NHTSA: Toyota Electronics Have No ‘Sudden Acceleration’ Fault
So-called 'sudden acceleration' has a long and unfortunate history, almost destroying Audi sales in the mid-1980s after 60 Minutes accused the Audi 5000 of accelerating out of control at random.
Now, as previewed a few weeks ago, an NHTSA report finds no electronic cause for the phenomenon--and suggests that in the cases that involve Toyota vehicles fitted with event data recorders, or 'black boxes,' the accidents have been due to driver error.
Black boxes: No braking
Starting in 2007, various Toyota models have been fitted with black boxes that record a few seconds of the car's control inputs once an airbag has been deployed.
While this limits the number of accidents that can be analyzed, the results are still revealing. Of 58 data recorders analyzed by teams from both the NHTSA and Toyota, 35 showed that when the crash occurred, the brake pedal was not depressed at all.
Another 14 showed only partial braking, and 9 more indicated braking only just before the accident. The report said brakes were pressed and released, or both brake and accelerator were pressed together, in a handful of crashes.
Drivers may not actually know what pedal they're pressing during an emergy, explains Richard Schmidt, a psychology professor at the University of California, Los Angeles.
In an article in The New York Times, Schmidt noted that "sudden acceleration is very often caused by drivers who press the gas pedal when they intend to press the brake."
Only a subset of crashes
A plaintiff-lawyers' group, on the other hand, scoffed at the notion that the report exonerated Toyota in any way. It noted two concerns with the data presented from the subset of cases that involved event data recorders.
First, the NHTSA report does not address many of the complaints that occurred in pre-2007 cars and, second, many of the crashes occurred at speeds too low to trigger the airbag, meaning no data was recorded.
While the report may help allay concerns of widespread software flaws in Toyotas, the company is still dealing with recalls stemming from two known issues that have contributed to a small number of cases not attributed to driver error.
Two known causes
Those are "sticky" accelerator pedals that may rust to the point where they don't return to idle, and fitting of unapproved or aftermarket floor mats that can wedge accelerator pedals to the floor if they shift out of position.
In the case of the sticky pedals, attributed to an unapproved materials substitution by a U.S. parts supplier, Toyota has recalled the affected vehicles and is replacing the accelerator mechanism.
As for the floor-mat problem--believed to be the cause of a horrific crash last year in which a California Highway Patrol officer and his family were killed when their Lexus crashed and burned after accelerating to high speed--Toyota is shortening accelerator pedals in the affected vehicles so they cannot be entrapped no matter what floor mats are fitted.
Almost 10 million recalled
In the last year, Toyota has recalled 9.4 million vehicles worldwide to fix these two issues, including 7.5 million in the U.S.
An NHTSA statement carefully notes that the agency has "drawn no conclusions about additional causes of unintended acceleration in Toyotas beyond the two defects already known: pedal entrapment and sticky pedals."
And the agency stressed it is continuing to investigate the accidents, as is Toyota itself. The agency and NASA are testing whether electromagnetic radiation may interfere with vehicle electronics, bombarding vehicles with EMR at a Chrysler test facility.
For more information on those causes and Toyota's responses, see our summary, Toyota And Lexus Recall: Everything You Need To Know, which provides full details on the two largest recalls in North America to address accelerator pedal issues.
[Automotive News (subscription required), Detroit News]
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
| Permalink:NHTSA: Toyota Electronics Have No 'Sudden Acceleration' Fault |  |
Feds Clear Toyota On Throttle Issues; Steering Issue Remains?
Toyota—and Toyota owners—can breathe a little easier with a finding from the federal government released today.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said, in a preliminary finding, that it could find no evidence of a problem with electronic throttle controls or electronic failure in Toyota Motor Corp. (Toyota, Lexus, or Scion) vehicles, and suggested that driver error had been to blame in many of those cases.
NHTSA found that the brakes hadn't been applied in at least 35 of the 58 crashes that had been attributed to unintended acceleration.
More Toyota owners mistook the brake for the accelerator?
The finding is yet another argument in favor of Toyota's assertion—that there aren't any safety-critical flaws in its 'by-wire' throttle systems or in its engine controls, and that drivers simply pressed the accelerator instead of the brake.
However, last year Consumer Reports found that, through its own analysis of safety complaints, that Toyota vehicles had a disproportionately high number of unintended-acceleration reports. While the automaker held a 16-percent U.S. market share, 41 percent of all such complaints involved Toyotas.
