My wife and I were talking about that last night. How many times have you had a car with mats that would slip up towards the pedals? We never would have considered blaming the manufacturer for that. No, we would either pull the mat back or get rid of them and get some that didn't do that. Simple solution, but we don't think suing someone to get rich quick is a good solution, either. We must be crazy.

Sorry, but this has nothing to do with floor mats...read again please...a petal is found on a flower and a pedal is in a car...

Paula,

Toyota designed the part and contracted CTS to build the part they designed. The blame rests squarley on Toyota. It is not CTS's fault that Toyota designed the part poorly. It is also shameful that Toyota waited so long to do something about it becuase these acceleration complaints have been coming in for over 3 years now and Toyota poo poo'd them until a Police officer and his family were killed by the issue and the 911 tape recorded the whole thing.

lol.. yeah thought it was a typo then she did it two more times. with regard to the original post Toyota is to blame if the cause is related to the design of the "pedal". If the pedals are defective then that is another issue.

how stupid, paula. This is a problem that is KILLING people. You deserve to own a toyota

The MAT is not the problem people.

Seems common sense oftentimes is lacking. It would be sensible to simply slide the mat back or get ones that don't slide. That simple.

However, this is an image problem for Toyota. To fix it, why not simply extend the warranties on Toyota cars to 100,000 miles and 5 or 10 years? Costly, but an effective way of standing behind their brand with confidence in it's quality. Toyota has built their name on quality, so to tarnish that would be a very bad thing.

Personally I think you are all wrong. You're views are messed up. First lets look at all the Japanese (foreign) brands: Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Subaru, Mitsubishi and Mazda. All are truly the products of the Rising Sun, whether they are manufactured here or not all of the corporate profits wind up in the hands of the Japanese. What they do with their profits is their business. Let me remind you that these are the decendants of the same people who captured, tortured and devoured (yes ate) our troops in the Pacific in WWII. Now they have a taste for our yen and not our flesh. Hey, but who cares, I'm going to continue to buy their cars.

Just as I buy their cars and electronics, I vote with the same disregard for America-I voted for Obama!

TAI: It was Reagan who sold out our manufacturing base to Asia (look into his speaking fees upon retiring - his policies rewarded decades of dumping and other unconscionable trade practices that were just a continuation of Japan's wartime tactics). I voted for President Obama for the same reasons I drive a Ford: I am an American, I love my country, and I am very happy with both choices.

LOL...ummm ... Paula1601575? Try using PEDAL when talking about a car. And PETAL when talkng about a flower. GET IT?!?!?!

The company (CTS) should get the blame for this problem. And Toyota should never buy as much as a screw from CTS in the future. This should have been taken care of IMMEDIATELY when this was first brought to light. I'm driving my fourth Toyota Camry and my car is't among the recalls, but it angers me that Toyota was so slow in responding to this problem. Boy, I love my Camrys but, Toyota is going to be sued out the wazoo.

Paula, this is NOT a floor mat problem. It is a problem with the accelerator. I'm sure that "Toyota" will fix it, but I can't imagine driving one while I'm waiting to have mine repaired. I am driving my fourth "Camry" but it's not included in the recall. I am very disappointed with the knuckle-dragging by my favorite car company.

I really don't understand some of the posters here !! IT'S NOT THE FLOOR MATS........Do any of you stop and read the article or better yet research for the facts. This has been an issue with Toyota since 2003 and has really boiled to the surface since 2008, not to mention all the OTHER recalls Toyota has had decade or so. This recall is going to become very interesting over the next year ! I've got a feeling there's more here that meets the eyes and ears.

Paula, I totally agree with you! It seems like no one is held accountable, anymore, for their own actions. Use your brain/common sense. I feel really bad that people lost their lives, but do we really have to expect a company to be liable for someone not making a good decision. I also can't get over how many people "sue" over every little stupid a#@ thing. It seems so many people want something for nothing anymore. It makes me sick. I try to remember that they have judgment day so it gives me a little comfort knowing that they will get theirs in the end. One more thing....I think the Media blows so much out of proportion. They incite so much negativity. They too will have judgement day!

Paula you do some research on the McDonalds coffee case and the law before you put your foot in your mouth. You don't have a clue about what actually happened.

Frankly, the lady who sued McDonald's was right on. Furthermore, floor mats are not what's causing the accelerator to stick.

In any event - Buy American!

McSame is right -- everyone who cites "just like the lady who spilled coffee on herself and sued McDonalds" should research the facts. I tended to think like that until I thought how improbable it would be for twelve jurors to give millions of dollars to someone for spilling coffee on themselves. I researched it and realized that McDonald's didn't pay nearly enough. But they, like Toyota might do, took their lumps and remain a reputable company, to my knowledge. I think Americans can forgive mistakes, but deceiving them to deny those mistakes can be unrecoverable.

No American car is 100 % made here in the states. They use a lot of imported parts and are assembled in Mexico and Canada. Look at the federal stickers on the new cars.

Paula, it shows that you no nothing about cars a floor mat would not hold the gas pedal down very long. So in the future at least know what you're talking about. And as for the woman and mc donalds they appealed she never got a dime. This is different people are dieing because of this problem.

I have owned Toyota's since 1970, with my 1st new car from the show room. I know for a fact that car is still on the road and has been the transportation for several high school students in my extended family even today.

I had a '78 hatch back with serious electrical problems (kept blowing tail and brake light fusses) but for that it, ran great and when I traded in for '88 I got top dollar.

I currently have a '90 Corolla and am in hopes that this will force Toyota to have to drop prices and give some great incentives so I can get a really good deal on another new one.

I have had a lot of friend's and family in that time frame who have owned Honda's, Subaru's, VW's and American made cars. In all cases, they eventually became Toyota customers because of dependability and problem free maintenance of my Toyota's.

I hate to burst your bubble but the real issue is not the floor mat, it is the accelerator switch which is defective and can stick and was known by Toyota back in 2005. Also a software glitch is currently being investigated by the government. Toyota is facing serious fines and also sanctions for not taking care of a problem they knew of 5 years ago.

For those who aren't mechanically inclined, yes thats most of those who purchase imports. The floormat problem is partially to blame on the consumer, but also the manufacturer. They should not have notched out the pedal area on the mat, it should have been a full mat that slid under the pedal so this wouldn't happen. Also for those who blame the manufacturer of the defective gas pedals, Toyota wanted them built this way, blame Toyota not the manufacturer of the pedal. And lastly, I'm sorry you may have had an American vehicle fail, but the imports have their problems too. Consumer reports is so biased, you could just as well throw the magazine out. Stand up for yourself and your country and purchase American products. The big three are now building vehicles more superior to the imports.

While the floor mats are getting the heat, there is more to this story than floor mats. There would not be a recall for floor mats. There would not be a production stoppage for floor mats. That was the first story that they had to put out. There are reports that the possible cause is the pedel itself. Maybe even the throttle body which is electronically controlled.

To me Toyota is acting like any other car company. Blame the owner first until someone dies. Then they get out in front like they care.

Never bought into the Toyota myth anyway.

The company that made the gas pedals built them TO TOYOTA SPECS. They didnt design the gas medals. Toyota did. They designed another cheap worthless piece of crap to put in their vehicles and it finally caught up with them.

