Toyota recalls more vehicles than sold in 2006

Discussion in 'The "Other" Bench' started by Keith Seymore, Jan 12, 2007.

  1. Keith Seymore

    Keith Seymore Well-Known Member

    Competitive Connection
    January 2, 2007

    A look at the competition
    Toyota recalls more vehicles in the U.S. than it sold last year prompting study of Vehicle Development Process

    Last year, Toyota recalled 2.38 million vehicles in the U.S. -- more than the 2.26 million vehicles Toyota sold in that year. This statistic resulted in a formal review by Toyota to determine what needed to change. After a two-month review of its product development process, the significant lessons learned include:
    1. Engineers in some cases may have rushed out products without conducting enough quality checks, nor building a sufficient number of physical prototypes.
    2. Toyota also concluded that it outsourced engineering perhaps more than it should have, and relied on computer-aided engineering and other computer analysis too much.
    3. Toyota is determined to build more physical prototypes in the future to quell recalls and quality glitches.

    Other actions taken as a result of the study include the decision to slow down Toyota's ambitious growth plans around the world. Each product plan in every market was reviewed to determine whether to delay, cancel, reallocate or proceed. This review was in response to product recalls and other quality problems.

    Even as it slows down the pace of new product introductions, Toyota still wants to extend its business in every segment (of the auto market) in every region of the world. Toyota sees its growth coming from three key efforts:
    1. To transform its Lexus premium brand, a North American-only franchise today, into a more global premium franchise;
    2. To launch low-cost $6,000 to $7,000 cars in emerging markets around the world;
    3. To develop commercial vans that would compete globally, including in Europe and North America. (Source: Wall Street Journal 12/11/2006)

    Despite the recalls at Toyota, GM brands still lag behind most of our transplant competition when it comes to the public's "trust" perception, according to Strategic Vision Inc.
     
  2. bignastyGS

    bignastyGS Maggot pilot

    Better not look back at GM or Ford or Chrysler the past few years..Chevy alone had extreme amounts on their pickups alone. I had 2 on my 95 Grand Cherokee..
     
  3. GoldBoattail455

    GoldBoattail455 462 -> TH400 -> Posi

    That is one thing I will never understand. Every sunday I read the Transportation section of the Chicago Tribune. Towards the back there is the column listing all recent recalls for vehicles. Toyota must have had at least 1/2 of them. GM had one the other week. Yet people are willing to deal with the recall, but if it was GM vehicles people would be up in arms about it. My mother is one of these people. I don't get it. She doesn't care one bit that her '03 Toyota Matrix needed an engine at 10K. Sure Toyota covered it but wtf. Maybe its just me. :Do No:
     
  4. BlackGold

    BlackGold Well-Known Member

    As an engineer, I'm offended by the way this is worded. I don't know too many engineers that want to rush a product out, increasing the risk of recall.

    Sounds like Toyota has morphed into a US company: Too much power in management, not enough power in engineering (could also be viewed as not enough engineers in management).
     
  5. Dave H

    Dave H Well-Known Member

    Engineers? We don't need no steenkin engineers.....

    We need "yes men" timing clerks!

    Even if there are fewer problems with an American car, it takes the dealer 4 or 5 times to fix things, so I guess it all evens out. Many cases you just finally give up.

    Case in point, my 2002 Escape (which we love otherwise). The rear wiper has yet to touch the glass. Had it in 3 or 4 times for other things, (most were multiple visits for the same thing) and got it back twice with oil running down off the arm (nice on a black car) but after one bump, the rubber leaves the glass never to return. On the other hand it has saved us buying blades for these 5 years, there's always a bright side.............:confused:
     
  6. GS4551970

    GS4551970 70 Buick GS 455

    I bought my 03 Impala at a Toyota dealer. Well they offer free state inspections when you buy a car from them so last week i took our Impala down and they gave us a 07 Corolla sport . What a peice of crap. The inside of it was so cheap looking .And the steering colume i couldnt get it to go up high enough for my legs to miss hitting the steering wheel. This was the first new Toyota ive driven and it didnt leave a good impression on me.
     