The new announcement, largely exonerating Toyota from broader issues with its electronic throttles, shouldn't be confused with the automaker's two broad safety recalls from this past year—one relating to accelerators becoming stuck in floor mats, and the other relating to a potentially sticky pedal mechanism. Beyond those mechanical issues, the probe was looking into accusations that the automaker may have issues with interference issues with its electronic throttles, which have been used for most of a decade on most of its vehicles.
Toyota renews commitment to safety, quality
Curiously, the announcement comes just after a twitter chat and blog post from Toyota chief quality officer Steve St. Angelo, who explained that it's part of his job to maintain a direct line on quality to global president Akio Toyoda.
"We're listening closely to our customers and taking quick, decisive actions to enasure that their vehicles are safe," he said. St. Angelo pointed out that for the automaker, recalls are "an integral part of our commitment to standing by our products and being responsive to our customers."
Angelo says that Toyota already has two of many new field quality offices open at this point, with the remainder of them set to open over the next 12 months.
This year, Toyota has deployed so-called Swift Market Analysis Response Team (SMART) members to look at individual cases of unintended acceleration and other potential recall issues. And it's gotten back to basics with a re-emphasis of the Toyota Production System, allowing a worker to stop the production line for an issue.
"If we determine that there's even the slightest safety concern with our cars on the road, we're not hesitating to address it—sometimes on the basis of just a handful of complaints."
St. Angelo also cited Detroit News figures, projecting that the industry is on track to recall more than 20 million vehicles this year, with 300 recall campaigns announced just in the first six months of the year (among all automakers).
Steering recall looms?
However, Toyota's recall worries don't altogether end with today's announcement. In addition to a recent recall of more than 400,000 vehicles in the U.S. for steering issues, Toyota has been widely criticized in recent weeks for not issuing a formal recall for another ongoing steering issue, being investigated with a federal defect probe, that affects Toyota Corolla and Matrix models. The automaker has so far called the problem a "customer satisfaction issue," yet it is offering free repairs for the issue.
Beginning last month, Toyota began offering a fix for the issue, which affects 749,685 Toyota Corolla and Matrix models, but it hasn't considered it a safety concern. The fix includes a new control unit that provides an "alternative steering feel."
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
| Permalink:Feds Clear Toyota On Throttle Issues; Steering Issue Remains? | |
2011 Toyota Tacoma: Production Moved To Texas, More Automatics
Toyota has announced pricing and released details regarding its Toyota Tacoma compact (or mid-size) pickup for 2011.
Air conditioning is no longer an option on four-cylinder Regular Cab models—all of them get it—and upgraded 15-inch styled steel wheels are now standard on the base 4x2 Regular Cab. Base, SR5, TRD Off-Road, TRD Sport, and X-Runner models of the 2011 Toyota Tacoma all get a newly redesigned grille.
The engine lineup and mechanical specs remain unchanged; the 2011 Toyota Tacoma comes powered by either a 159-horsepower, 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine or a 236-hp, 4.0-liter V-6, paired with a six-speed manual or five-speed automatic for the V-6 or a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic for the four-cylinder. Tow ratings range up to 6,500 pounds with the V-6.
Satellite radio is available on more Tacoma models, as it's now included with the six-disc CD changer. Cruise control, a sliding rear window, keyless entry, and steering-wheel audio controls have been made more available with a Convenience Extra Value package on Double Cab models.
The offerings combining the base four-cylinder engine and automatic transmission have been expanded for 2011, while fewer trims in the lineup offer the manual gearbox.
Pricing has changed by $1,020 for the entry-level Tacoma Regular Cab, but most of the models have gone up just $275 for 2011. That leaves the current range running from $16,365 to $27,525, not including Toyota's destination fee of approximately $800 (it varies by region).
Overall, at The Car Connection, we appreciate the Tacoma's affordability and its fuel-efficient base engine, as well as its simple interior layout, reputation for toughness and reliability, and strong resale value, but note that its ride quality and seats aren't nearly as good as in full-size trucks.
For 2011, Toyota's moving a big chunk of Tacoma production from the shuttered NUMMI plant over to a non-union plant in San Antonio, Texas. Some U.S. Tacomas will still be built in Baja California, Mexico.
The 2011 Toyota Tacoma models will begin arriving to dealerships in late July.