They have been denying this gas pedal issue for over a year now too. They blamed their customers before now. It took a cop and 3 family members being killed for Toyota to run out of the ability to use the excuse of blaming the customer because Cops know how to drive. Now its a recall. All Toyota does it blame everyone else but themselves. Sludge in the engines of their vehicles were the customers not driving the vehicles properly. WHAT!? Not driving the vehicle properly. They just bought a piece of junk.

Facts are Toyota BELIEVES this shim will fix the issue, but the truth is they really dont know. How many times has this story changed? At 9 pm they were researching trying to figure out the problem and by 8 am they would have all the repair parts shipped by the end of the week. That was a fast find to an issue they SUPPOSEDLY couldnt figure out before then. How long were they saying there was no problem?

This company is a freaking joke and is playing on the stupidity of American consumers that think Toyota can do no wrong and all american cars are junk. My 1998 Sunfire (Pontiac) with 175,000 miles and no major issues plus my 1999 30th Anniversary Trans Am say otherwise about the quality of American cars.

Unfortunately, the explanation that the problem with the gas pedal was the floor mat doesn't ring true. There is another problem that is causing the pedal to stick. One offered explanation from Toyota is that the linkage wears and causes the gas pedal to stick. If that is the case, why is this occurring on the newer Toyotas instead of the older vehicles which would have more wear and tear on them?

Dave in NM, I'm sure you just NEED to through politics in. But but you are wrong about the initiation of Toyota's business. Try going back to the reconstruction after WWII! Demming, not Reagan... taught the Japanese Quality manufacturing and Henry Ford was Dr. Toyoda's inspiration of how to mass produce. President Reagan was just a "ME TOO" in that situation! (Of course, ANY Japanese Quality Expert will argue the point, But DEMMING was the American that taught them initially. Don't believe me? Check it out by Googling or running a search engine for DEMMING or Dr. TOYODA. What Toyota needs is "5-S" training from the Japanese for the quality they had.

I really believe that the media is blowing this whole situation out of the water, How many people have died when Ford refused to admit there was a problem with the tires on the Ford Explorer, at any point did they stop production or take suspend sales on all vehicles with those tires or did the government make them. This is where Toyota is set apart from the other manufacturers. There was a flaw in craftsmanship they owned up to it and went above and beyond to rectify it.

Maybe people should start taking a look at how much our Government is getting there sticky fingers on business and possibly see what they have to gain now that these flaws in a reputable company have come to light and what there now vested GM has to gain at Toyota's expense. Funny how GM is now offering great rebates for Toyota trades. Great Job Obama.

The bigger problem is that Toyota suppressed the fact that this is a problem that goes back at least to 2007. Fact: This was not a voluntary recall from Toyota, the government told Toyota to stop selling there vehicle (s). And for the record, Honda is also offering rebates.

Do your homework jaimi BEFORE you post up!

I agree with paula, a lot of people do not know how to react in an emergency situation, why dos people didnot apply the brakes is beyond my understanding, they do not understand that the brakes will stop the engine, and for those people that experience the brakes vibration when is ice on the road even the Fords and G.M. vibrate because or the ABS would not let the tires sleep

You hit it right on! Toyota didnt make the failed parts, and all car companies have had recalls. I think the NHTSA---readbetweenthelinestheUSgovernment--- is behind a lot of the negitive publicity trying to kickstart the American economy by giving a foreign company a bad rap..just my $.02 worth

Midnite the CTS pedals are manufactured to TOYOTA SPECS. Other makers get pedal from CTS why arent they having troubles?

Funny how this is being blamed on CTS when the Lexus that had the accelerator issue that killed the cop was actually assembled in Japan. Something tells me this shim isnt going to fix the problem because it wouldnt affect the Lexus models having the problems.

The only time I buy foreign cars is when I'm living in a foreign country. However, even when I lived in Japan, I didn't buy a Toyota.

you are right the company that made it should be held accountable. People are to fast to complain about Toyota what about chevy they have a recall I think ford has a recall on there cars. People hear one person say something and they follow them they can't think for themself. We had 5 toyota's and never had a problem. Had problem with Ford and Chevy. Other companies have a recall and they dont make a big deal about. The cribs How babys were hurt Or death. Every body has the right to there beliefs Toyota is not a bad company they do take care of recalls.

This country protects stupid people, that's how Bush got into office

Paula,

It is funny you used the McDonald's case. Do you know why that woman won the lawsuit? By the comment you made obviously not!! She won because the brewer that made the coffee was defective, it was heating the coffee hotter than the manfucature specifications. It wasn't simply spilling coffee on herself and getting burned, it was scalding hot and she recieved burns that were scaring. I just thought that would be a bit of information you would like to be aware of. Toyota is responsible for the defective parts that they put in their vehicles wether those parts are from another company or not. It is called quality control, car manufactures put their vehicles through road tests and dynamic vehicle testing this problem should have been caught. Even if it is a sticky gas pedal or an electrical problem, it is ultimately Toyota's responsibility to ensure the parts they use on their vehicles are safe. It is unfortunate that some people cannot see that Corporations have a responsibility to consumers, and when they do not follow through with their legal responsibilities and a consumer is hurt or killed buy using their product they are liable.

Here's where I get a bit chapped, people/families died in a new car that the makers new had a problem! I'm all about standing up when you are at fault. Toyota look the other way no... They ducked wiggled and pointed fingers at a BS fix. Buy what you want but I'll wait and see if they try and dodge (no pun) intended their responsibilities to the families that lost a loved one!

When are we as a country going to stop being a bunch of sissies and quit looking the other way? Toyota was wrong and we need to hold them accountable for the lies not the poor design or bad craftsmanship in the part but for not standing up and taking responsibility. Damn sight sooner!!!

Toyoda new what the problem was and did its' best to get around it. They need to take responsibily for the lie. They should have came clean when they found the pedals were faulty.

The floormat/pedal is just a smokescreen to hide the real problem with the electronic accelerator. A little research will tell you that Toyota has known about it for a long time. In addition, knowing there was a problem, they chose not to include the brake override system which is on Ford, GM, and Dodge, which allows you stop in spite of runaway engine acceleration. Unlike a cup of too hot coffee, people have a reasonable expectation of safety from a vehicle, especially one that costs as much as Toyota.

OK here is the deal. The problem is not with the floormats but has now been blamed on condensation in a module that controls the accelerator. They are replacing this.

Now for all of you thinking they have or will fix the problem ....back when they started to get complaints they sent out questionnaires to over 2000 owners on the problem and got back around 600. Of the 600 69 had an issue with this problem at one time or another. They decided the problem was the floor mat? At one time or another in almost any car if you bunch the floor mat under the gas pedal it will prevent it from returning or cause the car to accelerate so I scratched my head at this "fix".

Then I read on and found that better than half of the respondents did not even have those floor mats they said were causing the problem. This is an indication that they were not being forthcoming with a proper fix in the first place so how can you trust them with this so called fix under pressure?

I also remember on of the Japanese companies who had a problem with a seat belt issue that was pshawed because Americans do not take proper care of their cars. Remember this. When GM was going worldwide every company who manufactured cars tried to keep them out of their country and put higher standards of excellence on them than they did their domestic cars.

Personally I have never owned nor will I ever own a foreign car. Up until a few years ago I had only bought GM cars. Now I own a Ford pickup also.

"the CTS pedals are manufactured to TOYOTA SPECS. Other makers get pedal from CTS why arent they having troubles? Funny how this is being blamed on CTS when the Lexus that had the accelerator issue that killed the cop was actually assembled in Japan."

