Archive for the ‘Toyota’ Category
Friday, March 5th, 2010
Toyota is in the process of investigating a number of unverified reports in the US that some of its vehicles are still experiencing sudden acceleration even after the vehicles have been ‘fixed’.
According to the troubled carmaker, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has received complaints from some consumers that they have experienced unintended acceleration after receiving the accelerator pedal recall remedies.
Although only a small number of reports of continued problems have been received among more than one million vehicles dealers have repaired to date, Toyota is taking them ‘extremely seriously’ the carmaker said in a press statement. The carmaker also pointed out that a number of the complaints submitted to NHTSA are ‘either are unverifiable or lack the vehicle owner information required to facilitate follow-up’.
Globally, Toyota has recalled more than 8 million vehicles to fix potential faults that include a potential problem with the function of the accelerator pedal which can become stuck in a compressed position. The recall to fix the potential problem affects many of the carmaker’s most popular global models including Aygo, Yaris and Avensis models. In UK alone, the Japanese carmaker is in the process of recalling 180,865 vehicles.
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Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010
Toyota’s new RAV4 is on display at the Geneva Motor Show this week ahead of its on sale date in the UK this Spring.
The new model draws on the latest designs displayed on the Avensis, Verso and Auris namely an all-new front-end that not only looks good, but is also more aerodynamically efficient. A wider grille, with horizontal bars and chrome accents around the foglamps and bonnet moulding add an extra dash of premium appeal. A new flowing bonnet design helps to emphasise RAV4’s wide track and dynamic appearance while inside the cabin, the high quality finish is complemented by new leather and Alcantara upholstery.
In the UK the 2010 RAV4 will carry forward its Toyota Optimal Drive powertrains, with 2.0-litre Valvematic petrol and 2.2 D-4D and D-CAT diesel engines, with six-speed manual, Mutridrive S (Toyota’s advanced continuously variable transmission) and six-speed automatic transmissions. CO2 emissions start from just 150 g/km.
Toyota RAV4 car leasing deals
Toyota RAV4 new and nearly new deals
Toyota RAV4 road test reports
Further details about the UK model range will be announced nearer the on-sale date.
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Thursday, February 18th, 2010
Tired of talking dogs, comedy admirals, and Iggy Pop’s lived-in face? questioned a recent Toyota press release. Well yes quite frankly I am, but what can I or any other motorists do about it? We all have to go through the process of trying to hunt down the best deal on car insurance, don’t we? Well, the Japanese carmaker has better idea, as it announces it is to take pain out of finding car insurance by offering one year’s Toyota Motor Insurance cover for free on its Aygo range.
This special deal applies to new cars ordered and registered by 31 March this year, meaning that you can even get a ‘10’ plate car without stumping up for insurance as well. And that comes on top of current offers that already provide a £500 saving on the on-the-road price.There is no requirement for owners to have a no-claims bonus to qualify for the deal, but they must be aged 21 or older. The insurance comes with free no-claims discount protection and the benefit of a double no-claims bonus for any owner who chooses to renew their cover after a year – subject of course to no claims having been made.
Toyota Aygo car leasing
Toyota Aygo road test reports
Toyota Aygo new and nearly new car deals
The offer applies to the full range of Aygo three and five-door models. As an example, the three-door Aygo Platinum, complete with 14-inch multi-spoke alloy wheels, Crystal Silver metallic paint, six-speaker audio system and Alcantara and leather upholstery, costs just £8,995, with one year’s free insurance. Attractive AccessToyota finance deals from 3.9 per cent typical APR are also available, making a new 10-plate Aygo an even more affordable proposition.
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Tuesday, February 9th, 2010
Toyota has issued a global recall of the latest, third generation Prius model to fix a potential problem with the brakes.
The move affects 8,500 models of the popular hybrid model sold in the UK, along with around 436,000 hybrids worldwide.
So far, there has been no accidents reported in Europe linked to the fault but the latest action comes after a series of embarrassing recalls for the troubled carmaker. In the UK alone, seven models were affected by a previous recall for a fault identified with the accelerator pedal (see story).
The world’s top-selling hybrid model has received complaints from customers in the US and Japan about an ‘inconsistent’ braking power when the car is driven over rough road. The carmaker explains that this is due to a fault in the ABS system and requires a software update.
