Toyota will be fined the maximum penalty of $17.4 million for the second time since 2010, for failing to report automobile defects in a timely manner. In June of this year, Toyota announced a recall of over one hundred and fifty thousand 2010 Lexus RX350 and 2010 Lexus RX450H vehicles for problems with floor mats that could interfere with the accelerator pedal. Continue reading
Category Archives: Toyota
Lemon Alert! Scion IQ Occupant Classification System
Toyota will be asking approximately eleven thousand 2012-2013 Scion iQ sub-compact vehicle owners to bring in their vehicles for a problem that could result in the passenger airbags not deploying properly. According to Toyota, the front passenger Occupant Classification System (OCS) Continue reading
Lemon Problems Affect Toyota Prius Steering And Cooling
Toyota has announced that they will be conducting two safety recalls involving certain 2004-2009 Prius vehicles.
The first involves approximately 670,000 vehicles in the U.S. to inspect the steering intermediate extension shaft. Continue reading
Toyota Driver Window Switch Problem
Toyota will be notifying approximately 2.5 million owners of certain 2007-2009 model vehicles of a problem with the power window switch in the drivers side door. According to Toyota, an incorrect window switch lubricant was used which could result in the switch components to wear unevenly. Drivers may notice the switch feeling “sticky”, and if they try to use a commercial lubricant to fix the problem, the switch could melt, possibly causing a fire. Dealerships will require about one hour to inspect the switch and apply a special fluorine grease. Owners wanting more information about the problem can call Toyota’s customer service center at 800-331-4331. The vehicles involved in this recall include:
- 2007-2008 Yaris
- 2007-2009 RAV4
- 2007-2009 Tundra
- 2007-2009 Camry
- 2007-2009 Camry Hybrid
- 2008-2009 Scion XD
- 2008-2009 Scion XA
- 2008-2009 Sequoia
- 2008 Highlander
- 2008 Highlander Hybrid
- 2009 Corolla
- 2009 Matrix
Ford Invests In Hybrid And Electric Technology
Ford is working hard to become the leader in hybrid and electric vehicles (EV) as they invest over $130 million to build an advanced electrification center in Dearborn, Michigan. The facility will employ approximately 1,000 engineers and will accelerate the companies EV development capabilities. The company hopes to top the market by launching five new electric or hybrid vehicles this year alone. Ford has just recently started developing their own transmission technology which will be built on the same platform as their mainstream gasoline engines. This has allowed them to cut the costs by 30% and will also allow the company to build vehicles according to consumer demand. Amy Machesney, the C-Max marketing manager said Ford feels it now has a product capable of competing with Toyota, and we are confident our EV and hybrid vehicles are comparable to the Prius.
Toyota Rear Suspension Problem
Toyota has announced a recall for certain 2006-2011 Toyota Rav4 and 2010 Lexus HS250H vehicles because of a problem with the rear suspension. According to the recall report, if the nuts on the rear suspension arm are improperly tightened during a wheel alignment service, the tire rod will develop movement which could lead to rust and damage to the threads. The tire rod could fail causing an abrupt change in the vehicles alignment leading to loss of vehicle control. Drivers who notice a strange noise coming from the rear of their vehicle are asked to contact their nearest dealership as soon as possible. Toyota is working on a repair for the problem and will send out notifications as soon as possible. Owners wanting more information about the problem can contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331 or Lexus at 1-800-255-3987.
Automobile Sales Up For June
Automobile manufacturers reported strong vehicle sales in June despite analysts predictions that the automobile economy is likely to slow for the summer. The average increase for dealership sales was 22% with Toyota and Honda showing the strongest gains. Consumer interest in larger vehicles, such as pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles (SUVs) is being attributed to a sudden drop in the price of fuel, and low interest rates and the release of new models is bringing in consumers who have been delaying purchasing a new vehicle because of lack of confidence in the economy.
BMW And Toyota Share New Technologies
German automobile manufacturer BMW and Japanese automobile manufacturer Toyota have announced that they will be expanding a 2011 agreement between the two companies to share strategic technologies in four different areas. BMW and Toyota emphasized that they have no intentions of building stakes in each others companies. Both say they share the same strategic vision of sustainable individual future mobility and feel their alliance will only strengthen both companies competitive position in sustainable future technologies. The agreement includes:
- The joint development of a fuel cell system.
- The joint development of architecture and components for a future sports vehicle.
- Collaboration on power train electrification.
- Joint research and development on lightweight technologies.
The agreement will also end any further discussions of BMW working with General Motors and will eventually dissolve a joint venture with France’s PSA Peugeot Citroen to share components for hybrid cars.