Not to mention that the first acceleration problem was reported 6 years prior to CTS becoming a supplier for these pedals.

"I also remember on of the Japanese companies who had a problem with a seat belt issue that was pshawed because Americans do not take proper care of their cars. Remember this."

Yes--apparently we were supposed to be treating our cars "like citadels" in order to avoid this problem. Heaven forbid they design a seat belt that can withstand some debris.

In this industry, there are certain levels of quality and integrity. Toyota has had neither for quite some time.... I owned a Toyota for awhile and would never own one again. Bigest rust bucket I ever had.

First off, I tend to agree with posts that it isn't/never was the floormats. That said, I drove Toyotas for decades, but my last car purchase, I traded a Corolla for a Honda Civic. Lovin Honda right now. The Civic drivers side floor mat has two reenforced holes in in it near the drivers seat. And two hooks in the floor for those holes to go over. Not even possible for the floor mat to ride/bunch up near the gas pedal. That's safety engineering, simple and effective.

That's "peDal", bonehead. PeTals are flower parts.

I agree Paula. What most people haven't put together here is our government involvement influnence. Remember guys that our government recently decided to bailed car companies like GM. So of course they're concerned with competition now that we own american car companies. I highly doubt they're liking the competition from Japan. News on recalls is nothing new, but when they make this big an issue out of a problem that's when I get suspicious they're playing an angle. I own a Kia, it had two recalls on that were extremely serious i,e. like it exploding and starting fire if it rolled over a certain way.... I mean come, that didn't even make the news once; this is a witch hunt.

The US corp that made the pedals manufactured them to strict Toyota specs. Problem is with Toyota design, as well as the fact they had two different pedal designs and two different electronic engine controllers to work with the two different pedals. First it was mats, Then people died with no mats in the cars, now the fix is to cut off a portion of the pedal, and put in a metal shim to keep it from wearing badly. That said, the issue appears to be not the pedal itself, but that the electronics have bugs which are now biting consumers of their products. There is much more going on here than someone or the feds out to get Toyota. They apparently have been hiding facts from the users of their products. What about the poor guy who was put in jail for vehicular manslaughter when his 96 Camry suffered extreme acceleration, killing a passenger in another car. He was an immigrant, and no one believed him when he said the car was out of control. Now they do, and he should get a new trial. That could have been anyone. These issues have been going on for years, we just haven't heard about them.

Bravo Paula! I couldn't have said it better myself. You make several very good points. When are people going to take resposibility for their own actions instead of pointing the finger at someone else. Interesting point to add. I recently returned from a trip to Japan, something I I do quite often and therefore have made a few friends. The Toyota vehicles manufactured in Japan were not recalled. Only the cars made in US plants were recalled. Is this perhaps not telling us something? I would definitely purchase a Toyota or Lexus vehicle. I would be sure to purchase one made in Japan. I now drive an Infiniti and made sure to inquire as to the "birth place" before closing the deal.

I'm still waiting for Toyota to send me a recall letter. I heard it takes whole day to get it fix (according to my coworker) I think toyota is hiding something (maybe a bigger issue) They said CHP officer was killed because of floor mat in lexus es I think it's more of the cpu unit then floor mat or sticky pedal. I have lost respect for toyota and will no longer support it. Putting cost over safty is just plain evil.

I`m guessing maybe you have no children. Would you put ur child in a vehicle that could kill them? Think real hard about it!

I have 3 kids and drive them and many of their friends around - to school, practices, movies, etc. in mine and have NOT ONE WORRY :)

As I understand that it would seem reasonable for people to think the gas pedal manufacturer could be to blame. These people should keep in mind that Toyota approves the design. Also, in reading, the current manufacturer on goes back for two years and this problem appears to possibly go back for several more.

Additionally, I don't recall a lot of sympathy for the US OEMs when they had quality problems over the years. They took the full brunt of the problem.

For those saying the problem is the gas pedal, and think the recall will fix the problem, I think you should look a little deeper. There are those who have had acceleration problems without floormats, and without the "sticky" pedal. The problem appears to be elelctrical. I am sure Toyota cannot duplicate the problem in their tests, but that doesn't mean it's not electrical. Electrical components do fail. Where Toyota is falling down is trying to avoid responsibility in this case. One thing about American car companies, they at least step up and take care of their recall issues. No pride there, just make sure the customers are safe. Yeah, they take some heat for it, but they are at least responsible enough to own up to it. Toyota it appears is all about the bottom line. They don't like to lose money, and this is going to cost them some serious dough. For those who say Toyota builds a better product, they have blinders on. The new Fords, Chevy's, and even some of the newer Chrysler products provide better convenience, more comfortable, and very comparable fuel mileage vehicles. OPEN YOUR EYES!!

well said people are just looking for a fast easy buck anyway to SUE SUE SUE free money

I have driven Toyotas since the late eighties. Mine have been great on mileage, never had any repair issues etc. All I've ever done is change the oil. They have cost me nothing to operate and they get great gas mileage. The people on this board who say they've had poor Toyotas are liars. Plain and simple. Almost everyone I know drives one and has had no problems, whatsoever. The company that made the defective gas pedals should suffer, not Toyota.

Not me. I want a huge pickup with loads of power and pulling ability and an huge suv that I can haul my kids, dogs, ect in. Sorry Toyota doesn't cut the mustard.

Well, thank God for small favors!!!

If you drive a foreign vehicle you have NO RIGHT to complain about jobs or the economy. I'm sorry but whether you like it or not you are a major contributor to Americas problems.

Americans have lost touch with the grander scheme and thoughts of community. We should be buying American cars to support American workers. Not buying foreign vehicles supporting foreign economies. American cars are CHEAPER and more reliable anyways. People with tunnel vision are stuck in the 90s when the American automakers had issues. Hypocrites, buy American.

"I want a huge pickup with loads of power and pulling ability and an huge suv that I can haul my kids..."

Hey Guntotn, put your kids on a diet, a toyota should be able to haul them

Hey keep buying these cars chinese junk and any other import that comes in to the USA Then maybe all of the rest of us will be standing in an unemployment line waiting for a check or standing on a corner begging for food! And we the people think the government will bring socialism JUST KEEP BUYING THAT IMPORTED JUNK AND SENDING OUR JOBS TO CHINA AND MEXICO and we will have nothing to depend on but the government HELLO SOCIALISM.

Mixman....obviously you have no idea that most Toyotas and Hondas are built in the United States -- Hondas are built in Ohio. Perrhaps you'd like Honda to close their plant in Ohio so more people can be out of jobs. Get the facts straight before you make a comment. As a note, both foreign cars AND American car import parts from Japan. There's no such thing as a totally AMERICAN-built car.

Yeah some people, I will take my crown vic any day over a prius!

I believe you are right. When the problem is addressed and the problems resolved, Toyota sales will resume. As for the person saying you have no right to complain if you buy foreign cars, and that buying American cars means American jobs, that isn't necessarily true. Many of the Toyotas and Hondas sold in the United States are built here, by American workers. Conversely, many of the cars with American names are built elsewhere, mostly in Canada or Mexico.

I drive my Toyota truck because I want a vehicle made in America, unlike the Ford F-150.

Danny the Ford F-150 is assembled in the US. Dearborn Michigan and Kansas City Missouri to be exact. Didnt know either of those Northern States were no longer American.

