U.S. Transportation Secretary Seeks Meeting With Toyota CEO

The Wall Street Journal ^ | 02-03-10 | JOSEPH B. WHITE

[GOP_Lady]

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood on Wednesday said he wants to talk directly with Toyota Motor Corp Chief Executive Akio Toyoda about the safety concerns involving Toyota cars and the company's handling of those issues.

"This is very serious," Mr. LaHood said at a breakfast with reporters in Washington. "After I talk with him, they'll get it. We're going to keep the pressure on."

Mr. LaHood also defended the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's handling of invesitgations into reports of sudden acceleration in Toyota vehicles. The NHTSA "stepped up here," he said.

Some safety advocates have questioned why NHTSA didn't push Toyota to recall vehicles sooner in the face of consumer complaints going back six years.

The Transportation Department said it is investigating claims that electromagnetic interference might be causing Toyota electronic throttle systems to malfunction. The agency said in a statement it has found no evidence to support causes for unintended acceleration other than those already cited by the Transportation Department and Toyota, out-of-position floor mats and sticky accelerator pedals.

Meanwhile, Toyota's Mexican unit said it will begin calling in seven models next week for gas-pedal fixes. Toyota late Tuesday said it hasn't had any reports of sticky accelerator pedals in Mexico but will make the change on recent models of the RAV4, Matrix, Camry, Highlander, Tundra, Sequoia and Corolla.

Toyota's problems already had deepened Tuesday when U.S. regulators accused the company of dragging its feet on fixing the defective gas pedals and threatened civil penalties and further reviews.

[GOP_Lady]

Japan Sees Complaints on Prius Brakes
Toyota's burgeoning crisis hit Japan as the transport ministry
asked the car maker to investigate 14 complaints it had
received related to the newest Prius hybrid model.

Toyota to Cover Costs for U.S. Dealers
Toyota has told its U.S. dealers they will be receiving checks
from the auto maker to cover the cost of fixing cars recalled
for faulty gas pedals.

Toyota's U.S. Sales Skid; Ford Gains
DETROIT — U.S. auto sales rose in January as the economy
strengthened, but results were tempered by Toyota Motor Corp.,
which suffered a sudden decline late in the month after a recall
and a sales halt of more than half its vehicles.  Toyota's monthly
sales fell 16% from a year ago, dropping to less than 100,000
for the first time since 1999.  Amid the fallout, Ford Motor Co.
and General Motors Co. reported gains in market share and sales
increases of 24% and 15%, respectively, largely attributed to
increased fleet sales. Chrysler LLC sales declined 8%.

Lahood Comments Sink Toyota Shares
NEW YORK—Toyota Motor Corp. shares sank rapidly after
U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood advised in
congressional testimony that people stop driving any cars
involved in the Toyota recall.  Testifying before the House
appropriations committee, Mr. LaHood was asked what
advice he would give to owners of Toyotas subject to the recall.
"My advice is, if anybody owns one of these vehicles, stop
driving it, take it to the Toyota dealer because they believe
they have the fix for it," Mr. LaHood said.

[GOP_Lady]

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[EagleUSA]

Ah, trying to get into Toyota’s pants now, eh??

[GOP_Lady]

No, just reporting the news. :-)

Hubby (the great GOP_Harley_Guy), before purchasing his Ford Explorer, looked at the Toyota equivalent.

[CharlesWayneCT]

This could just be the truth. However, since the feds own two car companies that are already getting their butts kicked by Ford, one has to wonder if this is really this serious, or if the government is just trying to get rid of a competitor, especially one that doesn’t employ union workers in this country.

[reagan_fanatic]

What’s the Japanese word for ‘f*** off’?

[Da Coyote]

Great. An Obamaloon administration official (having barely passed high school math) will meet with a high tech auto manufacturer.

The sooner we send all the Obamaloon idiots into the sun, the better.

Oh, keep the audio on in their space capsules.

It may be space, but I want to hear them scream.

[prairie dog]

Just announced on ABC radio news that LaHood recommends that all owners of recalled Toyotas quit driving them.

[PGR88]

Never let a perfectly good crisis go to waste!

Since when do cabinet secretaries get so involved in auto recalls?? Wouldn’t be a little pimping for the UAW and Gov’t motors, would it?

Sorry, but I trust Toyota more than I do the Federal Gov’t.

[GOP_Lady]

Yes, it’s at one of the links that I posted.

[goodnesswins]

SHAKEDOWN times!

[bossmechanic]

This just smells like more Obama style coersion. Toyota today, Ford tomorrow. Give Gov’t power to issue recalls at will - to protect the children and for the greater good./s

[WOBBLY BOB]

LaHood recommends that all owners of recalled Toyotas quit driving them and all cars and immediatley ride some choo-choo trains to save our planet.

[JennysCool]

With Obama having made himself an automotive executive, I suspect this is an effort to, as Rahm would say, “retard” the competition.

These fascists need to go.

[NormsRevenge]

LaHood.. perfect name for this jerk.

[ncfool]

Obummer to LaHoodlum. Go in to Toyota and nationalize the company. Tell them your taking it because your build a poor product and he can have the UAW take it over and straighten it out.

[Sir Gawain]

After I talk with him, they'll get it.

You Chicago thugs make me want to puke.

[Ingtar]

There is another article floating around about the acceleration occuring with no mat and no foot on the pedal. It could very well be a sofware or interference problem and thus the fix might not take care of the issue.

Still, this smacks of Uncle Obama having his hand out for more cash to spend.

[Caipirabob]

I think this is all bs hype. GM knows they can’t compete with Toyota so they’ve brought in the big protectionist guns to bring them down. I will still trust a Toyota over a gubbamint motah cah any day of the week.

[Oldexpat]

Lahood was an understudy to get along to go along Bob Michel. He had good training to be a good pawn for the Rats.