Toyota recall hara-kiri
It's easy to look good when everything is humming along on an even keel.
Sooner or later, though, you're going to make an error...particularly if you're turning out millions of complex examples of your craftsmanship every year.
What is true of people is also true of corporations: It's how you own up to your mistakes that reveals your true character.
Toyota is new to this business of acknowledging its faults and making good on them--something American automakers have gotten accustomed to, if not exactly comfortable with.
Because they're newcomers, Toyota fell into the trap of trying to stonewall, rather than preserve customer goodwill by immediately taking responsibility. Now they've annoyed people and hurt the reputation of their brand.
CHAN LOWE has been the Sun Sentinel’s first and only editorial cartoonist for the past twenty-six years. Before that, he worked as cartoonist and writer for the Oklahoma City Times and the Shawnee (OK) News-Star.
Comments
You think their rep is harmed now? Wait till they have "fixed" all the accelerator pedals and people still report sudden acceleration problems.
Posted by: Tom | February 9, 2010 3:29 PM
For years Toyota would witness dozens of recalls involving GM, Ford and Chrysler. Yet none with Toyota and Honda. It is only now that after Obama Nationalized the auto industry are we witnessing massive recalls of Japanese cars (U.S. automakers competitors). You see, now that the Vaunted One is at the helm, Government Motors can't afford to fail. Coincidence? I think not.
Posted by: Barry O. | February 9, 2010 5:07 PM
The difference is that they will fix the problem in a professional manner unlike the pinto , corvair, ford suv roll over problem , Chrysler's many recalls etc.All of those dealerships were not professional and even denied they had a problem. Toyota will handle this in a way to grow their business. Once again Mr Lowe misses the big picture.
Posted by: pallidin | February 9, 2010 6:45 PM
What trips me out is the big stink being made about Toyota's reputation being trashed, but you know what?
I'd still buy a Toyo over anything American in a heartbeat. And so would most people. Don't believe me? Keep an eye on sales figures relative to current trends for the next two years and you'll see that Toyo will barely register a blip.
Posted by: The AntiDope | February 9, 2010 6:53 PM
Turns out American cars are still garbage. Amazing.
Posted by: Dan | February 12, 2010 11:28 AM
Obama Nationalized the auto industry - when did this happen? The only thing I can recall is when the Govt gave vast amounts of "Free" money to the car companies.see Chrysler regarding payback.
Also keep in mind that of all the cars manufactured/assembled within these US shores, most carry "foreign" nameplates. Ford & GM have theirs done in Canada, Mexico, Korea etc. Notice I left out Crysler, not sure if that is a "foreign" or "domestic" nameplate anymore.
Posted by: yaadman | February 12, 2010 1:23 PM
yaadman - when the U.S. Government bails out three of the four major car companies with tax payer money, said companies have to answer to the government (hence nationalizing).
Posted by: Barry O. | February 12, 2010 4:48 PM
The difference is that they will fix the problem in a professional manner unlike the pinto , corvair, ford suv roll over problem , Chrysler's many recalls etc.All of those dealerships were not professional and even denied they had a problem. Toyota will handle this in a way to grow their business. Once again Mr Lowe misses the big picture.
Posted by: pallidin | February 9, 2010 6:45 PM
Not real sure you can compare a suspension design flaw almost 51 years ago (Ralph Nader / Corvair) with this Toyota thing? The Pinto issue was only a problem after a high speed rear end collision, and if you properly inflate your Explorer tires, it handles as poorly as any other bloated SUV. From a pure safety standpoint Fly By Wire technology places vehicle control in the hands of the computer, not you.
Posted by: Bob33321 | February 13, 2010 11:29 AM
Forget about what is wrong with the cars or what they do to fix it. The point is Toyota and Honda have been hurt badly with the recalls. This could be the paradigm shift the U.S. needs in order to get back on top. Funny how when the government takes over, these recalls fall out of the sky and into their laps..hmmmm...
Posted by: Al Casselsa | February 14, 2010 8:59 AM