1dublj Most of the american cars sold in the US ARE NOT made in Canada or Mexico. Gm has 2 plants in Mexico, and 2 in Canada. They have more than 4 assembly plants in Michigan alone. Get educated and then speak.

Roy, after decades of driving Toyota (or in the case of the Nova, and GM/Toyota mix) in 2004 I switched to Honda... Toyota has gotten boring.

Didi, right on, response to Mixman... my Civic was made in Ohio and is as solid as any car made anywhere in the world.

Roy, after decades of driving Toyota (or in the case of the Nova, and GM/Toyota mix) in 2004 I switched to Honda... Toyota has gotten boring.

Didi, right on, response to Mixman... my Civic was made in Ohio and is as solid as any car made anywhere in the world.

Didi, There are a few foreign plants in the US simply because they avoid import taxes and yes, they do employ US citizens. But the point is, where do the profits go? An American company spends it's profits in America, therefore spreading the wealth around OUR economy, not another country's. As for the 'quality' issue, all car companies have quality issues. Toyota is not different. I've been driving GM and Ford for 35 years without any problems. My current Chevy is 9 years old, has 175K and still has the original spark plugs and brake pads and still going strong. It goes forward when I want it to and more importantly, stops when I want it to. Recalls of American brands have occured, but not at the level of severity Toyota is having.

Simply Logical needs to recheck her data. You couldn't be more inaccurate. You Ford, GM (goverment motors) freaks are so brain washed you don't have a clue where your vehicles are made and with what. I study them all and have had my share of those pieces of crap. I drove a chevy for all of 2 months and it fell apart. My Ford broke the timing gear after 5000 mile. Then I put 430,000 on my Corolla and still driving my 20 year TOYOTA pickup. Dang, I did have to put tires on it.....guess I should file a suit against them. LMAO.....

Simply logical-You keep saying that "profits" stay here when you buy from GM,ford, and chrysler. Well, for decades they were on top and they "spread the wealth around" by pulling out of plants here and sending those jobs to mexico. And before you protest, they are STILL doing it!

2/12/2010
s

Foundry to idle 135 in Columbia City

Category:
Expansions & Contractions

News Coverage:
Journal Gazette

Published: February 12, 2010 3:00 a.m.
Foundry to idle 135 in Columbia City

Marty Schladen

The Journal Gazette

About 135 employees of the Fort Wayne Foundry Columbia City plant were told Thursday that the plant again will be closed.

They're outraged that General Motors Co., the recipient of a taxpayer bailout, is moving the work they do to Mexico, they said.

"I feel betrayed that the taxpayers bailed out GM, and GM is sending jobs to Mexico," said Dave Moore, vice president of United Auto Workers Local 2242, which represents employees of the foundry.

Moore didn't know what company is getting the work, but he said the foundry's notice to the union said the work is being moved to Mexico.

Neither Fort Wayne Foundry nor GM spokesmen returned calls late Thursday.

The foundry makes water pumps and other parts for GM. Fort Wayne Foundry officials posted a notice Thursday that the last day of production will be Feb. 19, said Alfonzo Partlow, a production worker and member of the union.

"We've known for a while that orders had been slowing down, but everybody was stunned today," Partlow said.

The Columbia City plant, along with Fort Wayne Foundry facilities in Fort Wayne, closed last May.

toyota4 and to4,

First off, I do know exactly where my truck was made. I used to be employed by GM. So I know a few more facts than you think you do. Secondly, the American car companies DID spread the wealth around this country for decades through union contracts that paid great wages and benefits. It is only after the Japenese started to flood this country with cheaply made and poor quality (yes, that's right, their product stunk) by paying their laborers less with less benefits that the American companies had to start exporting jobs to stay competative. Toyota has and never will have the lock on a total quality car. No American car company has had their recalls evolve into a federal investigation or been accused of covering up for years their defects. Toyota quality? LMAO

"No American car company has had their recalls evolve into a federal investigation or been accused of covering up for years their defects"

Gee, simple, why do you think that is?

Not quite sure you understand the statement. Better quality and not covering up their mistakes for one. Let me rephrase for your benefit, With all the recalls that have happened over the decades, none have evolved into a criminal investigation such as the Toyota coverup to try to keep an unblemished appearance.

Gee to4, why do you think that is?

Bob

JUST KEEP BUYING THAT IMPORTED JUNK AND SENDING OUR JOBS TO CHINA AND MEXICO

I used to buy American cars to support our own economy. Problem is the management and unions in the U.S. auto industry couldn't look beyond their own noses, and thought Americans were truly stupid. They delivered junk.

The Japanese saw an opening to enter the market with better cars, and guess what. It worked! That's capitalism. Otherwise got to Yugoslavia and drive a Yugo.

did you read the article??? 5 deaths??, more like 8 in just (2) cases alone. in many cases they tried to blame the drivers age etc.. They have no respect for the sanctity of life to have let this go on so long. i'd rather have a car that conks out on the side of the road than one that accelerates and kills me

Well i guess common sense would say.. Turn off the car!! if its accelerating dont call 911 turn it off and call for a tow truck.. just shows how dumb people can cause a panic.. and uncalled for deaths.

sorry,make that 16 deaths and Toyota knew about this in 2002 and kept sweeping it under the rug. it was only when a Lexus crashed and killed 4 people in October of 2009 that anyone paid any attention. Shame on them.

Gasman

It might sound like a simple solution to you to turn off the car, it's really not that simple IF YOU ARE THE PERSON IN THE CAR.

First of all there is a bit of panic. Then there are people behind you that if you all of a sudden stop, they could kill you too.

Although the news reports around here have said to put the car in neutral INSTEAD of stopping it.

A California Highway Patrol officer is used to handling a car all situations without panicking. Surely a trained officer would have thought to put the car in neutral. The fact that he could not get control tells me that something is very wrong that is not very obvious. Multiple systems had to fail here: the gas pedal actuator, the EFI system, the braking system, the on/off push button and the gear change mechanism. How many of these systems are electronically actuated? That is the question that needs to be asked.

PEOPLE, ABSOLUTELY DO NOT just "turn off the car". You will lose your power steering and your power brakes, as well as the anti-lock braking system. Further, if you turn the key too far in the off position, you will lock the steering wheel, thus assuring your death.

Place the car in neutral and slowly steer the car to the side of the road. When safely off the road, then turn the car off. The engine may rev itself to death in this timeframe, but it will be just the engine that dies, not you.

jlowers

you are absolutely correct that one victim was a CHP officer and he certainly would have known what to do and therefore, THERE IS SOMETHING TERRIBLY WRONG WITH THE CAR.

I hope that I am never in this situation. One person on this board says to stop the car, others say put it in neutral. The fact is that WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO MAKE THESE TYPES OF DECISIONS in the first place.

All products have an implied warranty that a product will do what it is designed to do. Cars ARE NOT designed to accelerate for no reason.

Response to Gasman quote: "Well i guess common sense would say.. Turn off the car!! if its accelerating dont call 911 turn it off and call for a tow truck.. just shows how dumb people can cause a panic.. and uncalled for deaths."

If you turn off the car you cant steer it duh!!! Put the blame where it belongs on Toyota, and not on the victim.

Next time you go for a drive turn off your engine I suggest you do this with the same scenario of that the 911 family died from. Accelerate, their brakes failed, so don't use your brakes, and then turn off your car while approaching an intersection.

