Toyota or Toyoda, Questions Are Many

The testimony of Toyota’s president before Congress is not going over year well in many circles, primiarily because of the company’s failure to do anything for several years after first discovering the "sudden acceleration problem". Among those who are not impressed are those people who have up close and personal experiences with Toyota vehicles that have suddenly accelerated, caused serious injuries and at least 34 deaths.

The grandson of Totoya’s founder, Akio Toyoda, offered apologies to Congress, saying he feels the company may have grown too quickly. While the sentiment may be nice, it didn’t answer the burning question of the day: Has Toyota solved the problem that made it recall over 8 million cars (6 million in the US)?

While a whole slew of things were hauled in front of the cameras for discussion, including sticky gas pedals, dangerous floor mats and faulty brakes, nothing was offered to remotely indicate that the company has vigorously responded to those concerns when they were first brought to light ten years ago, in 2000. And, ten years later, the problem hasn’t gone away; it hasn’t been solved. In fact, it is getting worse with each passing year.

It is becoming very clear that the company just didn’t take the time to consider the distinct possibility that the onboard computers in their cars might be causing problems. While a company executive said they’d identified the defects that were, supposedly, at the root of 2,600 sudden acceleration cases since 2000, in the next breath, he admitted he wasn’t completely certain. Because of that reservation, Toyota would be putting in a brake-override system.

This strikes many people as a little too little too late. The accidents have happened, the damage has been done to people and property and 34 people have died because of Toyota’s inability or unwillingness to step up to the plate and take responsibility for their defective products. It’s taken ten years to get to this point. What has the company been doing over a ten year period to rectify the problems? Apparently, very little or nothing, until the problem became so public and so overwhelming, they were forced into action. This is not exactly the hallmark of a good corporate citizen.

To add insult to injury, a memo written by Toyota executives outlining how pleased they were with the frugality of their limited recall in 2007, was leaked to the press and the public. That recall saved the company $100 million. They will need the money when all of the lawsuits against them crowd our legal system. And, today, I watched a story where a man has spent four years in prison (of an eight year sentence) for vehicular homicide because the jury did not believe his story that the accelerator on his Toyota stuck and he couldn’t control the vehicle. He is seeking to overturn the conviction. This is another unforseen consequence of the nightmare known as Toyota. What’s next? Only time will tell….