Toyota recently recalled more than two million vehicles because of a defect that can cause the gas pedal to stick. The affected models include the popular Corollas and Camrys, especially the newer ones. Some Toyota owners already edgy about the problem, might have become even more nervous Wednesday. U. S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood advised them to stop driving their cars until they’re repaired. WUWM’s Marti Mikkelson was visiting a dealer when the warning was issued.
It was late morning at Andrew Toyota in Glendale. Kimberly Waters had brought in her 2007 Camry for an oil change. While we were talking, U. S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood advised the owners of recalled Toyotas to stop driving them until they’re repaired. Waters was taken aback.
“I think it’s really irresponsible of him to put that out because that will cause panic and that could really mess up Toyota’s business. We’re just going to be responsible. We’re not going to take any extra trips,” Waters says.
Waters says she hasn’t received a letter from the manufacturer, but the service department just informed her that her car is part of the recall.
“But my car, I haven’t had any problems with it whatsoever. No brake problems, no acceleration problems, nothing,” Waters says.
Yet as a precaution, Waters says she plans to drive the car sparingly between now and Monday, when she’ll bring in her vehicle for the repair Toyota is making.
By the time I caught up with K. C. Han, the general manager at Andrew Toyota, America’s transportation secretary had recanted his advice. Instead of advising Toyota owners to stop driving their autos, he says they should take them to a dealer for repair. General Manager Han seemed relieved; he had already received calls from a couple dozen concerned customers. That was the biggest flurry since news of the recall first hit.
“On the first day when they announced it last week we had lots of calls. But now since more information has been out and people have heard about it, the call volume has come down quite a bit,” Han says.
Right now, the dealer is engaged in a mega sale designed to get rid of used vehicles. That’s why Peter Couto is here, hoping to get a good deal on a Pontiac Solstice convertible. He says he’s never driven a Toyota, but would consider purchasing one at some point, despite the recall.
“Most people can rely on them. I’ve heard very good reviews about Toyota cars. It’s definitely a car that you can trust,” Cuoto says.
Cuoto is confident Toyota’s problems will blow over. But not everyone is convinced. Next door at Heiser Ford, Jim Balagna is having his pickup truck serviced. He says he’d never buy a Toyota.
“Well just because of the problems. Now we find out we’ve got a brake problem in addition to the gas pedal problem. I don’t want to be driving on the road. I don’t want my wife driving on the road. It’s as simple as that,” Balagna says.
Balagna says what it really comes down to for him is his loyalty to American made cars such as Ford and the now phased-out Oldsmobile.
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