Have you heard the 911 tape of the family that died in that Toyota? It was horrible, he stated the gas pedal was stuck and the brakes were not working, then he stated they were approaching an intersection, then he stated brace yourself, then pray, pray, pray, then screaming then crash, then death. Toyota has known and ignored this problem till this family crashed and then burned to death in a Toyota car because of their negligence.

I do not know how this particular vehicle(Lexus)works when you turn the key off.It has a key fob and a start button.Does the steering wheel lock when you turn the key off?I don't have one so I don't know.My take on the crash is that the CHP never got over his initial panick,never regained his composure and unfortunately it turned out for the worse.He did NOT lose his brakes due to electrical issues.All brakes on all light vehicles are hydraulic,manually operated.He had to have burned up the brakes to the point of no return.The proper thing to do would have been(as only a few have said)would have been to go to neutral and get off the road and the let the car die.It is replaceable.I have owned several Toyotas and loved them.My only problem with them is the price.

Vehicle will shut off if placed in neutral and button held in for 3 seconds. Power assist to the brakes and power steering will not work, but steering and braking will remain, as with all vehicles built now, they have redundancy built into them. You just have to use more force-like with a car with no power steering or power brakes.

knowwhatyoutalk1 said:

Vehicle will shut off if placed in neutral and button held in for 3 seconds.

That's part of my complaint about the systems that give the computer control of the car to an extent that overrides the driver's choices. When I turn the car off, I want it off. I also understand that it's difficult to put the car into neutral---you can't just slide it from drive to neutral, you have to maneuver the shift around obstacles that are designed to prevent you from putting it into neutral accidentally.

Of course, you have to plan ahead for this situation. Read the owner's manual for your rental car before you're careening down the highway at the maximum speed the car can achieve. Then you have to execute these steps with one hand while you're trying keep control of the misbehaving car that's going way faster than you're prepared to drive even with both hands on the wheel.

And don't panic.

On the other hand, as bad as it is, these are rare occurrences, and drivers cause a lot more accidents than cars do. It matters far more whether the car's overall crash safety is good. Don't trade in your Camry for a PT Cruiser and expect to be safer!

I have been told the service brakes would have stopped the car regardless of the throttle position. I have also been told the ABS would have worked too, had the operator (drivers are not part of this problem) not been careening down an unimproved road at an insane rate. I agree with mathrec. A kill switch is needed on these baka bomb cars.

There's a lot of shoulda done and blame in the posts above. I will not fault the CHP driver and it’s awful that his family died. What I'd suggest is this. Get back in touch with driving and lose all the conveniences that get between us and control of our vehicles. Every car my family owns has a manual transmission. And right by the shift knob is the emergency/parking brake. In the CHP case, I’d have put the car in neutral and started slowing with the emergency brake. Too many people now don’t know how to drive a manual. You should learn. You are always more engaged in DRIVING. Also, prepare yourself by thinking – what would I do if this or that happens. If any good can come from the tragedies, maybe it will be all the discussion on how to handle emergencies. You are much more likely to act correctly if you have rehearsed emergencies in you mind than if you HOPE you’ll do the right thing.

With my luck I would win the lottery and get killed by a runaway Toyota while on the way to collect my winnings !

Thomas - right on.

You're way more likely to be killed by a texting moron than a Toyota driver with a stuck pedal.

DREstes is right on too. If someone does get a stuck gas pedal, and is not totally zoned out, there are many things that will stop the car.

Have fun at the next tea party...maybe you can get David Dukes to speak?

By far the most retarded post i've ever seen on newsvine. You could've at least got that bigots name right! Dukes, what are there 6 of them?!?! Friggin DOLT!

David Duke, sorry sarge a mere typo....so is he your IDOL? by the way bright boy it is "that bigot's name."

Thank you friggin' dolt. Oh sorry, I am sure you hate people with an education too. I will try to mispell/misspell more words for you...

However, I will not concede that ignorance is the real problem....where do you come in on that?....(pssst....I mean your ignorance.)

You're calling that guy a bigot because he doesn't like Toyota's? I would say the only ignorance around here is coming from you.

Some folks that are held in constraint or incarceration for assorted emotional problems seem to even blame the law of gravity on their enemies. Why not hate Toyota? Why not demean veterans? Why not vilify those that persist in saying the earth is not flat?

I have had a issue with purchasing any item from a nation where we have a trade imbalance. We have a huge trade imbalance with Japan, we import many more of their items than Japan does of ours. I have only purchased American or European vehicles. I know some say only buy American, but the difference with Japan and Europe is that at least Europe imports our items at a much more equal level than does Japan!

Thats the wonder of a free economy. It's your choice to buy what you like. Think a Chevy is better, go for it!

Thousands of american workers are employed by toyota. It started in japan but the tax base, the workers, and their families are here. Who do you think makes the kind of money necessary to buy new cars? It's not the fast food workers or other minimum wage jobs. It is the laborers, miners,and factory workers that buy the tundras, f-150s, and silverados. I do know my dad would never own a toyota. he was a "ford man". He was shocked into reality when the stickers and papers on his "american" f-250 said it was assembled in mexico.

I get so tired of this. You are not supporting American workers by buying Ford. Their vehicles are manufactured in Mexico. Let it go. Thanks NAFTA.

My Sport Trac was manufactured in Louisville.

Yes, they do employ American workers but the profits go back to Japan, not in the U.S. like Ford, GM, etc... And what do they do with those profits, buy American land and loan American's money. Won't be long until we are speaking Japanese or Chinese....

Ignorance is not an excuse....but I will go out on a limb and guess your entire life is ruled by the same judgment process...

Actually, ignorance is an excuse, he might learn. Your stupidity on the other hand is without parallel!!!

To4ever

It is true that not all american branded cars are made here but the truth is the american auto compnies employ 10 times more americans than any forign manufacturer and the money stays here instead of going to Japan or Korea. Very few Toyota midels are built here. Also all the Auto rags have been comenting on the "cheap materials" used in the models released in 2009 and 2010. The interiors look cheap & boring. They are doing the same thing the otherguys did... go cheap & sut costs

Hey sarge, you need to get a grip on that rage boy...or is it simply idiocy? You are clearly a supporter of the other team...you know the nationalistic fools brigade....Arigato....that is another language...oh no! it's happening!

Proud, please try to do some reading and listening to facts surrounding vehicles. Fords, Chevys Chryslers etc are all made out of the country except the Ford Explorer. Where have you been? Toyotas and Hondas are built right here in the USA. I happen to live ten minutes from the Toyota plant in Georgetown, Ky and it employs thousands of hard-working Kentuckians. The Honda plant in Ohio employs thousands of Ohioians, as well. The money doesn't go back to Japan or China...Toyotas and Hondas are not Chinese cars. HELLO????

ikie, I can read. I read a lot. My favorite books deal with history. I really enjoy books that talk about the events from 1939 to 1945. Perhaps you should brush up on your history.

Thank you ikie 12pts people you need to get your facts straight toyotas have a plant in KY that is where my car was produced. Your chevy was produced in China, Chrysler is now made in Mexico or Canada. Ford is the only one that is truly american anymore people. Yes Toyota makes some of their cars in Japan but most of them are made right here in the good old United States. Honda is the same way! It is just funny how we are making such a big deal about this when there have been numerous recalls on other vehicles that are supposeably american, but our wonderful media never seems to try to destroy a company like they are with Toyota. We wonder why our economy is in ruins right now well this is why many american workers that work in KY or OH are now out of jobs thats to the wonderful media. Yes I believe it needed to be brought to a front but don't destroy the company.

