Toyota Shows How Giants Stumble

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Last week the brakes on my Highlander Hybrid went out completely when I hit some ice. I drove straight into a car and forced another one to hit me. It was clearly the regenerative braking issue, and the dealer even initially admitted that to me. But now I called customer service and they are the single worst customer service department I have ever encountered. The "case manager" shouted at me that I can't prove it was them and that since I didn't have my "brakes rotated" at the dealership I can't blame them for anything. She was horrendous and just got rid of me as fast as possible.
And now, if you call Toyota customer service, you get a message that due to unusually high call volumes they cannot even take your call.
I cannot believe that the brand I trusted has turned out to be the worst brand I have ever dealt with! Do yourself a favor and never buy a Toyota!!

Courtney of IA 5:45PM February 18, 2010

Pontiac Vibe has the gas pedal problem same as the Toyota, but GM is closing down the Pontiac division so it does not care about the future of that brand and its future, as far as the gas pedal are all the same on all cars you are completely off base with that idea, many companies make gas pedals not just the one that Toyota is buying from and would be a Toyota design, the president is trying to run Toyota out of America? what do you base that piece of information on?

Jim of VT 11:24AM February 13, 2010

Where in the world did you get this figure? Unless you can cite a reputable source for this claim, I'll have to challenge that statement. I don't believe that GM has ever owned any fraction of Toyota, and if they ever had, they certainly wouldn't after bankruptcy. To my knowledge, GM has only ever engaged in a joint venture with Toyota when they opened the NUMMI plant of Fremont, CA in 1982. This endeavor resulted in rebadged Corollas as GM models (the early 80's Chevy Nova, Geo/Chevy Prizm, and Pontiac Vibe based on the Toyota Matrix.) The Vibe-bodied Matrix was also sold in Japan as a Toyota Voltz, and the Chevy Cavalier was sold in Japan as a Toyota Cavalier. Nowadays, you can no longer purchase any of these Toyota-based vehicles from a GM dealer, and GM has pulled out of the NUMMI plant entirely...which so happens coincided with their bankruptcy filing. So as far as I can tell, these two corporations no longer have any sort of official connection.
I have no way to verify that GM had any hand in this recall, but they're certainly in dire straits. If they want to survive, they'll need to sell cars. If the current world's largest automaker halts production and sales of half its vehicle models, it would certainly help GM's cause.
I definitely question Ray LaHood's bias in all of this. Publicly stating that Toyota owners should stop driving their cars, and claiming that Toyota was forced into this recall (which was, in reality, voluntary,) sounds rather denigrative.

Pete of STL of MO 3:01AM February 13, 2010

Why would GM have want to see Toyota Fail when they own 37% of Toyota? 35% of all cars sold in Mexico and parts of South America are Toyota's with a Chevy badge's on them....... Get real people

Have you driven a Fiat of CO of CO 7:21PM February 12, 2010

as a opinion the president wants to run Toyota out of america. he wants us to buy ford and Chevy. nobody has problems with any other gas pedals in any other car when they all have the same gas pedal system. people who have complaints about Toyota's need to buy a one year metro bus ticket they have no problems with their brake or gas pedals.iv been a mechanic for over ten years nothing they say will change what i think about a Toyota. the Pontiac vibe is the same as the corolla why doesn't it have a gas pedal problem ???

alex of WA 6:20PM February 12, 2010

There is no denying that recalls are bound to happen no matter who the manufacturer is. And for too many years Toyota reigned high, and when your at the top of your game, others cant wait to see you fall.
Media hype along with blanket statements that are difficult to retract has hurt Toyota.
I have no doubt that they can and will recover, providing they play their cards right.
Simple man I agree with you, once they were made in this country things changed for them.
And Les your on target too GM- government motors had a hand in this as well.

Dee of NY 5:32PM February 12, 2010

It is known fact that there are a number of instances of recalls in this industry. It's just that when the bigger brand names the more noisier the critics. But if anyone can, Toyota can bounce right back and retain their numero uno position. Toyota just have to brave the storm and make sure that affected customers are taken care of well and ensure that this sort of thing does not happen in future. With world famous quality processes implemented at Toyota there is little doubt in my mind that this is just a phase. And which may have been the eye opener that they needed to ensure that they need to maintain quality to remain at the top.

Kiran of KS 5:03PM February 12, 2010

Toyota's are just average cars, nothing better or worse than any other manufacturer...The only difference with Toyota is the idiotic people who drive them and don't consider the 100's of other cars on the market.

Have you driven a Fiat of CO 3:19PM February 12, 2010

I have owned toyota's since 1979 and never had a problem! at present we have 26 toyota product's in the family and would not buy anything else. I look at the news media and it smells like government motors (GM) and CHRYSLER and the UAW!

les of AZ 10:43AM February 12, 2010

Stop and think about this. Until the late 80's, there was never any questions about the quality of Toyota. None. It was a great company. But what happened? It is sad to say...but the real reason is that these cars and trucks are now being made in America. I live here, I fought for our country, and I pay taxes. I have owned a Toyota since 1978 and I will only buy Toyota. So they have a recall and everyone says you shouldn't drive one, they are unsafe..blah blah. My answer is this...a cigarette leads to more causes of death than anything ever made in the history of human kind. You know it's true. Will there ever be a recall....nope. Bottom line....you don't want cancer...don't smoke...if you don't like Toyota...don't buy it......shut up...move on....simple

Simple Man of MS 12:28AM February 11, 2010