Archive for February, 2010
Engineers Say All Cars Vulnerable to Unintended Acceleration
Posted on 01. Feb, 2010 by admin.
The Detroit Free Press talked to a number of engine experts who explain that with electronic systems controlling an engine’s acceleration, cell phone signals and microwave and radio towers could lead to unintended acceleration. This would happen on all cars, including past Toyotas not part of the recall that have been reported to accelerate out of control.
However, Toyota says its throttle-control system has fail-safes for such an occurrence and these parts would return a specific error when brought in for repair.
Since the most recent Toyota recall, many analysts are calling for Toyota and others to add “smart brake” technology that would allow depressing the brake pedal to override the throttle control, thus canceling any acceleration, intended or otherwise. Most European and luxury automakers and Nissan already use smart brake technology, but Ford, GM, Chrysler, Honda and Toyota do not.
Overall, unintended acceleration is fairly rare no matter the cause. Based on a Consumer Reports study of 2008 complaints to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, about one of every 50,000 Toyota, one of every 65,000 Ford and just one in every 500,000 GM vehicles experienced a problem.
Toyota's problem in other vehicles (Detroit Free Press)
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Domestic Automakers Extend Incentives to Toyota Owners
Posted on 01. Feb, 2010 by admin.
When describing the reaction of rival automakers to Toyota’s troubles, the word “schadenfreude” comes to mind.
Last week, GM announced incentives aimed to lure jumpy Toyota customers who are suddenly afraid of their gas pedals, and several other automakers have since followed suit. When GM smelled blood in the water, it put up $1,000 for Toyota owners who bought their vehicles, as well as zero percent financing for 60 months and $1,000 toward paying off a lease on a Toyota.
Ford stretched its net a bit wider, offering $1,000 on trade-ins of Toyota, Lexus, Scion, Acura and Honda models. Not to be left out, Chrysler will try to move some vehicles by offering $1,000 to Tundra, Tacoma and Sienna owners.
All three programs will run through March 1.
Other than the Big Three, Hyundai offered $1,000 toward three models but allowed the deal to expire today. Interestingly, Honda chose to sit this one out.
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Cincinnati Toyota Dealer to Pamper Recalled Customers
Posted on 01. Feb, 2010 by admin.
The process of repairing 2.3 million cars is a daunting one facing Toyota dealers. But Performance Toyota in Fairfield, Ohio, near Cincinnati will have free massages, hors d’oeuvres and entertainment for folks waiting on their gas pedal fix. General Manager Bart Sturm said the dealership also will offer complimentary vehicle pick-up and drop-off to customers who work near the dealer.
“We are going to try to make it as easy as possible on all the customers coming in,” Sturm said. “We are going to try to make this a fun thing. We have a nice, state-of-the-art reading lounge, and we are going to try to get the recalls done as early in the month as we can.”
We’re not sure the word “fun” should ever be associated with a recall, but it seems one dealer is trying its best to keep concerned customers as happy as possible.
Toyota tells dealers parts on way to fix pedals (Cincinnati.com)
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Cars.com Lists the 10 Little Things That Count in a Vehicle
Posted on 01. Feb, 2010 by admin.
We test hundreds of cars every year at Cars.com, and there are certain features that our reviewers have just grown to love. These aren’t high-end options like DVD players; they’re the little things. From one-touch power windows to a tilt and telescoping steering wheel, these are the small amenities that can make all the difference in the driving experience. Check out the full list, and then let us know if we missed anything. Something tells us that readers will have their own thoughts on those must-have features.
Top 10 Little Things That Count (Cars.com)
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Toyota Announces Plan to Fix Accelerator Pedals
Posted on 01. Feb, 2010 by admin.
By David Thomas
Toyota says a steel reinforcement bar will fix sticky accelerator pedals in 2.3 million vehicles recalled two weeks ago, including 2007-10 Tundra full-size pickups. The company will start to send the necessary parts by the end of the week and says some dealers will stay open 24 hours to accommodate such a large number of owners affected by the recall.
By far the most daunting aspect of the recall was not stopping sales or halting production — assembly lines will go dormant this week until entirely new pedals reach them — but tackling the enormous number of cars and trucks already on the road.
Toyota is in an all-out media offensive to get the word out that it has come up with a remedy, but it’s unknown how big an impact the recall will have on the car-buying public.
