1. multiple law suits over injuries and damage caused by the acceleration problem. Expected.
2. BIG sales drop-off. Also expected.
3. now the Prius is being looked at by the Feds: link....
How much trouble could this be? Consider what happened to Audi when they had similar problems in 1986 with the 5000 - and I don't think they've fully recovered to this day.
Not helping is that it sounds like Toyota had to be pressured into the recall by the Transportation Dept.
2. BIG sales drop-off. Also expected.
3. now the Prius is being looked at by the Feds: link....
How much trouble could this be? Consider what happened to Audi when they had similar problems in 1986 with the 5000 - and I don't think they've fully recovered to this day.
Not helping is that it sounds like Toyota had to be pressured into the recall by the Transportation Dept.
LaHood: U.S. looking at Prius brakes
Transportation secretary will talk with Toyota's president
David Shepardson / Detroit News Washington Bureau
Washington -- Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said federal regulators are now investigating complaints about the brakes on Toyota Prius vehicles and whether electronics are a factor in complaints of sudden, unintended acceleration.
"We're going to keep the pressure on," LaHood said at a breakfast with reporters today sponsored by the Christian Science Monitor. LaHood also said he would "soon" talk with Toyota's president and CEO Akio Toyoda "to make sure they realize how serious this is."
But LaHood said Toyota's behavior was improving.
"I think they are pretty close to getting it," he said.
Toyota also has recalled 5.4 million vehicles linked to pedal entrapment on vehicles and another 2.3 million vehicles linked to sticky accelerator pedals -- with millions more being recalled around the world. It has stopped production at six North American assembly plants and halted sales of 8 models for other a week as it looked for a fix.
LaHood also defended the government's handing of its investigation of Toyota problems in recent years and said no evidence had emerged that Toyota had lied or misled government investigators. Two committees in Congress are reviewing all of Toyota's conduct since 2000 in relation to complaints.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gets 30,000 complaints a year, and LaHood said the agency's internal review has shown no improper decisions by former administrations to close investigations. NHTSA had at least a half-dozen separate investigations into Toyota acceleration issues over the last decade.
Toyota didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.
>
Transportation secretary will talk with Toyota's president
David Shepardson / Detroit News Washington Bureau
Washington -- Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said federal regulators are now investigating complaints about the brakes on Toyota Prius vehicles and whether electronics are a factor in complaints of sudden, unintended acceleration.
"We're going to keep the pressure on," LaHood said at a breakfast with reporters today sponsored by the Christian Science Monitor. LaHood also said he would "soon" talk with Toyota's president and CEO Akio Toyoda "to make sure they realize how serious this is."
But LaHood said Toyota's behavior was improving.
"I think they are pretty close to getting it," he said.
Toyota also has recalled 5.4 million vehicles linked to pedal entrapment on vehicles and another 2.3 million vehicles linked to sticky accelerator pedals -- with millions more being recalled around the world. It has stopped production at six North American assembly plants and halted sales of 8 models for other a week as it looked for a fix.
LaHood also defended the government's handing of its investigation of Toyota problems in recent years and said no evidence had emerged that Toyota had lied or misled government investigators. Two committees in Congress are reviewing all of Toyota's conduct since 2000 in relation to complaints.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gets 30,000 complaints a year, and LaHood said the agency's internal review has shown no improper decisions by former administrations to close investigations. NHTSA had at least a half-dozen separate investigations into Toyota acceleration issues over the last decade.
Toyota didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.
>
Comment