The thrashing continues for Toyota, which has had to recall more than 11 million cars since the Fall of 2009 thanks to myriad problems, including bum gas pedals and steering relay rods. The car company has coughed up $16.4 million in government fines, and now will pay $32.4 million more.
The Associated Press reports Toyota decided to pay the fees at a board meeting in Japan. The company still could be slapped with civil and criminal lawsuits.
So take heart — no matter how bad a year you had, Toyota’s was probably worse. Well, unless you’re Blockbuster.
Toyota to pay $32.4 million in extra fines [AP via MSNBC]
Previously: Toyota Recalls 1.53 Million Cars
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I would think someone who lost their job and has been unemployed this entire year and went into foreclosure has had it worse than The Buster or Toyota.
Merry Christmas!
As someone in just that category, I agree 100%.
I really wish Consumerist would put the Toyota recalls in some context so we could see just how bad it is. I’d like to see how many cars are recalled per cars sold worldwide, and see how that compares to other manufacturers.
I’m not saying Toyota has handled any of this well, but it’s annoying that we see so few comparisons and so little context.
For example, data presented like this is interesting: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Chart_mfr_data_99-00.jpg
Toyoda will pay for this with the money he finds in his couch.
While the Toyoda family could pay it, they’re actually by no means fabulously wealthy like most American entrepreneurs. Very few Japanese CEOs and entrepreneurs gain incredible wealth– the only exception I can think of off the top of my head is Son Masayoshi.
Yeah the Japanese, whatever other issues they find themselves dealing with, actually seem to have the CEO-pay thing about right.
Cue all the Toyota diehards clamoring that they still love the brand, and quoting single data points (“My Corolla has 200K miles on it and has never given me a bit of trouble!”). Totally in denial about the degradation of a once proud brand and its former manufacturing standards.
Still loving my Hyundai. (The latest of three I’ve owned.) Former Toyota and Subaru owner here.
I suggest you look at the chart UCLAri posted…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Chart_mfr_data_99-00.jpg
Yes, Toyota does not have a clear record (no company does), but overall they aren’t bad cars.
I’ve never owned a Toyota and probably never will. However, they are still perfectly good cars with generally fantastic records across the board. While they have had an absolutely terrible year or two in terms of PR, looking at their overall recall rate, it doesn’t seem that bad given the volume they produce: http://www.mycarstats.com/reports/recalls.aspx
Again. I don’t own a Toyota, and probably never will. I just dislike spurious argumentation based on media bluster.
Huh, I guess GM gets a pass for all their recalls and unintended acceleration issues. Seriously, I need a new car and I want a better deal, keep on picking on Toyota
Just avoid BMWs and VW-Audis. Apparently they also have the magic pedals of doom as well.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124235858
None of GM’s recalls were forced by the NHTSA or class action lawsuits
At least when GM screws up they fix it voluntarily. Why do you think Toyota is facing fines in the first place?
Really?
http://articles.latimes.com/1994-11-18/business/fi-64251_1_million-pickups
http://usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/cars-trucks/daily-news/091229-GM-Recall-Alert-Terrain-Equinox-and-Corvette/
http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=DDNB&p_theme=ddnb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0F51F6679C06191E&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM
http://www.topclassactions.com/close/14-gm-dexcool-engine-coolant
http://www.sootoday.com/content/news/full_story.asp?StoryNumber=16977
Have you noticed nobody’s complaining that Priuses (Prii, to be technical) are running away? It’s like they all got better by themselves!
I hate hysteria.
Mr. Toyoda admitted on CNBC the company’s foucus on becoming the world’s #1 automaker came at the expense of quality control (and presumably safety as well).
Until I can quit thinking “Toyotathon” should actually be a fund raising event for crash victims and their families, they won’t get any of my business.