  7. rogbo1

    rogbo1 Well-Known Member

    It could be that GM doesn't do recalls they just keep fixing and trying to hide the dirt under the carpet. Don't think they can afford recalls either.
     
  8. oPh

    oPh Well-Known Member

    Bought the wife a 2006 Toyota Sport 4 Runner-6cyl. It's been absolutely flawless, no problems at all, easily the best new vehicle we've ever owned. When shopping, compared every mid sized SUV on the market, drove easily a dozen, along with a few higher end crossovers. Only GM I would have liked to have driven would have been the yet to be introduced new Yukon. With the Toyota's higher resale, don't regret the decision, but will consider trading later this year.

    Got Posi?
    :3gears:
    Roger
     
  9. cjfordman

    cjfordman 60 ft specialist

    I buy American cars and trucks only and would never even consider a foreign car or truck.I am not a union guy by any means I was in the UAW for 8 years and hated the union .I dont believe in buying anything that is not made in here if at all possible.I just wish there were more options on some items.I would much rather put my neighbor to work than somebody from another country and I do not believe in sending profits out of the country either even if the item is made here or assembled here.:3gears:
     
  10. tlivingd

    tlivingd BIG BLOCK, THE ANTI PRIUS

    Brian, I was thinking the same thing. I can see the manager now. "We've been spending too much money on physical prototypes and need to save money in testing. Now all test and prototype requests need to be ok'd by accounting."

    yea.. they no best....

    -nate
     
  11. MeanBuicks

    MeanBuicks Scaring the neighbors.

    Also being an engineer, I can attest to the fact that pressure from above and other departments is always there to get it done yesterday. :rant:
     
  12. pegleg

    pegleg Well-Known Member

    Recalls

    Brian, Nate,
    As an engineer in tier two companies I can agree with you both and add; When the Suits are done with you guys, they're after us to cut prices, improve quality, and produce more parts with less tooling. "Or else we'll void the contract and send it to Taiwan". they've managed to drive over half of the American owned foundries out of business in the last 20 years, Now complain that they can't get it made in the US so it has to be made overseas!
    Pegleg
     
  13. Chevy454

    Chevy454 Well-Known Member

    It's all about perception any more...I read a study a while back that showed that the domestic manufacturers had actually caught and even surpassed the proclaimed "leaders" in quality (Toyota, Lexus, BMW, Benz, etc...) on certian models, while the imports had slipped a bit on the quality scale...but when they asked their test audience which cars they envisioned would be the most reliable, they put the domestics at the bottom of the list. :Do No: The American public has it in their head that an import is gonna be hands down more superior than it's domestic counterpart...and if you ask me, the media only perpetuates the problem.

    Our rural mail carriers around here are HARD on vehicles, because of the endless miles of dirt roads, and the constant starting/stopping, and it's nothing for them to have routes over 100 miles per day of pure abuse. Well, about 10 years back they all got on a Toyota truck kick, and proclaimed they were the only vehicle that would survive...well, after a few years, they learned that the same wear parts that went south on a domestic went bad on the 'Yotas, but it cost more to fix the Jap product. Now, one guy has gone to a mid '90s Dakota for the past few years, there's an '89 Chevy truck that has been on the route since day 1, a slew of Geo Trackers, and lots of el cheapo mid '80s full size cars...and they're all surviving...go figure.:rolleyes:
     
  14. Brian Stefina

    Brian Stefina Well-Known Member

    I think a major problem is the dealer network and some of the people in it.

    Two stories, Guy buys a Buick from the same dealer every year, one year for him one year for the wife. Just out of warranty his trans fails, the dealer won't do anything at all. Guy buys a Lexus, at 10K the trans fails, still under warranty yes, but his dealer experience was so good he feels the Lexus is a superior product, despite the trans lasting 1/3 as long as the Buick.