The Japanese carmaker is now in the process of contacting affected owners of hybrid models. Those who have bought a third generation Prius which went on sale in UK in September will be contacted soon as Toyota has completed work with the DVLA to locate affected vehicles. Cars built up to January 27, 2010 will be recalled.
In total the recall affects 200,000 Prius cars sold in Japan, the country’s top selling car in 2009. The recall will also affect the Hybrid Sai model, sold only in Japan, and Lexus HS250h, which is sold globally.
Toyota is expected to repair 133,000 2010 Prius models in the US too and 14,550 Lexis Division HS250h 2010 models.
The repair takes around 40 minutes and will be carried out by the firm’s engineers free-of-charge.
The carmaker insists that the cars are ‘safe to drive’ adding in a company statement that ‘at no time are drivers without brakes’.
Toyota Customer Relations can be contacted on 0800 1388 744 or visit the website at www.toyota.co.uk for updates.
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Monday, February 8th, 2010
OK I admit it; I’m taking pity on Toyota. All the bad press lately following an admittedly massive recall, has made me determined to remind people about what’s good about Toyota’s range. To be fair on them, the more cars you make, the more you have to recall when something goes wrong. As the world’s biggest carmaker, it has the furthest to fall.
I can’t help but picture what it is like working at Toyota’s press office at the moment, the constant calls from the motoring press, the BBC, the national press, all calling at the same time and all asking the same questions. That level of attention is flattering when they call to ask about a new car or a latest innovation, but when they call question the safety of your vehicles…oh dear oh dear. It’s a bitter sweet relationship with the press that has turned sour.
Anyway there is genuinely a lot I want to say about the Auris in typical ‘Car Star’ style, as it is overlooked by the likes of the Ford Focus or Vauxhall Astra. And with Toyota now fixing past problems with older vehicles, I don’t believe you should be any more wary of buying a new Toyota model than any other marque. The brand implemented a change in production since August 2009, so all new vehicles should be fine. Let’s not forget that Toyota is hardly alone, all the manufacturers make product recalls from time to time. Overall, Toyota has scored well this year in the reliability stakes, scoring high with the likes of the JD Power reliability index and Which? Car consumer surveys.
The Auris, while shorter than its two rivals, its starting price is around £2,000 less than the Astra and £4,000 than the Focus. While you lose around ten centimetres in length, the Auris is actually more generous in head height than both, creating a sense of space inside.
The Auris is also stylishly designed; an elegant interior (as pictured above) is complimented by its roman bonnet exterior and wide stance give it the look akin to the Avensis but after a hot wash. It’s a sort of scaled-down version of a executive car that any high-flying businessman would be proud of. The Auris was specifically designed for the European market too, where we are known for our love of all things curvaceous, and in that sense it is well adapted to our moods. The Auris was introduced to try and recapture some of the love Toyota felt from the success of its Corolla model, widely praised as one of the most reliable cars you can buy. The Auris seems to have been less successful, although you can only assume that the marketing budget for the Focus was larger as there is no real reason why the Auris should have failed to ignite our passion for Toyota.
Updated in Spring 2009, the Auris once again began an assault on our hearts, the manufacturer being quick to point out its advantages over its rivals. With the addition of a new 1.6 Valvematic engine, a few tweaks to the engines already on the line and a few revisions to the specs and the Auris was ready to win over some new drivers. At the time of release, Toyota showed how over a 3 year period tax and fuel costs of rival Focus model would cost £104 more that the new 1.6 Valvematic, not to mention the difference in on-the-road prices. In fact, compared to rival Astra, Focus and Civic models, the new Auris was at least £2,000 cheaper, while it was £740 cheaper than the Civic 1.8 Vtec.
Running costs really are in the Auris’ favour, without compromising in space, like the smaller models in Toyota’s range; Aygo, Yaris and iQ. It is still large enough to be a family car but is also capable of up to 60.1mpg on a combined cycle and produces just 125g/km CO2 in its most fuel efficient TR 1.4 D-4D guise, thanks to the introduction of Toyota’s Optimal Drive technologies. This technology means that the Auris is not just fuel efficient; it still delivers in performance too, with April’s revision to the model boosting power by eight per cent while reducing fuel consumption. The latest TR 1.4 D-4D offers 205Nm between 1,800 and 2,800 rpm, pacing up to 62mph in just 11.9 seconds, matching the larger Focus Zetec 1.8’s time.
