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Viewpoints: Toyota was slow to respond
Toyota has announced the recall of a limited number of Tacoma pickup trucks due to potential defects in the truck’s drive shaft. Congressman Bart Gordon of Murfressboro, who has raised questions about the Tacoma’s safety since 2007, continues to call for further investigation of the Tacoma by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), saying the recalls leave many questions unanswered. A senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Gordon and committee members will be holding a hearing on the effectiveness of Toyota and NHTSA’s reactions to consumer complaints on Feb. 23.
From Rep. Gordon:
"I raised concerns about the Toyota Tacoma in 2007, and have continued to call for thorough investigation of this vehicle. Like many drivers, I am concerned that the current recalls are too little, too late. Three years, dozens of complaints and several unsatisfactory recalls later, many of the original issues with the Tacoma are still not being addressed.
“It now appears that a serious examination of accelerator problems in the Tacoma two years ago may have allowed the problem to be addressed earlier, saving lives and reducing the number of vehicles recalled. I am disappointed that NHTSA underestimated the severity of the problem by conducting such a cursory investigation.”
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"I am disappointed that NHTSA underestimated the severity of the problem by conducting such a cursory investigation.”
As usual it sounds like the governmental agency is at fault not Toyota.
Sticky gas pedals, faulty steering columns, hesitating brakes,....just as soon as Toyota made #1 in the world, overtaking GM (Howie Long nothwithstanding) all these mechanical problems emerge? At once?
The NHTSA investigating a company based in Japan is as fair and balanced as Phillip-Morris "investigating" the adverse effects of cigarette smoking.
Toyota advised owners of these vehicles to stop driving them.
The response from drivers: "We're trying!"
No House, Dept. of Trans. LaHood said, "Don't drive them". Then a pair of Ninjas paid him a "visit" and he retracted, quickly.
id said
"As usual it sounds like the governmental agency is at fault not Toyota."
And just exactly who was in charge back then in 2007? O yeah, your deity the Decider who did a heck of a job.
By: idgaf on 2/18/10 at 5:25
"I am disappointed that NHTSA underestimated the severity of the problem by conducting such a cursory investigation.”
As usual it sounds like the "governmental agency " is at fault not Toyota.
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Good morning.
This is id’s backhanded slap toward Obama. However the old *art forgets that most of the time it was Bush’s government watching over Toyota.
Kosh is right, the NHTSA is part of the Executive Branch...
Oh, and did I read Id right, he's absolving Toyota??
http://ihasahotdog.com/2010/02/16/funny-dog-pictures-my-opinion/
Weighing in today will be risky, but awww, what the heck; here goes:
The Japanese live their lives around a culture of "privacy". And the auto industry (both foreign and domestic) live their lives around profit and usually at any cost. So what the heck if a few hundred complaints come in? Only 2 or 3 deaths? Not enough to squabble about; I mean it's only lives. That is NOT what I think, but what I believe the corporate world in some cases thinks.
Now the problem has escalated. I don't think that the U.S. Government carries much clout in Japan regardless of what people may think. After all, Mr. Toyota, the president of Toyota said he WILL NOT appear before the U.S. Congress. Why would he? He's not a U.S. Citizen subject to our protocols?
Anyway, I know some people with Toyotas, same model as recall, who say I know what to do when my gas pedal sticks and I'm still driving my toyota. Talk about blind, dumb loyalty.
Good morning, Nashville!
This isn't a "Viewpoint", this is a professional zealot exploiting a sad situation for personal gain. Rep. Gordon was a sitting member of the NHTSA while Junior Bush in power; that should explain how the public safety concerns were trumped by corporate interests. You did a heckuva job, Gordie!
The PR hit they're taking is probably worse than anything the government would have the stones to do (and since Cooper's been trying to get something done since 2007 you can see that the stones are more like sand pebbles).
Fun - When it comes to government, that is a good opinion! It's a shame, for peons like us, it won't change anythingl.
I did something yesterday...I brewed some Tea...then I threw the used bags at a picture of the Capitol...damn thing soaked through the carpet now I am going to have to invest in our economy some more and rent a steam cleaner.
I'm doing my part.
gd, but the TV is still okay, right?
There's a "no fly zone" around the TV...those who violate that barrier are shot.
There is more to it and it goes back a long time.
Regulators Hired by Toyota Helped Halt Acceleration Probes
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=aMBS8icm3pyY
If JimmyU or DustyU's grandson comes by I say hi and wishing you all the best. I will have to go in a short time.
G that is funny. But if you want to prevent mold from wet tea bags, get hard wood or laminate. Then the dog can lick up the wet spots or crumbs easier and there's no maintenance expense. Oh yeah, the dog food and vet bill still contribute to economy.
Anyone care to wager a bet: Tiger will be sad and apologetic (Fawell) or he will embrace and utilize Hugh Grant (humor)? Bets anyone. Wonder if his wife will be standing by his side or by his banker's side?
Sid: You know less about the Japanese than everything else you pontificate about.
Yesterday, you were offended by a freakin' cartoon. Watch "South Park" for 5 minutes. Those characters are maligning Jews, blacks, and retards every sentence. And, it's funny.