[Toyota]
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
| Permalink:2011 Toyota Tacoma: Production Moved To Texas, More Automatics | |
All U.S. Honda Vehicles To Get Brake Overrides By Next Year
American Honda has announced that it will be installing a brake-override system on all of its Honda- and Acura-brand vehicles for the North American market by the end of 2011.
The device would, quite simply, allow the brake pedal to override any throttle input returning the engine to idle or near idle to permit safe braking if the accelerator pedal is either stuck or accidentally simultaneously pressed.
Several other automakers, including Mazda, have announced plans to incorporate brake overrides on all their future models, ahead of a potential federal requirement for them. Currently, Nissan is the only automaker to use them across its entire lineup, though Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, and Chrysler already have the feature on many of their models.
Toyota is also planning to install a brake override on a number of models for 2011, and the 2010 Toyota Camry and 2010 Toyota Avalon already had the feature.
At the time Toyota was dealing with its stuck-accelerator recall, Consumer Reports helped bring stuck-accelerator strategies to light, clearly demonstrating—when accelerators were floored—the stopping difference between vehicles that did and didn't have brake overrides.
The first application of the so-called Brake Priority Logic will come to market this August, Honda says.
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
| Permalink:All U.S. Honda Vehicles To Get Brake Overrides By Next Year | |
Toyota Extends Incentives, Adds Free Maintenance
It's official. As we anticipated last week, Toyota has extended its largest-ever incentive program through April, and it served to jump-start Toyota's sales after recall woes that put the brakes on showroom activity in January and February.
The so-called March Sales Event helped Toyota finish March with 186,000 sales nationwide—second only to GM—with sales up more than 40 percent from March of last year.
Toyota was less specific with the extended program than it had been with the original March announcement, but the automaker has expanded its two-year "premium maintenance" program to all buyers, not just those who already own or lease a Toyota, Lexus, or Scion product.
The incentives now include:
Complimentary two-year premium maintenance program covers all customers who purchase or lease a new Toyota
Zero-percent APR financing for up to 60 months on "up to six of our popular models." Original March program covered 2010 Toyota Avalon, Camry, Corolla, Highlander, Matrix, RAV4, Tundra, and Yaris.
Special low lease rates on "up to eight of our popular models." 2010 Toyota Venza, Tundra, RAV4, Prius, Matrix, Highlander, Corolla, Camry, and Avalon were covered by the March Sales Event.
Toyota adds that the offers apply to "qualifying buyers"—most likely those with stellar credit—and that the offers vary regionally.
The automaker had attributed about 60 percent of the March sales to repeat customers. With the expansion of the maintenance plan to everyone, its sales comeback might not
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
| Permalink:Toyota Extends Incentives, Adds Free Maintenance | |
Toyota-GM Joint Venture Now Shuttered, But Lessons Remain
NUMMI (New United Motor Manufacturing Inc.), the manufacturing plant set up in the 1980s as a revolutionary venture between GM and Toyota, has closed its doors, with the last vehicle, a Toyota Corolla, rolling off the line last week.
Over the years, the plant has assembled a number of vehicles, including the Corolla, the Toyota Tacoma, the Pontiac Vibe, the Chevrolet/Geo Prizm, and the Corolla-based Chevrolet Nova, which kicked off the venture's production in 1984.
While most of these vehicles were either Toyota-designed or very closely related to Toyota vehicles, all with well-respected quality and reliability records, it's not so much the cars themselves—or the plant's status as the last remaining auto-assembly plant on the West Coast—as the plant's history and the people who worked in it that make NUMMI such an interesting case in labor history—and a template for better labor relations for GM.
The two automakers formed the venture so that GM could learn from Toyota, while the Japanese company could begin setting up U.S. assembly facilities. Unfortunately, as a recent full-length report from Public Radio International's This American Life uncovers, GM never did fully follow the practices that made NUMMI such a success story.
It's a very compelling listen, and tells the story—through interviews with former company executives, union leaders, and line workers—about the plant's demise, followed by its rebirth with help from Toyota.
GM's Fremont plant, which preceded the NUMMI facility at the same location, assembled cars and later trucks and was one of the most problematic of any of GM's plants at the time, with a reputation for poor quality, poor workplace morale, and excessive absenteeism.
