Toyota.  A Japanese car and machine manufacturer whose primary traits include determination, perfectionism, respect and quality.  For over 70 years, this automaker has provided fuel efficient and quality vehicles to its customers not just in Japan but worldwide as well. 

Unfortunately, their vehicles and their reputation have been banged up as of late.  Recently, they have announced recalls of some of their popular models due to various issues such as brake failure, computer glitches and steering malfunction!

I am really concerned about this as they added Corrollas to the recall list. (I drive a 2006 Model year one)  Before, they only announced 2007-2010 model years but now I am concerned mine might be affected too. 

Do any of you have Toyotas?

Let's hear your thoughts.

It is pretty concerning to say the least to have such a problem so widespread across so many models. We don't own a Toyota in my household, but I know many people who do. Certainly worrying that's for sure.

No I don't have a Toyota nor do I know anybody who does, thank god. The so called safest car of the world doesn't seem so safe. It's been a disgrace what they've been producing killing already dozens of people due to their failures.

I'm glad this have come out.

I always hear Volvos are the safest cars, and for great reason, too, because of its unique design that prevents vulnerable parts of the vehicles from getting damaged during collisions. Toyotas were always up there, but definitely not the safest of them all. It's unfortunate, and it's doing damage to Toyota's sales and reputation.

True, Volvo's are. But all I here all the time is how safe Toyota's are. People are mislead. They're not safe at all or at least not safer than any other car. And I'm glad that has come out. And the damage to Toyota's sales and reputation? That's good for European cars

I have always favored Japanese cars for two reasons:

1.  I am a Japan-fanatic so I love anything Japanese.  I play video games made in Japan on consoles made in Japan or of Japanese Parts.  I watch Japanese anime and movies, I listen to Japanese Pop/Rock music and some of my favorite electronic artists are Japanese.  So it's only natural.
2.  I find them to be more fuel-efficient than American cars.  My Toyota Corolla CE gets between 35-40 miles per gallon and I can go on average 7-10 days without refueling.

But now with this surfacing, I am a bit worried about if my car is actually safe....

Originally posted by DJRANZ

2.  I find them to be more fuel-efficient than American cars.  

Try European cars. Any car is more fuel-efficient than american cars

And the workers don't work for a shitty salary with shitty terms

Yup...

This week, A congressional hearing is supposed to be held in which the US House of Representative will speak with Toyota's president, Akio Toyoda and the person in charge of Toyota's American Branch.  We'll find out who is to blame here.  I will see if I can find a streaming video on youtube.

Just a quick throw in here.. and its very late lol

You are fine.  THe pedal sticking issue has only affected 3 people in the entire world, that was until they announced the news in America and all of a sudden 100's were crashing sue to "sudden acceleration".  This country is sue happy, and most of these cases were thrown out in court as it was not Toyota's fault.

#2, Toyota has only had a few recalls.  Compare this to the multitudes of recalls that other car makers have every year.  Never heard of em?  thats because it was not news because recalls are normal.  All car makers have them.  Toyota never had one that could cause the car to "loose control", although it is easy to fix if it happens... turn off the car.  Unfortunately the media has used this to tarnish the name of Toyota as it was their real first chance.

Check this out.     You will see no car maker is safe from recalls.

Of course every car maker have their recalls. But I've never heard it as massive as Toyota had to do this year. Millions of cars have been recalled and not just from one model, but 2 or 3 models. Neither it was for only one kind problem, but several problems. And Toyota wouldn't have done it if it wasn't Toyota's fault. Mistakes have been made with the production of several models and they have to pay for it. Simple as that. They can stop saying their car is one of the most save cars...

Nice to see that for the last Peugeot recalls we have to go back to 1997 hehe.

Toyotas cars are safe though.  In crashes, were it really counts, you are a good bet in a Toyota.
on three models, the pedal "could" stick, yet it has only happened so far 3 times.  The funny thing about it is the part is not even made by Toyota, but a outside parts manufacturer, and the other recall is because a piece of carpet could go behind the pedal, which they fix but cutting off the top portion of carpet.  It really is nothing major, and if your pedal does stick, big deal, you shut off your car or press the brake.

This is nothing like what was happening to the Ford Explorers about a decade ago with their tires exploding and causing the vehicles to flip and be destroyed.  That happened with a vast amount of cars, and many many people were hurt because of it.  

This is why I am saying this recall is nothing special and just shows how the media can blow something way out of proportion.

(FWIW, I do not drive or own a Toyota, I own a Honda. I also used to work in the Auto industry and have seen far far worse than this.  Just to show my view is not skewed.)

Originally posted by R33

Toyotas cars are safe though.  In crashes, were it really counts, you are a good bet in a Toyota.

The risk to crash is just a lot higher EVen if that part wasn't manufactured by Toyota, they still chose to put it in. And just brake like that? When you're on a highway with hundreds of cars right behind you? Don't know how crowded the roads are in America, but here, when you suddenly break, it means a major accident.

Well if you on the highway, shift the car into neutral and then slowly apply the brakes and move to the emergency lane. There really is not a danger here.  A tire blowing out is more dangerous. (and this can happen on any car at any time).

Yes, Toyota chose to put this part on the car, but its not like they new it was going to be faulty.  Most of the times, you do not know until the product goes into circulation.

Think of it as a bug in a operating system.  You can have your 30 testers use it every day, but when it gets released to millions, problems start popping up everywhere.  The guys who coded the OS did not choose to put it into the OS knowing it would break, they did not know until it was started being used by millions of users.  Take Microsoft for example... they have to patch their software all the time for problems and issues that shipped with the OS.  These problems could lead to business downtime, a DJ having a crash in the middle of his set, or a bank not being able to give somebody their money.  Do people still buy Windows?  you bet.

In the end, I would still buy a Toyota if I saw one and liked it.  Out of 42 models of different cars and trucks, Toyota had issues with 3.  Out of those three, millions were sold and only 3 had issues.

I believe most people who buy Toyotas and like their cars will buy them again.  Toyotas are built very well, last a very long time and are a good solid car. 

Well, at the end, I won't buy a Toyota, but that isn't because of these problems. I already wouldn't buy them before. Simply because I don't like the models and I don't see that change soon. Just like all other Asian cars.

Again another model has been called back in cz it was dangerous. This time it was the SUV from Lexus...