>>You are not supporting American workers by buying Ford. Their vehicles are >>manufactured in Mexico.

Not completely true. Our lawmakers show the same ignorance as the foreign-buying public by letting a domestic car become a foreign car. Because short term profits are to be had, the long term effects are never considered.

It gives me an ulcer to see the current foreign car commercial claim it's an American car, and then see the popular Ford Fusion is built in Mexico.

My Mustang and my wife's Five Hundred were built at home. They also ride on Cooper tires that were built at home. My neighbors in Kansas City build the awesome Malibu. Our RR tracks service the Claycomo plant that builds the F-150 and Escape.

I'll (knowingly) buy a foreign car when it's the last car remaining. Ford- bring home the Fusion and Fiesta! GM- bring home the Silverado and Avalanche!

IKIE are you a moronic fool? You live near the georgetown KY plant that builds Toyotas and all GM cars are assembled outside the US? Seriously.

There is this Kentucky plant in Bowling Green where the Chevrolet Corvette and Cadillac XLR are assembled.

There is this Ohio plant in Lordstown where the Chevy Cobalt is assembled.

Add in the Ft Wayne Indiana Assembly plant for the Silverado and Sierra, The St Louis Missouri plant for the Malibu, Delta Township Michigan plant for the GMC Acadia, Buick Enclave, Chevy Traverse, Flint Michigan for Silverado and Sierra trucks, Hamtramck Michigan for the Cadillac DTS, Lansing Michigan for the Cadillac CTS and STS, Arlington Texas where the GMT 900 trucks are built, and there are a few others I just dont have time to list em all.

Nice to know all GM vehicles are assembled outside of the US.

I just wanted to further my post by saying GM has more assembly plants in the US than ALL THE FOREIGN MAKERS COMBINED!

GM has more PLANTS in Michigan than Toyota has in all the US. Toyota talks about how they have 9 plants in the US. THey dont have 9 assembly plants so thats all their US facilities. GM has assembly plant, parts storage, metal fab plants, transmission plants, engine plants, stamping plants.

GM employs more Americans than Toyota and Honda combined. Its actually 3 to 1 in that department.

Toyota profits DO go back to Japan because they do their accounting in Japanese Yen not US dollars.

Thousands of american workers are employed by toyota.

Ask yourself this...Where does the 1.7 billion dollars in profit Toyota made in the last quarter go?

Next go look up how capitalism works.

Somewhere along those lines a light bulb will come on.

logdump- well, we dont work for free! thousands of workers x about $60,000/yr. + benefits + pension= AMERICAN workers building AMERICAN-MADE CARS! :)

I used to say that our economy would be cured when we taxed imports so they reflected American labor costs. Now, I add to that. Our economy will be better when those fools who willfully toss our treasures overseas get taxed on their purchases to reflect what their wantonness costs their friends and neighbors.

I've owned 3 Toyotas, 3 Oldsmobiles, 1 Pontiac, 1 Jeep, and 1 Mercedes.

In terms of repair history the Pontiac was best, followed by Mercedes, Olds, Jeep, THEN Toyota.

Plus they were like tin cans. I have been impressed with my daughter's Fords. Except for the Mustang never cared for the styling but their quality seems to really be job #1 lately. People that buy Japanese cars over and over should take another look at what else is out there.

That was a dealer problem you had NOT a manufacturer problem.Oh and your call to Toyota's customer assistance I assure you was sent to the dealer because they ALL are. The probably chose to tell them your problem was handled. Toyota dealers are franchised which means a individual or a corporation own them. Why don't you try another dealer. On Toyota worse day they still are better than the domestic junk.

I agree with you sqzdmidcls. I owned nothing but Hondas from '87 to '99 and constantly had costly problems with them. In 2000 I bought a Mercury Mountaineer. I drove that truck for 10 years and over 213,000 miles, and the most major repair I ever had to make was a new water pump. That truck died the day after I got the call that my new car (also a Ford brand) arrived. If my new car treats me that well I doubt I would ever consider anything but a Ford. People looking for quality who shy away from American brands in favor of Japanese brands should definitely take another look.

I totally agree! Although I did own a Honda for 10 years, it was a costly vehicle with timing belts, brakes, and steering problems. I finally sold it at 180,000 miles-- for me just a baby.

My next car I had for 12 years, 287,000 miles! and only water pumps to replace (besides brakes & tires). Was it foreign? NO! It was a JEEP! So naturally I bought another jeep~ Only have 40,000 miles on it and NOTHING has gone wrong. It is 3 years old and BRAND NEW! Drives like a dream and if you get stuck in the snow...it will pull you out!~

Stick with AMERICAN CARS!

I find it funny that you folks talk about how wonderful and reliable your Fords and Jeeps are and trash your "costly" Honda. I have been working in the auto service department, for over 15 years, in a dealership that has Hondas, Fords and Chrysler products. I have seen first hand, just how much it truly cost to maintain vehicles. Yes, you do have to actually maintain a vehicle instead of just putting gas in and driving it. There is a reason that I have decided to drive an American built Honda. They cost me less per mile to drive and are super dependable. I see more REPAIRS on the "domestic" vehicles than i ever have on my Honda.

SQZ......

Why'd you buy 3 Toyotas? Slow learner?

That's 1/3rd of all the vehicles you've owned. Must have been a reason.

F@CK TOYOTA, they lie, they kill!

http://www.corpwatch.org/article.php?id=15182

americanman- my mother always taught us the vile language and swearing were side effects of a dull, small mind. i'm so sorry :(

AmericanMan1957 is right. Buy American. Only fools buy garbage rice burners like toyotas. Toyota has been covering up and lying for years. They should be held accountable for the deaths of the people involved with this ELECTRONICAL FAILURE. It was never the gas pedal getting stuck down because of the floor mats. Toyota can go to hell.

4,000? That number sounds very inflated. Especially at an Assembly plant.

Why dont you tell the people of your fellow employees that Toyota fires after coming back from Workmans Comp. Or how they are bringing in more temp workers and letting them go right before the legal period to hire them as full time employees so they dont have to pay the higher wages the Toyota employees make. How about telling people that over 15% of the workforce in the plants in temp workers. They are 1 step above Wal Mart in the honor department.

ninet930 - not inflated considering we build the sequoia, highlander (2010), and sienna. why lie? anyone can look it up!

You are dealing with american managers

Toyota didn't have a problem with their cars until they started manufacturing in the USA. The accellerator problem, an American manufacturer, the recalls- all the American made cars. Toyota did the recall on their own. Let us not forget all the recalls that GM and Ford have have and continue to have, that a lot of had to be issued by the government. You have a better chance of getting hit by lightening than have your Toyota speed out of control.

Leslie its funny you mention that all the recalls are from American made cars because that right there tells you this problem isnt pedal related. The crash that caused the government to get involved was a Lexus thats assembled in JAPAN and doesnt use any american parts. So this problem obviously isnt involved with the gas pedals CTS makes. Why arent other CTS customers having these issues? They assemble the pedals to TOYOTA SPECS.

