Toyota’s Future Is Brighter Than Many People Think
Jason Lancaster | Feb 15, 2010 | Comments 21
In the aftermath of floor mat recalls, Prius problems, and “pedal gate,” it’s easy to assume Toyota’s reputation with consumers will suffer. However, there is some compelling evidence to suggest that Toyota will survive and perhaps even thrive as a result of these events.
1. Ford’s Firestone Fiasco. One need look no further than Ford’s Firestone fiasco to realize Toyota can easily recover from this problem. Ford suffered through a tremendous amount of negative publicity nearly a decade ago when their Firestone tire problems became national news. Yet today, Ford is one of only a few manufacturers who are seeing year-over-year sales gains, and recent profitable quarters point to a company on the rise.
2. Toyota has fewer NHTSA complaints than any of its competitors. Edmunds.com recently published a report showing Toyota was 17th overall in total complaints to NHTSA this decade (adjusted for sales volume). As bad as Toyota’s publicity is right now, more people have complained to the government about safety issues with their Ford, GM, Chrysler, Honda, or VW than they have about their Toyota.
3. Toyota owners are a loyal bunch. JD Power consistently ranks Toyota near the top in owner retention, a key indicator of loyalty. According to JD Power, this loyalty stems for quality, resale value, and low costs of ownership…three areas where Toyota has traditionally done very well.
4. Toyota seems to be learning lessons. Toyota seems to be learning from this mistake. They’ve recognized a flaw in organizational culture, they’ve identified poor management practices, and they seem to be keen on fixing the problems inside the company walls. Only time will tell of course, but everyone in charge is saying the right things.
5. Toyota owners are generally satisfied with the recall efforts. It’s anecdotal to be sure, but having spoke with a few dealers over the last couple of weeks, we’re hearing that most Toyota owners are generally satisfied with Toyota’s efforts to fix this problem.
Obviously, it’s way too early to tell how this will all balance out. Upcoming congressional hearings could open old wounds, and it’s always possible some new piece of information will come out and really hurt Toyota. However, for all the negatives the press is mentioning, there are quite a few pieces of positive news for Toyota.
Filed Under: TundraHeadquarters.com
Maybe they can also get a govt. bailoutiif and when the need arises? I doubt it.
I just hope this all blows over 1 year from now and resale value does not drop more than a few hundred bucks and the rebates do not go up to 4-5K like they are now on chevy and ford. I like 2-3K rebates on the tundra at certain times, but not 4-5K like they almost always are on the ford f-150 or chevy silverado.
I agree Toyota’s future is brighter than most people think, really bright when they are on fire. How can you say Toyota is learning their lesson? Frames, oil, brakes, sludge, accelerator. What’s next, they are running out of things to Fu+K UP! Loyal owners, call them what you want. The average person refers to them as morons. Keep buying something that you have issues with, ask Mainehunter about his 2001 Tundra. Didn’t he buy a Titan? Now for owners satisfied with recall efforts, WTF, who wrote this? You are as stupid as the “LOYAL OWNERS”! Why don’t you have a poll of how satisfied people are about the accelerator issue! What did Toyota do send a letter saying there is a issue we really don’t know what it is or how to fix it but we are working on it. Now for the complaints with the NHTSA, sure most are trading them in instead of even messing with it, but didn’t this site cal Lahood a Idiot. So is this site a Hypocrite and pick and chose the good and bad? If his controls the NHTSA and you say he’s a idiot one day for saying don’t drive them, how are you gonna say hey atleast Toyota has less recalls. Yhea but didn’t someone say DON’T DRIVE IT? So for the Ford comparison, so where Ford’s breaking in half? How about a contaminated oil issue, maybe some brakes failing all at the sime time. Oh I left out accelerator. So Ford had one issue, not twenty on the whole line up LMAO. That’s funny I don’t care who you are. Nice propaganda!
Todd, READ THE FREAKIN ARTICLE MORON. The article states that you are wrong. The surveys by independent firms say you are wrong. Please go get you a chevy emblem and fap somewhere else.
get over it Todd, all mfgs. have recalls and TSB’s. No, I am not happy about the gas pedal recall and could care less since both my vehicles are affected. Am I going to rush to the dealer and get the metal shim – heck no, not until I feel my gas pedal starting to stick and not slow down the car when let off gas pedal. Get over it already – no big deal. The press, media, and everyone is making a mountain out of a molehill. How many death or injuries or for that matter complaints have been filed on the millions of cars affected? Dozens, not even hundreds of vehicles, so whoopdeeedooo! Most of these accidents are more driver fault and not vehicle issues-idiots on road that should not have been given the priviledge of a drivers license.
“The press, media, and everyone is making a mountain out of a molehill.” Thank You, mk! So true.
Like in a previous post, toyota is just suffering from “bigcompanyits”. Hopefully a remedy will come soon.
So vehicles break in half everyday due to rust that are less than 10 years old, let’s say Tacomas. yep I hate it when that happens you park for to get a loaf and bread and damn truck broke in half. So that must be a normal recall? What do you think MK.
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Toyota brought all this on them selves, so yes its the medias fault. They designed it right? Must he hard to breathe with your head so far up there JR.