    My Dodge briefly lost power driving down the road. I pulled the codes, all indicated the throttle position sensor was at fault. At the dealer my write up said "Customer claims the throttle position sensor is bad"

    I said "claims?" "don't you believe the codes?" The service writer responded "we don't want to offend the techs by telling them how to do their job"

    "Oh" I replied "but it is ok to offend the customer?"

    BTW, Dave I really like the avatar. Someone at a dealer getting service?
     
  15. 442w30

    442w30 Well-Known Member

    I hate my neighbor - why should I put him to work? :laugh:

    Considering the tremendous amount of foreign investment in the US, not to mention our investment in other countries, it just seems foolhardy to limit yourself. Buy what suits you best, its country of origin be damned. And, in the slight chance that it is impossible to buy American, demand better so you can. Of course, that doesn't mean a company will pop up all of a sudden.:pp
     
  16. cjfordman

    cjfordman 60 ft specialist

    I really dislike my neighbor too but its just a figure of speech.Your way of thinking is part of why the american automakers and many other companys are having problems these days.I may be limiting myself if your eye but I believe in supporting US companys. Japan and other countys dump their items here cheaper than they can buy the same thing thing japan in order to drive out competion here.They make it nearly impossible to send our items there and compete. I am disgusted by foriegn cars except for the real high end performance cars.:af: The trade between our country and the rest of the world is hurting us. Many many thousands of American soldiers have given their lives for our country and our freedom and I dont believe is dishonoring them by supporting another country if at all possible .
     
  17. 442w30

    442w30 Well-Known Member

    Oh, I'm pretty aware it's a figure of speech. I merely was being facetious.

    But, I must say, it is YOUR way of thinking that's the problem. In the past, the Big 3 made crap cars. No one realized this more than during the first gas crisis in 1973, when fuel-efficient Japanese cars became more popular. Consumers discovered the quality that was missing from their previous vehicles. Eventually, more and more people made the switch. Chrysler needed to get the government to give her a loan so she wouldn't go under!

    The Big 3 have made massive inroads in the way of quality where the gap is marginal at worst, but they often don't make the best cars in their respective classes. That's neither here nor there, though - the fact of the matter is it's people like YOU who have allowed the Big 3 to remain complacent. With people like you, they know they will always be able to give "just enough" and have consumers buy their products.

    I would like to hear your proof of the Japanese and others dumping their items on our shores. For one thing, many Japanese cars are made in America. Another thing is that trade is between our government and our allies, so if something is truly being dumped, why not blame our government? And if there is an imbalance, wouldn't it make sense if we built something they truly want? Or maybe they are buying domestic like you?

    I think you're just making excuses. Read an economics book. Brush up on competition. You'll see that the best thing you can do is to buy what suits your needs. It's more American to buy based on free market principles than it is to buy American products solely. And your soldier comment not only is a red herring, but it's disingenuous - emotional appeals don't work for me, and I can't see how they're defending my freedoms when I've got a friend who can't marry his "partner" just because he's a little different from you and me.
     
  18. cjfordman

    cjfordman 60 ft specialist

    sorry to hear about you and your partner or friend,but the founding fathers had more important things to worry about than a bent whim of a small percentage.
     
  19. 442w30

    442w30 Well-Known Member

    Let's get something straight - I am!

    But to suggest that not every American citizen deserves the freedoms that our troops supposedly are fighting for smacks of un-American sentiment.

    In other words, I fail to hear a convincing arguement from you regarding *anything*. I'm all ears, but I'm not holdin' my breath.
     
  20. austingta

    austingta Well-Known Member

    Let's put the new fancy Toyota I keep seeing on the commercials against this--- I am ready anytime....

    [​IMG]

    ...and this is mine, not just some pic I got off the web...

    Japanese cars and trucks can kiss my a*s.
     

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