Quality Weenie

Toyota Pointing Finger At Customers

I really didn't think Toyota would be pointing the finger back at it's customers so quickly, but I was wrong.

The supplier says a fix is in the works, they are claiming it's the gas pedel but that doesn't really sit well with my quality super powers.

The supplier is also saying that Toyota says it's the customers fault for the gas pedel sticking.

Vinod M. Khilnani, the chief executive of CTS, said in an investor call that "we are working diligently and collaboratively with Toyota to find a field fix and to put additional capacity in place to manufacture the new pedal and support the recall."

Khilnani said the problem was due to pedals that are slow to depress or release when drivers try to accelerate or slow down. He said the only cases when the pedals could get stuck was when they were used in conditions that go "beyond Toyota specifications." Khilnani did not elaborate what those conditions are.

Get that, it's not Toyota's fault that it's customers are using their gas pedels under conditions that go beyond Toyota specifications. I am curious as to what other ways you can use a gas pedel that Toyota deems beyond their specifiications.

Oh and they are adding an additional 1 million U.S. vehicles to the recall.

Toyota Motor Corp. also announced an additional recall of 1.09 million vehicles in the United States covering five models — 2008-2010 Highlander, 2009-2010 Corolla, 2009-2010 Venza, 2009-2010 Matrix, and 2009-2010 Pontiac Vibe.

The Pontiac Vibe is on there because Toyota has a joint venture with GM that makes the Matrix and Vibe at Toyotas NUMMI plant in California. No other GM vehicles would be involved.

Posted by Quality Weenie at January 28, 2010 01:23 PM