Jason what?? Facts buddy. Ask Mainehunter what he just did. He sid it on your site. He traded his unsafe to drive 01 Tundra for a Titan. That’s a fact, do you know what a fact is? So who else has a recall for spare tires falling off (Fact), severe frame corrosion some times resulting in vehicles breaking in half (fact), FLOORMATS (FACT, hilaroius but FACT), need we go one? As for the NHSTA so what is bash Lahood day or say the NHSTA knows what they are talking about? You flip sides so often you never know, who cares if its a independent survey you posted it, that is you right JASON? So I think calling one a moron is kinda harass, it would be like someone call you a dumbass for posting the stupid article. But that would be wrong and immature! So yes, I think this site has a flavor of the day (one day bash NHSTA and say they don’t know what they are doing, the next say well look Toyota has the least recalls) what is it make up your mind, you posted it!!! Both of them!! So are you a hypocrite?? You just have to sift through the BS here and you will laugh your ass off, cause its all BS
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JR, I’m with anonymous on the media. They had nothing to do with the vehicle beside reorting the news and facts (hear that Jason). Weather you like it or not its the facts, and if you don’t like it JASON take it up with them!
Last comment was from me, enjoy. Oh is Lahood and NHTSA good or bad today?? Just asking??
Todd if you have a beef against Toyota then settle it. Don’t speak for people you don’t even know. All of a sudden you become the almighty that knows everything? You ASSUME and we know exactly what that word breaks down to be. You name a few recalls on one manufacturer. How about really showing your intelligence and tell us of all recalls that manufacturer’s are having not just one. The only thing here that F%#@ up is you. You act as if no manufacturer had an issue but Toyota. I got news for you Jack, Ford did the same to me with my F-150 after trying 11x to fix it but came out with we don’t know how to fix your truck but oh well. I went and got the recall fix just like I did for the other vehicles I owned. Where is your facts/stats that most are trading in their Toyota’s? You are just ASSUMING again. Todd the less recalls that was mention is over a DECADE. Read the story before you put foot in mouth. As far as Lahood why did he retract his statement? You have no idea about politics much less anything else in what you’re writing You see things with a blind eye. You don’t believe other makers have recalls? Here’s a breakdown on just my dealing with what you describe as morons owning a certain vehicle. Okay here you go in what new vehicles I had with both TSB’s and Recalls:
Recalls TSB’s In Shop Yrs Owned
1992 GMC Sonoma 3 Recalls 4 TSB’s. 7x 5 years
1997 Ford Thunderbird 2 Recalls 106 TSB’s 26x 6 years
1998 Chevy Silverado 2 Recalls 17 TSB’s 3x 5 years
2003 Ford F-150 2 Recalls 82 TSB’s 18x 3 years
2003 Ford Crown Vic 7 Recalls 111 TSB’s 22x 4 years
2006 Chevy Silverado LT3 10 Recalls, 10 TSB’s 22x 18months
2007 Toyota Prius 1 Recall 8 TSB’s 0x Still Have
2007 Toyota Tundra 4 Recalls 1 TSB 4x Still Have
So you see that anything made by man will break at sometime. No I’m far from being shell shock. It boils down to customer service……..
If you don’t like Toyota there Todd why are you here? The media has their own agenda. If you so call can see the B/S you would see what the media is doing. Playing stupid don’t count. Todd one more who’s the fool the one who leads or the one who follows? That’s for you and anonymous……
That is bad Mickey, sorry.
It happens Kate. The best truck I had was the 98 Silverado. Like I said customer service is what can make or break you.
Mickey, didn’ t you just tell Todd “You name a few recalls on one manufacturer. How about really showing your intelligence and tell us of all recalls that manufacturer’s are having not just one.” Well I went to Alldata and compared what you just said. I took the one of the lowest TSB listed vehicle and compared it to the one with the most. Here is what I found:
03 Crown Vic with a 4.6l has 68 TSB’s with 5 recalls, where did you get 100+ who knows?
07 Tundra 2wd with 5.7l has 95 TSB’s alone.
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So what are you talking about???
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Didn’t Mainehunter just post telling everyone he traded his Tundra?? Its on the NHTSA Frame Rust page I believe.
Just heard on the news today that toyota is considering longer warranties on their vehicles. That is very bright news for toyota and their customers and will help restore faith in toyota for sure. My best guess is they have to do the longer warranties on all their vehicles to eat face on the worldwide bad press they have received. I think it will be 4yr/50K bumper to bumper along with 6/100K powertrain or 10/100K powertrain warranty to keep up with GM and Kia, among others, offering these longer warranties and more mfgs. to follow would make sense. Good news for all of us since competition is a good thing for us consumers.
Todd – Your comments mention that I’ve said Toyotas have fewer recalls, but you’ve misquoted me. The link in the article (data prepared by Edmunds) is referring to complaints, not recalls. Try reading more carefully before you comment.
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As for your other comments, how long have you been a GM employee?
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mk – I agree. I hope resale value is better as well – new, longer warranties will go a long way towards improving resale.
Kate right here.
http://www.odi.nhtsa.dot.gov or go to http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov straight from the govt agency. That’s where I got it from.
BTW Kate ODI is Office of Defects Investigation who works with NHTSA.
Mickey what does ODI have to do with the fact that I can not replicate your data??
Kate go to the website….. Then you can replicate the data. What’s alldata? Go straight to who keeps the Recalls and TSB’s. You will be able to pull up recalls on any vehicle or TSB’s on any vehicle….. Choose a model year, maker, type of vehicle and then TSB’s or recalls, and then get your reports.
Kate while you’re there look at the defects investigations. It’s amazing the things you learn in there. When they open a case when they close a case. FInding a school bus gas pedal that sticks to the floor to ball joints failing, brake line ruptures.
TOYOTA OWNERS ARE LOYAL BECAUSE THEY ARE STUPID. WHAT’S THE RECALL COUNT NOW..9 MILLION HA HA HA HA, YOU WOULD HAVE TO BE VERY STUPID TO BUY A DEATH TRAP TOYOTA
Easyrider I bet you’re as bright as a 40 watt bulb………