the problem can be fixed in 40 minutes with new software that oversaw the controls of the anti-lock brakes.
"Let me assure everyone that we will redouble our commitment to quality as the lifeline of our company," Toyoda said.
Toyota officials went to Japan's Transport Ministry earlier yesterday to formally notify officials the company is recalling the 2010 Prius gas-electric hybrid, the world's top-selling hybrid car.
Toyota is also recalling two other hybrids in Japan, the Lexus HS250h sedan, sold in the US and Japan, and the Sai, which is sold only in Japan.
The 223,000 cars being recalled in Japan include nearly 200,000 Priuses.
In the US, Toyota will recall 133,000 Prius cars and 14,500 Lexus HS250h vehicles. Nearly 53,000 Priuses are also being recalled in Europe.
Toyota is suspending production of the Sai and Lexus HS250h in Japan until updated software is ready.
The Prius repairs will start in Japan today. US owners will start receiving letters about the recall next week.
Toyoda has been criticized for being largely invisible after the firm announced on January 21 the gas-pedal recall in China, the US and Europe.
He said he planned to go to the US soon to talk with American workers and dealers to bring the ranks together.
Analysts said fears of an even bigger consumer backlash prodded Toyota into recalling the Prius.
"If they hadn't done the recalls, their image would have suffered even more," said Ryoichi Saito, auto analyst at Mizuho Investors Securities in Tokyo.
US safety officials have launched an inquiry into problems with Toyota brakes.
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