As far as I’m concerned, that is proof that the car in front is still a Toyota.
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Thursday, February 4th, 2010
Toyota has confirmed the exact number of cars affected by the accelerator pedal safety recall in the UK. The carmaker has begun working with the DVLA to contact the owners of the 180, 865 UK cars which could experience a problem with the accelerator pedal becoming stuck. Although Toyota says that no accidents have been reportedly caused by this problem in Europe, the carmaker will contact vehicles owners with details of the recall fix process as quickly as possible.
Just seven models are affected, rather than the initial eight first reported. Certain variants of the seven models affected are the Aygo, iQ, Yaris, Auris, Corolla, Avenis and Verso. The no variants of the RAV4 are affected and neither are manual versions of the Aygo.
The first shipments of parts required for this fix will begin arriving in the UK next week and Toyota will be in a position to start repairing cars from 10 February. The repairs will be carried out by qualified Toyota technicians, at Toyota-approved service centres. The procedure should take 30 minutes to complete. Toyota’s engineers have developed a solution that involves reinforcing the pedal assembly to eliminate the potential risk of excess friction that could cause the pedal to become stuck.
Miguel Fonseca, managing director of Toyota GB Plc said in a statement: “Toyota is very sorry about the concern caused to its customers about the safety of their vehicles by the recall we have announced to fix an issue with the accelerator pedal in certain models.
“People who drive any of the models that are to be recalled should also be aware that this is not a problem that develops suddenly. There are warning signs that will indicate that your vehicle might have a problem, such as the accelerator pedal becoming harder to depress or slow to return to its normal position. In some cases, drivers may notice a rough or chattering feeling when depressing or releasing the accelerator pedal.
“In the rare event that Toyota drivers notice that the accelerator pedal is hard to depress, slow to return or is unsmooth during operation, they should contact their nearest Toyota dealership.”
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Tuesday, February 2nd, 2010
Toyota has announced plans to fix a defect which is likely to result in the recall of more than a million vehicles.
In Europe, the firm expects to recall around 1.8 million vehicles. The Japanese carmaker has now announced that the first shipments of parts required to fix the defect will begin arriving in Europe this week.
The fault causes excessive friction in the accelerator pedal assembly and can result in the pedal becoming stuck.
In parallel, plans to contact the affected customers are being put into place.
“Toyota’s policy is to put its customers first, in all circumstances,” said Tadashi Arashima, President and CEO of Toyota Motor Europe.
“We understand that the current situation is creating concerns, and we deeply regret it. We would also like to reassure customers: the potential accelerator pedal issue only occurs in very rare circumstances. The recall action is a precautionary measure aimed to guarantee the highest quality standards to all customers,” Arashima added.
In the event that a customer does experience their accelerator pedal becoming stuck while in use, Toyota is advising that they should use firm and steady application of the brakes to gain control of the vehicle. The carmaker adds that brakes should not be pumped repeatedly because it could deplete vacuum assist, requiring stronger brake pedal pressure. The firm adds that the vehicle should then be driven to the nearest safe location, the engine shut off and a Toyota retailer or road-side assistance be contacted.
The recall of eight Toyota models in Europe was announced on January 28. The involved models and production periods are as follows:
• AYGO (Feb 2005 – Aug 2009)
• iQ (Nov 2008 – Nov 2009)
• Yaris (Nov 2005 – Sep 2009)
• Auris (Oct 2006 – 5 Jan 2010)
• Corolla (Oct 2006 – Dec 2009)
• Verso (Feb 2009 – 5 Jan 2010)
• Avensis (Nov 2008 – Dec 2009)
• RAV4 (Nov 2005 – Nov 2009)
The precise number of involved units is still under investigation, but may reach up to 1.8 million vehicles.