This is going to get crazy messy soon because eventually more people will wonder what about that Japanese made Lexus that sped up and killed 4 people. Why did it go speeding out of control and is this issue really just the pedals? And FYI the government FORCED Toyota to make this recall. LaHood said Toyota was safety deaf and dint seem to take it seriously.

Not sure about you but those odds you speak of are odds I dont want to take when I am driving and odds I dont want to have to deal with when a freaking Toyota is behind me. If I get hit by an out of control Toyota Im sueing the heck out of that crappy company.

You say CTS pedals are not the problem and why are other companies not having the same problem. Ford is. You just don't see it on headline news because people are use to Ford having recalls. They recalled over 17,000 vans with the same CTS pedal.

No it is actually the truth...people are actually dead...now that is great public relations...

funny you should mention rustbelt since Toyota truck frames are rotting away as we speak.

My Tundra is not rusting away....I don't know what you've done with yours but I don't park mine in the ocean.

Bottom line is that Tacomas and Tundras were recalled for frame rot. Have you ever seen a truck fold in half on a lift? I had the pleasure with a late 90's Tacoma.

You had better read the articles about the cars that are stuck at 80mph in cruise control on the freeways and continue to build speed. This is exactly what caused four deaths in California. It is a problem, and it is being dealt with. However, the issue is simply corporate negligence, and that is the bad par, regardless of the corporation's nationality.

And they still should've turned the car off instead of freaking out and crashing... hmmm i guess that makes sense..

uh..most cars today you can not turn off unless they are in park. and if a car let's you shift to park when you're cruising along at 70 then that's not exactly safe either now is it?

That's the problem, they keep going!

Try putting the car in neutral sqzdmidcls.

sqzdmidcls,

you are mistaken, most cars don't let you lock the steering wheel and remove the key until they are in park. You can always turn off power to the ignition...

Ok a sticky accelerator pedal won't keep the car from stopping if the brake is pressed...think about pushing both pedals at the same time, which one wins?

The accelerator pedal wins. The brake will hold you if you're doing a burnout.

Have you never heard of brake fade? The more you use the brake continously, the less it works.

ALL VEHICLES SHOULD ALLOW YOU TO SHIFT TO REVERSE EVEN WHEN DRIVING THE CAR! IT WILL CAUSE THE CAR TO BASICALLY STALL.

Try being in the same situation as the officer and see how many things you think to try. When your car is accelerating and heading for an intersection and you are stepping on the brake you wont be thinking well I can shut the key off, or put it in neutral, or put it in reverse. Sure its easy to sit here and say I would do this or that but in reality unless faced with the situation you have no clue what the heck you would do so shut up about I would do this or that bull.

Maybe you'll think about selling it when the frame starts to rust away, which will happen shortly.

Toyota truck frames rust so badly the suspension falls off. Look it up.

Whereas where I am huge chunks of paint simply falls off GM cars. Then they rust. Gee, that's so much better.

1980: The U.S. government allows Ford to mail warning labels to owners of more than 20 million 1970-1980 cars and light trucks with automatic transmissions that can slip into reverse, thus avoiding the largest safety recall in automotive history. The dashboard stickers advise drivers not to leave the vehicle with the engine running, to use the parking brake and to make sure the transmission has been placed in park. However, NHTSA considers the warnings a recall. NHTSA finds that slipping transmissions caused 6,000 accidents resulting in 1,710 injuries and 98 deaths.

Be careful with the 06 Avalon that is what the 4 folks were driving in Southlake which unlike the article states just happened in 09 not 08. The feds checked it out and the driver did have all 4 floor mats in the trunk as instructed by Toyota. It was not a floor mat issue.

Richard buy American means buy from American companies and keep american dollars in America. Where do the profits of Toyota sales go? JAPAN! They do their accounting in YEN not Dollars.

How is it that a small island country like Japan has the #3 largest worlds economy? STUPID AMERICANS! We buy their crap and send our US dollars over there. Do you think they car to send their worthless money over here to buy US products? HELL NO! They dont want to help us and buy our stuff. THey hate us, I mean they did after all bomb us in 1941. The only country in modern day war to attack the US on US soil, and yet we have idiots that have no pride in their work or their country and instead insist everyone else makes everything better. DAMN FOOLS NEED TO LOSE THEIR JOBS!

This is a good reason not to own a particular brand of car....

The pedal was built to Toyota's specs. Blame it on the supplier because it's an American company? Denco will be next. That Lexus that crashed was built in Japan.

Wise up

Thats DENSO not DenCo. And Yes, Toyota must be the only company to have these issues:

In 1977, Mark Dowie of Mother Jones Magazine, using documents in the Center files, published an article reporting the dangers of the fuel tank design, and cited internal Ford Motor Company documents that proved that Ford knew of the weakness in the fuel tank before the vehicle was placed on the market but that a cost/benefit study was done which suggested that it would be "cheaper" for Ford to pay liability for burn deaths and injuries rather than modify the fuel tank to prevent the fires in the first place. Dowie showed that Ford owned a patent on a better designed gas tank at that time, but that cost and styling considerations ruled out any changes in the gas tank design of the Pinto.

This issue really isnt a gas pedal issue at all. Toyota is still covering everything up cause fact is they dont know what the problem is so they cant fix it.

As was mentioned the LEXUS that killed the California Highway Patrol Office was assembled in JAPAN with NO PARTS FROM NORTH AMERICA. So how can this issue be a CTS fault? CTS makes gas pedals for other companies why arent those cars having issues? It was the Toyota design thats fault, but its not the gas pedal and thats what CTS is trying to tell people, but they dont have the cash or name to fight this.

Toyota has a lot more vehicles NOT ASSEMBLED IN THE US than GM, Ford, or Chrysler do. GM has 1 vehicle left thats assembled outside North America. Toyota assembles 1 lexus model in NA and its put together in Canada. How many Scion models are assembled in North America? NONE! How many Prius models? NONE. And if Toyota doesnt assemble it in North America it contains NO PARTS FROM NORTH AMERICA. EVERY SINGLE GM VEHICLE THAT IS SOLD IN THE US CONTAINS PARTS FROM NORTH AMERICA!

I have a 1996 F150 with 150,000 miles and it still hums. I've had very few problems with it and I definitely haven't babied it. I've never regretted buying a Ford. My car is a 2003 L200 Saturn and it's a gem. It has never had any problems. You can have your foreign makes. I have nothing against them, but I'll keep mine.

Yes you are both right about the handling and the government pressure.

By many inside the industry you mean who exactly?

There is absolutely no way you can predict the future, so maybe you want to hang on because you are in for a huge ego deceleration.

I work in the industry and have connections with many manufacturers, foriegn and domestic. The situation here with Toyota is going to get very messy. There has been bribes, coverups and political pressure to keep many of Toyotas ongoing and past problems out of the public eye. This current situation with uncontrolled acceleration started in 2002 with the switchover to electronic throttle control. I, and many of us believe this is a computer issue, not the gas peddle. Maybe multiple contributing issues. The size and scope of this recall will grow before long. Too many accidents involving injury and death that can not be explained by gas peddle or floormats. Class action lawsuits are being filed and old cases are being reexamined. Like I said, hold on , this ride is going to get very interesting.

I, too, have worked in the industry for many years. Until recently, I worked for a supplier to Toyota. Unfortunately, their quality is no better than the others, except that they can cover up mistakes better. No one seems to understand that this problem has been going on for a long time and was not brought to the surface or anything done until ABC did a story on it. Please try to understand that people are dying and NO ONE knows when it will happen to them. It doesn't matter how long, or how many, Toyotas you have owned. Toyota will never say that they are at fault. They are scared to death they will be sued. I agree with American 1601593, it has only started!!!

