Toyota expects parts by weekend
TOYOTA Motor Corp yesterday said its dealers should get parts to fix a sticky gas pedal problem by the end of this week as the auto maker apologized to customers and tried to bring an end to a recall that has affected 4.2 million vehicles worldwide.
The company said in a statement that it has begun shipping parts and is training dealers on the repairs. Some dealers will stay open 24 hours to fix the 2.3 million cars and trucks affected by the recall in the United States.
Technical bulletins on how to install the new parts should arrive at dealers by midweek, the company told dealers in an e-mail. It was not clear exactly when repairs would start, although dealers have said they'll begin as soon as possible.
The auto maker also said yesterday that it would suspend production of eight US models affected by the recall for this week, with factories restarting next Monday. The company suspended sales of the models last week until repairs can be made.
Jim Lentz, president and chief operating officer of Toyota Motor Sales, said in the statement that nothing is more important than customer safety.
In a video clip released by the auto maker, Lentz said he wanted to "sincerely apologize to Toyota owners. I know that our recalls have caused many of you concern, and for that I am truly sorry."
"Toyota has always prided itself on building high-quality, durable cars that customers can depend on, and I know that we've let you down," Lentz said.
Lentz, in an interview on NBC's "Today," said the auto maker was "confident that we have the fix" for the gas pedal system. He said the company first developed a report on the problems in late October, and he denied that Toyota had delayed addressing the problem.
"I drive Toyotas. My family members drive Toyotas ... I would not have them in products that I knew were not safe," Lentz said.
Tammy Darvish, a dealer in the Washington, DC, area, said she expects to get parts on Thursday night or Friday morning. She said her dealership will begin repairs immediately and stay open around the clock.
Darvish said she has set up a 24-hour hotline for her 30,000 Toyota customers and had already begun to schedule appointments for later this week. She estimated it could take about two weeks for all the vehicles to be fixed.
"No matter what Toyota does, they always do it right," Darvish said. "They might be a little slow in coming out, but that's because they're diligent."
Toyota recalled the vehicles on January 21, determining that excess friction in the gas pedal assembly could in rare cases cause the pedals to stick.
The company said in a statement that it has begun shipping parts and is training dealers on the repairs. Some dealers will stay open 24 hours to fix the 2.3 million cars and trucks affected by the recall in the United States.
Technical bulletins on how to install the new parts should arrive at dealers by midweek, the company told dealers in an e-mail. It was not clear exactly when repairs would start, although dealers have said they'll begin as soon as possible.
The auto maker also said yesterday that it would suspend production of eight US models affected by the recall for this week, with factories restarting next Monday. The company suspended sales of the models last week until repairs can be made.
Jim Lentz, president and chief operating officer of Toyota Motor Sales, said in the statement that nothing is more important than customer safety.
In a video clip released by the auto maker, Lentz said he wanted to "sincerely apologize to Toyota owners. I know that our recalls have caused many of you concern, and for that I am truly sorry."
"Toyota has always prided itself on building high-quality, durable cars that customers can depend on, and I know that we've let you down," Lentz said.
Lentz, in an interview on NBC's "Today," said the auto maker was "confident that we have the fix" for the gas pedal system. He said the company first developed a report on the problems in late October, and he denied that Toyota had delayed addressing the problem.
"I drive Toyotas. My family members drive Toyotas ... I would not have them in products that I knew were not safe," Lentz said.
Tammy Darvish, a dealer in the Washington, DC, area, said she expects to get parts on Thursday night or Friday morning. She said her dealership will begin repairs immediately and stay open around the clock.
Darvish said she has set up a 24-hour hotline for her 30,000 Toyota customers and had already begun to schedule appointments for later this week. She estimated it could take about two weeks for all the vehicles to be fixed.
"No matter what Toyota does, they always do it right," Darvish said. "They might be a little slow in coming out, but that's because they're diligent."
Toyota recalled the vehicles on January 21, determining that excess friction in the gas pedal assembly could in rare cases cause the pedals to stick.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS
- |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证:沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证:31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证:0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证:沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证:沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.