The fault is cause by a friction device in the pedal designed to provide the proper ‘feel’ by adding resistance and making the pedal steady and stable. The device includes a shoe that rubs against an adjoining surface during normal pedal operation. These surfaces may, over time, begin to stick and release instead of operating smoothly. In some cases, friction could increase to a point that the pedal is slow to return to the idle position or, in rare cases, the pedal sticks, leaving the throttle partially open.
Toyota’s solution for current owners is to add a precision-cut steel reinforcement bar that will reduce the surface tension between the friction shoe and the adjoining surface. With this reinforcement in place, the excess friction that can cause the pedal to stick is eliminated.
Those who are concerned can contact Toyota GB Customer Relations on 0800 1388 744 for assistance.
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Monday, February 1st, 2010
PSA Peugeot Citroen, one of Europe’s biggest carmakers joined the recall drama this weekend, over concerns about a number of vehicles made in a Czech plant alongside Toyota models.
The popular Peugeot 107 and Citroen C1 models are among those thought to be affected, as these models are based on the Toyota’s Aygo supermini.
Peugeot told the BBC: “under 100,000″ cars will be recalled but it did not say when the recall would begin.
All three models are assembled at the Kolin-based plant, a joint venture with Toyota that assembles around 200,000 Peugeot and Citroen cars every year.
Toyota has now issued a recall for around 1.8 million European-sold vehicles. It comes after a fault with the accelerator pedal was identified.
No accidents in Europe are thought to have arisen as a result of the fault, although a number of Toyota drivers have reported issues with the accelerator becoming stuck once pressed down.
Toyota’s recall affects 8 models sold in Europe, including the Agyo, iQ, Yaris, Auris, Corolla, Verso, Avensis and RAV4.
Carmaker Honda has also announced the recall of 646,000 cars globally to fix a switch defect that could cause a fire.
Posted in Citroen, Honda, Peugeot, Toyota | 2 Comments »
Friday, January 29th, 2010
Fear not, Toyota as it turns out you are not alone in your recall woes. Honda is to join you as the camaker issues a global recall of 646,000 cars to fix a defect which could cause fire.
The recall includes Jazz models, known as the Fit in some countries, built in Japan, China, Brazil, Thailand, Malaysia and India. So far, three cases of fire have been reported- two in the US and one in South Africa.
In September, two-year-old Vanilla Nurse was killed in Cape Town when the car she was sleeping in caught fire, the BBC reports.
The total number of recalls includes 619,000 Jazz, or Fit models globally and 27,000 City models in Asia.
In the US, 140,000 vehicles are being recalled. Just over 171,000 Jazz cars in Britain will be recalled in March.
In a statement, Honda told the broadcaster that a defective master switch could cause water to enter the power window switch and could, in some cases, cause a fire.
Toyota issued a recall on Thursday, affecting cars in the US, Europe and China which may have a problem with the accelerator pedals getting stuck.
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Thursday, January 28th, 2010
The troubles for Toyota continue today as the carmaker extends a product recall to an additional 1.1 million vehicles in the US.
The firm also confirms that the recall will be extended to Europe too, but details of where and how many models are affected have yet to be confirmed and are currently under investigation.
The further recall comes after Toyota suspended its sales on eight of its most popular models in the US. The recall stems from a faulty accelerator system which has a tendency to become stuck to the floor.
Last week, the carmaker recalled 2.3 million cars in the US with faulty pedals.
After a difficult couple of years, the world’s largest carmaker has also just announced that it will cut 750 jobs from its UK Burnaston plant before the end of August, the BBC reports.
The latest recall affects five models; the 2008-2010 Highlander and the 2009-2010 Corolla, Venza, Matrix and Pontiac Vibe.
Toyota shares fell a further 3.9 per cent in Japan, after dropping 4.3 per cent on Wednesday, as concerns about the impact of the recalls on the carmaker’s financial health concerns investors.
“Toyota’s remedy plan is to modify or replace the accelerator pedals on the subject vehicles to address the risk of floor mat entrapment,” a company spokesperson told the BBC.
In a company statement, Toyota said ‘there is no need or intention to stop production in Europe’. Whilst the problem ‘is rare’ it said, customers who have concerns are instructed to contact Toyota GB Customer Relations (0800 1388744) for assistance ahead of recall instructions being issued.
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