American ...

I love an insider that has the scoop!

Makes you feel in the know, doesn't it.

Yeah that makes a lot of sense!!! You had bad experiences with their service but haven't brought your imported junk to be fixed??? What did you have a bad experience over the phone???? Take your foot out of your mouth before you choke.

Willie,

You are an idiot. Okay, you got me, I have had to take it in to do some minor electrical work, and I have had to replace the timing belt. I have owned my Tacoma for over 10 years now, it has 190,000 miles on it, and I guarantee that I have spent no more than $5000 on upkeep. My first car was a Ford (which my parents bought for me), and it was in the shop all the time. It cost well over $3000 for one repair, and it cost me well over $5000 in 3 years time. What a deal. So I'll repeat what I said: Until they can create the same value as a Toyota, they will continue to get outsold and buying American doesn't mean a thing when it's really hecho en Mexico.

Willie when did Toyota outsell GM in the US? Its never happened and isnt going to anytime soon. Have you seen the products GM has and has coming out? They look a hell of a lot better than that bland styleless crap Toyota has in their lineup.

My 1998 Sunfire has had less than $5,000 in upkeep on it. To be honest its been less than $2,500. Can you get a power steering pump (160,000 miles) replaced and installed for $202? HAHAHAHAHA NO! Try $200 before labor then about $250 in labor.

And to your made in Mexico comment GM has more assembly plants in the US than all the foreign companies combined. Ford does too. Crapsler is pretty close. How many Lexus models are made in North America? 1. How many Scion models in North America? ZERO. How many Toyotas come from Japan? AT least 2 models I know of. How many Buicks are made outside NA? NONE. How many Cadillacs? NONE. GMC models? NONE. Chevy? 1.

I didnt even address the lower their prices thing cause Toyota and Honda vehicles are more expensive. Fully loaded Civic or Corolla over $20,000. Fully loaded Cobalt $18,000. Fully loaded Accord or Camry $29,000. Fully loaded Malibu $26,000.

All you have to do is go research the numbers and you will see GM vehicles are priced considerably lower than Toy cars are, and the GM cars in almost all categories get better gas mileage, offer more features (onstar is awesome), and a better warranty.

Not sure where you get this bring their plants back to the US crap from. The plants GM is opening in China are for vehicles sold in China. With dropping Saturn, Pontiac, and Saab GM got rid of most of their imported vehicles (Saturn Astra, Saab 9-3, Saab 9-5, Pontiac G3, Pontiac G8.) Now all you have left from outside North America is the Aveo. Everything else is made in the US Canada or Mexico.

Its funny how you complain about the American companies bringing jobs back when Toyota makes a lot of vehicles outside the US.

"ts funny how you complain about the American companies bringing jobs back when Toyota makes a lot of vehicles outside the US. "

their is a reason their called IMPORTED

plus ford uses the same CTS gas pedals

Its called an electronic choke, the stupity of some people is amazing. When you start it it revs, press the acclerator again, it stops revving, UH magical isn't it?

Wow, Ed, I bet you own a Mac too what with your superior intellect. Way to go, fan boy!

No quality issues until now? You mean no quality issues you paid attention to. Im willing to bet there were massive quality issues you had you just neglect to talk about think about or paid attention to.

Funny thing is if a knowb falls off an american car its a piece of american junk. But if a knob falls off a Toyota or Honda (AND THEY SURE AS HELL DO) you just put it back on and dont give it a second thought.

My friend hydroplaned then rolled a Corolla 6 times and all she talked about was the safety of the car and that she was still alive. I couldnt help but laugh at that comment she made. A car that low to the ground shouldnt have rolled especially after just hydroplaining, thats a freaking death trap not a safe car. My Sunfire has never come close to rolling and they are basically the same car.

Oh to be indie that brain while it is working....kind of like a house of mirrors, huh! Which way next?

You who post as if you are superior or actually think you know something are showing your ignorance. Do your homework before you slam someone. These are public records and if you research you will see the truth.

I would suggest that people google the problems other car makers are having with their gas pedals sticking. I own a 2008 Ford Escape and last week my gas pedal stuck as well. I have tried to contact Ford about this and have yet to get anywhere with them. Toyota is not the only company that CTS supplies yet you do not see any of the other companies stepping up the plate like Toyota has! I will never buy another Ford after this. The real shame here is not the engineering issue that CTS had but rather that a foreign car company has to teach us North Americans a lesson in ethics.

Step up to which plate? Pedal? Electronic Interference? Fooling idiots like Al Gore that the Prius is the answer (with 5 nickle metal hydride batteries, they are very GREEN, NOTTTTTTTT!), Failing Prius brakes (please don't drive behind me, I love my life) or their attack on the American middle class by paying low wages to auto support workers. I'll bet you shop at Walmart too, the one that wiped out the Mom and Pop Shop on Main St that provided customer service. Demming (an American) taught those foreigners manufacturing. There is nothing that they can teach us North Americans, except how to drag our heels on safety and lie!

japcrap-1508774: typical conservative gap-toothed yee-hah American DUMMIE. Americans don't have to be taught to drag their heels and lie - they've been doing it for DECADES now. I've owned GM crap, and I'll NEVER go back to American-made, overpriced planned obsolescence again. Sneering Howie Long and Dirty Job Mike notwithstanding. I guess if you have to hire such non-talent as these two, you don't want people looking at your product, just your "frontman." Oh, and last time I looked, japcrap, Sam Walton WAS an American, as is all of his family. Maybe Mom and Pop, like Fix Or Repair Daily, Glitch Motors and that other bankrupt car company in the US could learn a thing or two about what the people want from the Japanese.

JapCRAP!

There are no American cars anymore fool! All autos are made with parts from around the world! Some "American" cars have more japanese parts then so-called japanese cars!

GM and Dodge are crap and Ford is somewhat better, but Ford owns most of Mazda, and I own a Mazda and the quality is by far better then any so-called American car.

I am an American patriot, but I am not stupid enough to buy crap just because it is made by an American company. Walmart IS American and is a big part of our economy dork.

You are another arm-chair expert that knows crap about anything!

I bet you support the UAW even though they are the main reason that "American" auto companies are in trouble.

A real American patriot keeps American jobs in America by buying American. You, arealpatriot, are no patriot.

Sure, sure--Wal-Mart is an American company--the biggest American purchaser of Chinese junk. What happened to their "Made in the U.S.A." advertising campaign? OH Right--can't be used since they found cheaper suppliers in China and caused numerous U.S. companies to go under. Companies closed. People list jobs. Wal-Mart--buy Chinese, sell at high price and laugh all the way to the Bentonville Bank! Don't get me started on Wal-Mart. Yes--an underhanded American company that treats employees like slaves.

Sorry some of you seem to have zeroed in on GM junk. My experience with GM cars has been quite different. All have been reliable, low cost of ownership. Few repairs. Engines and trannies got over 500,000 miles. No complaints here! Never broke down on the road. Gee--what a lucky dude I must be.

According to ever increasing documentation, Toyota has not been upfront about its problems. Maybe its the Asian way of business. But it is deceitful and dishonest. It has caused the loss of innocent lives. That is criminal.