Former plant workers recall that alcohol, sex, and drugs were quite common, and the line wouldn't stop for anything. Engines were put in backwards, and cars made it to the end of the line with the front end from one 'badge-engineered' model and the body and trim of another.
The original GM plant had closed in 1982, but workers and the UAW were a little surprised when Toyota opted to rehire a significant portion of the former workforce, flying them to Japan for training and teaching them a completely different way of assembling vehicles. That included rewarding them for improving the process, and allowing them to stop the line when needed. The result, curiously to Detroit naysayers, was that Toyota built more vehicles, with higher quality, than had ever been built at the Fremont plant. Annual production at the plant peaked in 2006, at 428,632 vehicles.
Although largely a casualty of GM's bankruptcy last year combined with the sustained slump in auto sales (its closure was announced last July), NUMMI is the first Toyota assembly plant ever to be shut down. A total of 4,700 workers will lose their jobs, each receiving about $50,000 in severance. The plant remained until the end Toyota's only U.S. plant with UAW workers.
[San Francisco Chronicle; NPR]
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
| Permalink:Toyota-GM Joint Venture Now Shuttered, But Lessons Remain | |
March Auto Sales Out Like A Lion: We Pick Winners And Losers
March sales might have gone in like a lamb for Toyota (NYSE:TM), but thanks to some strong incentives it went out like a lion, finishing the month with very good sales numbers—topping 186,000 nationwide—though the automaker's incentives went from less than $1,600 per vehicle in March of last year up to more than $2,300 this past month.
That's because of the automaker's March Sales Event. Toyota has attributed about 60 percent of its March sales to repeat customers, who received the additional incentive of free maintenance for two years.
Kia, Subaru, Volkswagen, and Ford (NYSE:F) all surged in sales versus last March, despite substantially lowered incentives. Kia, for instance, demonstrated that it's producing more desirable products by boosting sales by 23.5 percent while lowering its incentives by 43.3 percent versus a year ago, according to the pricing-intelligence firm TrueCar. Subaru was a very strong performer yet again, posting the biggest March-over-March gain of any automaker, with sales up by 46.6 percent from last March, while incentives were down by nearly 12 percent. Volkswagen saw sales up nearly 39 percent versus last March, with incentives 13.4 percent lower than last year.
"And of those four, Kia and Subaru were two of the three brands that had increased sales in 2009," said Jesse Toprak vice president for industry trends at TrueCar, citing particularly strong product lines for each of those automakers. Toprak says that while incentives might be able to create a sales bump for a few months, "that sustained level of success can only come through the product portfolio."
Over the past year, Kia has introduced the well-received Forte sedan and Forte Koup, along with the Sorento crossover, and this year the new 2011 Sportage compact crossover as well as the 2011 Kia Optima sedan will go on sale. Subaru, meanwhile, has introduced all-new 2010 Subaru Legacy and Outback models and has shown a refreshed version of its performance-oriented Impreza WRX for 2011.
Volkswagen and Ford have also have substantially refreshed product lines and have increased sales so far this year, versus last year. Ford in particular was a winner this past month; the automaker was third overall in sales, after General Motors and Toyota, and saw a nearly 43-percent jump in sales compared to last March with incentives actually about nine percent lower.
But that other brand that did well in 2009, Hyundai, also showed strong, with a 15-percent boost in sales and 34-percent lower incentives overall.
Toyota Will Renew Incentives Through April, As Sales Soar
Thanks to the strong incentives offered over the past month, Toyota sales have recovered nicely despite multiple recalls and highly publicized federal investigations. But it looks like the automaker isn't going to ease off them quite yet.
The original March Sales Event incentives, slated to expire April 5, offer zero-percent financing for up to five years, along with special lease rates, on a number of models (including the 2010 Toyota Camry, Corolla, Highlander, Venza, Tundra, Prius, Matrix, and Avalon) plus two years of free maintenance for those who already own a Lexus, Toyota, or Scion model.
Toyota's most generous incentive program ever will be extended at least through April, according to the Detroit News, citing Toyota Motor Sales group VP Bob Carter, and the free maintenance perk might be added to all Toyota vehicles. Toyota dealers had apparently been instrumental in pushing for the extension, despite concerns that sustained incentives, as well as the recalls, will affect resale value.
Details of the extended incentives will be announced on April 5, Carter told reporters at the New York Auto Show.