However, it’s almost unprecedented for a recall to be announced and remedied in less than two weeks. Toyota says it is already training technicians on how to repair the cars, trucks and SUVs under the recall.
Notifications should be going out later this week. If you own a Tundra covered under the recall, we recommend contacting your dealer to find out when it is expecting the parts and see if it’s possible to schedule your service ahead of time.
The sticking accelerator pedal recall is separate from the on-going recall of 2007-10 Toyota Tundra and 2005-10 Toyota Tacoma pickups to reduce the risk of pedal entrapment by incorrect or out of place accessory floor mats.
The Toyota Tacoma is not included in the sticking accelerator pedal recall.
[Source: Toyota via Kicking Tires]
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New Parts on Way to Toyota Dealers
Posted on 01. Feb, 2010 by admin.
Toyota says a steel reinforcement bar will fix sticky accelerator pedals in 2.3 million vehicles recalled two weeks ago. The company will start to send the necessary parts by the end of the week and says some dealers will stay open 24 hours to accommodate such a large number of owners affected by the recall.
By far the most daunting aspect of the recall was not stopping sales or halting production — assembly lines will go dormant this week until entirely new pedals reach them — but tackling the enormous number of cars already on the road.
Toyota is in an all-out media offensive to get the word out that it has come up with a remedy, but it’s unknown how big an impact the recall will have on the car-buying public.
However, it’s almost unprecedented for a recall to be announced and remedied in less than two weeks. Toyota says it is already training technicians on how to repair the cars, trucks and SUVs under the recall.
Notifications should be going out later this week. We recommend contacting your dealer to find out when it is expecting the parts and see if it’s possible to schedule your service ahead of time.
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Review: Scion xD Take Two
Posted on 01. Feb, 2010 by admin.
Big changes were afoot in the Scion back in the summer of 2007, as the brand’s pioneering crop of Yaris-based funkmobiles gave way to a second generation of models aimed at expanding the brand’s appeal to American consumers. Oddly enough, the biggest changes came for a new model with an unchanged name: in a single [...]
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Hybrids Loaded With Too Many Luxury Features, Group Says
Posted on 01. Feb, 2010 by admin.
Automakers are including too many unnecessary luxury amenities on their hybrid vehicles, driving up the prices of what should otherwise be more affordable cars, according to the Union of Concerned Scientists.
So-called “forced features” such as leather interiors and pricey navigation systems represent a considerable price bump that pushes hybrids into unaffordable territory for many potential customers, the nonprofit group says. The 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid and 2009 Honda Civic Hybrid are among the vehicles the organization points to, but the worst offenders cited are luxury SUVs such as the Lexus LS 600h L hybrid, which comes with more than $17,000 in features compared with the LS 460L base model.
With all respect to the Union of Concerned Scientists, which does such very good work: If you’re in the market for a Lexus hybrid, we kind of doubt the add-ons are going to get in the way of a purchase.
However, the UCS may have a point: Toyota said a no-frills version of the current Prius would come out, but now it may sell that vehicle only to fleet buyers, leaving the individual car buyer no choice but to take the frills, albeit at a pretty reasonable $22,000 for the amount of car you get with it.
As an example of a hybrid that has no forced features, the UCS cites the Honda Insight, but that car is still only a few thousand dollars cheaper than the Prius and gets lower mileage. Still, hybrid shoppers should check out Hybridcenter.org, which gives each vehicle an environmental score, a “hybrid value” score and a rating for how many “forced features” come with the vehicle.
Are Hybrid Cars Being Loaded Up to Boost Their Prices? (DriveOn)
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Toyota Announces Plan to Tackle Pedal Recall
Posted on 01. Feb, 2010 by admin.
Early this morning Toyota announced plans to not only fix its accelerator issues on new cars but also how to address current owners impacted by the recall. For immediacy's sake we've pasted Toyota's official plan for each here. We'll update with more news later in the day.
For current owners:
“Toyota’s engineers have developed and rigorously tested a solution that
involves reinforcing the pedal assembly in a manner that eliminates the
excess friction that has caused the pedals to stick in rare instances.
Parts to reinforce the pedals are already being shipped for use by
dealers, and dealer training is under way. Many Toyota dealers will
work extended hours to complete the recall campaign as quickly and
conveniently as possible, some even staying open 24 hours a day.”