The Japanese are into "honor", above anything else. Maybe "privacy" too, as you claim. But HONOR. Something Capitalistic America will never understand.
And why should Mr. Toyoda come before those circus clowns in Congress?
They gave Big Tobacco a pass, as well as bankers, and Wall Street. All liars and thieves.
US Congress wouldn't know the concept of "honor" and truth, if it bit them in the ass.
I work for Japanese men...their culture revolves around work.
When I was in Okinawa all those years ago, I got three things from the Japanese...honor...education...tradition.
House, you are correct on that. Their lives revolve around their work, much like many American men.
But when I was temping and went to Bridgestone for a couple of weeks, I noticed they actually look down on women. Maybe that is not true today, but it was true 15 years ago.
D7 said: And why should Mr. Toyoda come before those circus clowns in Congress?
Because he has the privilege of manufacturing and selling his crummy death traps in America? Duh! That's a concept.
And Paul, I was not pontificating. I'm merely humbly commenting - kinda like you. I try to be nice.
G, a lot of men who come back from Japan say they got, well, never mind. I do not want to make fun of the Japanese the way we make fun of - as quoted by Paul "Those characters are maligning Jews, blacks, and retards every sentence. And, it's funny.
"
I mean, heaven forbit we hurt the feelings of a single Japanese person while we "maligning Jews, blacks and retards every sentence. And it's funny".
How about some Japanese jokes today?
A Japanese man "woks" into a bar...
Japanese men look down on some women more than others. lol
Dirty old lady
There was this woman who had bags under her eyes and wanted to get them removed so she could look younger so she went to a plastic surgeon. She tells the doctor I cant get rid of these bags please help me. The doctor says he is gonna try and new experimental technique on her. He will put a crank in the back of her head and when she sees bags under her eyes she's supposed to crank it and the bags will go away. So she gets this crank put in her head and leaves. It works and works for a while until one day she cant get rid of these bags under her eyes. She cranks and cranks as hard as she can but they just wont go away. So she goes to the doctor. She says to the doctor: "Doctor, this was working for a while, but I cant seem to get rid of these bags under my eyes." The doctor replies: "Lady those aren't bags... those are your t*ts!" All she had to say was, "Now that would explain why I have this goatee."
Did you hear the one about the only japanese kamakazi pilot who survived Pearl Harbor?
I don't have accelerator problems with my Ford Pinto, thank you very much.
But I do get nervous when other cars follow too close, I start pumping my bad arse brakes, while slinging empty beer cans out the window.
I don't need no stinkin' govt. regulator.
pain, ''woks'' into a bar with a duck under each arm...
Welcome back, slacker.
Nemo - Ha Ha You are beyond repair!
Slacker - You left everybody wondering. Have a nice vacation?
slacker your back!!!! how are you doing. Where have you been,
nemo, hiding from my creditors in Pensacola Fl.
Sadly it was too cold to display my magnificent body to the ladies, or wear my Bermuda shorts & Arglye socks.
Slacker I bought a Ford escort one time. The emissions test showed it 200% above the legal limit. I bought it from a Tennessean ad. The guy who sold it to me (I found out later) was a drug dealer. But after 2 weeks of persistence, he gave me all my money back and I gave him the creepy crappy car back. That only happened after some guy at the emissions place made a "personal" call to the guy who sold me the piece of crap car.
slacker, It is good your back and I hope you made the best of your vaction. I have got to go so maybe we will talk more tomorow.
You willingly bought a Ford Escort? Caveat Emptor
sidney, Ford didn't accept govt. money, but drug dealers are fine.
Its the American way.
nemo, see ya later.
Nemo, don't you have internet access in your flying car?
I'd speak to "Q" about that if I were you.
"Japanese workers look down on women...I don't know if it is true today, but was 15 years ago"....Sid, read your idiotic posts before you hit the Enter key. OK?
gdia has it correct.
The Japanese tried their "platform" ie., "work ethic" in Detroit (Flatrock) when they bought Mazda, 20 years ago. The Detroit assembly made Mazda's were falling apart, defects, and Ford said, "Just ship 'em to dealers, they'll handle it".
Japan said, "No".
The UAW/ AFL-CIO are a bunch of slobs, doing shoddy worksmanship, and want FULL medical, 401k's, pensions, exhorbinant wages and overtime to assemble shi**t.
Anyone who calls a Japanese built car, "crappy" is clinically insane.
Sid? You there?
mornin', everyone.
Welcome back slacker. You missed Monday's "frozen precipiation of death". (about an inch of snow).
Darge, if the U.S. had Japan's work ethic and educational values, we would be second to none.
By: gdiafante on 2/18/10 at 8:41
You willingly bought a Ford Escort? Caveat Emptor
Yeah, I know G. I had a Keeshond dog at the time (Topaz). She would not even get into the death trap. I couldn't figure out why. Then I went for emissions testing. Oops! But the guy who lived in Green Hills gave me my moola back. His secretary said "He's never done this". (given anyone their money back). I don't even drive on his street and that's been since about 1995.
gdiafante, no doubt Kroger is madly trying to re-stock the shelf's.
Ford is now saying they have paid
Morning everyone
back the drug dealers.
Good morning, Jimmy. I hope it's even better for Dusty...
sorry