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From: Ed White on 12 Feb 2010 17:32
On Feb 12, 4:19 pm, dr_jeff <u...(a)msu.edu> wrote:
> Mister B wrote:
> > The total number of Toyota vehicles worldwide involved in some sort of
> > recall is reported to be in the 8-9 million range.   The number also
> > seems to be growing ... while Toyota re-sale values appear to be
> > shrinking.
>
> > I have a 2007 Prius, and just developed a problem with the fuel gauge
> > (display).  I called for an appointment, and the earliest they can get
> > me in for service is the week after next ... due to the flurry of recall
> > repairs.  MB
>
> Ford had a recall affecting 14,000,000 vehicles. In recalls, Ford is
> still #1.
>
> Jeff

Which recall was that? The only one close to 14M was the cruise
control brake switch recall which was about as bogus as they get. Ford
went about 10 miles past reasonable trying to get rid of that BS. The
histroy is really a sad comentary on the honesty of Americans. Here is
my somewhat fuzzy recallation of the history...

Ford working with NHTSA (not against it like Toyota) identified a
problem with a relatively small number of vehicles related to a bad
batch of brake line switches (F150s and Expeditions). Apparently in a
few cases (a few being less than 20) these switches started leaking
brake fluid into the switch body and conaminated the contacts. This
increased the contact resistance of the switches which reslted in high
temperatures being generated interanlly to the switch becasue of the
very high contact resistance. Ordinarily this was not much of a
problem, EXCEPT, some Fords (a limited number) had the switch wired so
that the switch was alway supplied with power. Becasue of this, the
vehicles could overheat the switch and in some cases (very limited
ccases) a fire could develop even though the vehicle was parked with
the ignition switch in the off posiition. Before the initial recall
was announced, the vehicles alleged to have caught fire in NHTSA
complaints were from a group of vehicles that were identified as
having switches from the bad batch. Ford recalled all of these
vehicles that maight have had the bad switch. Within days of
announcing the intial recall, Fords were suddenly being accused of
spontaneouly bursitng into flame all over the US. Many of these sudden
combustion incidents were very fishy since they involved vehciels that
had a completely different cruise control circuit (the switch was not
alway "live") and at least in one case the vehcile didn't have crise
control or the switch. However, it is hard / impossible to prove fruad
after this sort of underhood fire,. In an effort to stem the flood of
lawsuits and bad press Ford expanded the recall to include all vehicle
with "live"' switches. Then they expanded it to include all SUVs and
Trucks. Finally they just recalled every Ford that had a brake line
switch, even though there was no evidence that most of the these
switches would leak.

Toyota is now being hit with this same sort of over reaction. I do
believe there is a problem. And it is serious. But it is does not rise
to the sort of hysteria I see in the press. However, I do think it
highlights Toyotas culture of deciet. No major car company has
recently had a sorrier history of trying to cover up problems than
Toyota. While the press should tone down the sudden acceleration
hysteria, they should go after Toyota for their dishonesty and lack of
concern for their Customers.

I do feel sorry for Toyota in one respect - the sharks are already
circling. I just got my first spam from a bottom feeder today -
http://www.dynathree.com/29833/index.aspx?AFID=88113&SID=x3twoToyota .


Ed
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