Although March sales numbers aren't quite in, Toyota showrooms have hardly been empty. Toyota sales are expected to be up between 35 and 40 percent, versus last March. That's quite the feat considering that Toyota has recalled around six million U.S. vehicles since November—mostly through its accelerator-related recalls—and actually halted sales on many models in late January. Toyota's sales in February were down about nine percent from February of 2009.
[Detroit News; Bloomberg via Business Week]
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
| Permalink:Toyota Will Renew Incentives Through April, As Sales Soar | |
Honda Counters Toyota Incentives With New Leasing Deals
Honda has announced its biggest set of lease deals ever, which market experts are identifying as an effort to stoke sales and save its market share against the aggressive incentives now being offered by archrival Toyota.
The so-called Feature Special Lease program that runs through May 3 allows a low monthly lease payment on nearly every model—ranging from $159 on a 2010 Honda Civic Sedan VP to $390 on a 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour—along with no money down, no security deposit, and no first-month payment, with $0 due at signing. The deals aren't limited to slow-selling or lower-demand models, and they're even offered on the popular (and recommended) 2010 Honda Fit.
Honda additionally has several other lease options as well as low 0.9-, 1.9-, or 2.9-percent APR financing, for up to 60 months. Visit this page for details on each individual offer, along with special regional offers, and keep in mind that these are typically only offered to those with very good credit.
Earlier this month we cited TrueCar sales forecasts for March, predicting that Toyota's incentives have actually put a significant dent in Honda's market share this month. Over the entire month, Honda's market share dropped by nearly one percent, to 9.4 percent, again according to TrueCar.
The Toyota March Sales Program began in early March and runs through April 5, offering zero-percent or special lease rates on a wide range of models, including the 2010 Toyota Corolla, Camry, Venza, Avalon, Matrix, Tundra, and Prius. The Toyota deal also includes two years of free maintenance to those who are current owners of a Lexus, Scion, or Toyota model.
What's particularly odd about this incentive-war situation, the L.A. Times points out, also citing a Kelley Blue Book expert, is that these two Japanese automakers have historically resisted these types of large incentives. And Toyota has never started a price war before. But here they seem to be developing a dependency on incentives, offering more than many other automakers, to maintain market share.
KBB estimated that this week 45 percent of new-car shoppers are considering a Toyota model, up from 32 percent last week. Meanwhile seven percent of those who had said they weren't considering a Toyota before the incentives began now do have one of the automaker's models on their shopping list.
Sales this month are expected to rise for both Honda and Toyota, with Toyota's sales seeing a slightly more significant bump. We'll update you when March sales figures roll in next week—and we'll see next month if Honda manages to fight back.
[L.A. Times; Bloomberg via Business Week]
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
| Permalink:Honda Counters Toyota Incentives With New Leasing Deals | |
Even This Month, GM And Ford Outspending Toyota On Incentives
Toyota might have rolled out more incentives for March—including factory-subsidized financing and lease deals plus free maintenance—but GM, Ford, and Chrysler are still offering deeper discounts.
During March, GM will have spent an estimated $594 million on incentives, while Ford will spend about $489 million and Toyota about $395 million, according to the pricing-intelligence firm TrueCar.
Looking at incentives per vehicle, Chrysler is in the lead, with $3,491 per vehicle, followed by GM ($3,351) and Nissan ($2,993). Across the industry, automakers have offered an average $2,800 per vehicle in incentives.
Altogether, automakers will have spent more than $2.86 million on incentives during March.
Toyota's March Sales Event program, which runs through April 5, offers zero-percent financing or special lease deal to "qualified buyers," on a range of models including the 2010 Toyota Highlander, Matrix, Prius, Tundra, Venza, Avalon, Camry, and Corolla.
The program is one of the most aggressive incentive programs ever for Toyota, but for years GM, Ford, and Chrysler have been relying on incentives to move some of their models.
And after just a month, it appears that Toyota might be bouncing back from a recall-related slump. TrueCar is predicting March sales numbers that rank Toyota, Ford, and GM all up from February and within a few thousand units of each other. Most notably, the firm is predicting that Toyota sales will be up more than 70 percent, to 170,552.
Average March incentives are estimated to be higher that those in February for all but Nissan and Chrysler.
Truecar is also predicting that sales of luxury brands are up significantly this month versus last—perhaps an indication of economic optimism.
[TrueCar]
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
| Permalink:Even This Month, GM And Ford Outspending Toyota On Incentives | |
