May 19, 2010
This is Toyota Fast Facts, an update on breaking news, our recent recalls
and the work we are doing to make things right for our customers. Please
feel free to share this information with family and friends. For
additional information and breaking news, please visit
www.toyotanewsroom.com.
1. Jim Lentz to Congress: Toyota Making ‘Substantial Progress’ on Safety
Commitments
Toyota is making “substantial progress” on its safety commitments by moving
faster on recalls, fixing nearly 3.5 million cars and adding even more
advanced safety technology to its cars, TMS President Jim Lentz will tell
Congress tomorrow during a hearing on the Toyota recalls. “We are taking
major steps to become a more responsive, safety-focused organization.”
Lentz says in his prepared testimony, “We are listening more closely to our
customers, responding more quickly to their concerns and those of our
regulators, and taking concrete actions to ensure that we are among the
industry’s leaders in safety.” Lentz is scheduled to testify before the
House of Representatives’ Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations
tomorrow at 10:00 am ET.
To read his complete testimony and find out more details on our progress,
visit:
http://pressroom.toyota.com/pr/tms/written-testimony-of-james-lentz-158931.aspx
2. Toyota Prepares to Recall a Limited Number of Lexus LS Sedans
Toyota announced today that it is recalling 11,500 Lexus LS sedans
worldwide to fix a computerized steering problem. In an effort to be more
responsive to consumers, the company said it was taking the action after
receiving about a dozen customer complaints in Japan with no reports of
accidents or injuries resulting from the issue. It plans to recall
approximately 4,500 vehicles in Japan and approximately 7,000 vehicles in
the United States, Europe and China combined. The computerized system,
known as Variable Gear Ratio Steering (VGRS), varies the amount that the
steering wheel turns the tires, allowing drivers to turn the wheel less at
low speeds when attempting to park in tight spots and providing finer
control at high speeds. The company said the VGRS system can exhibit a
temporary steering wheel off-center position under certain conditions, but
corrects itself within a few seconds as the vehicle is driven.
In the United States, Toyota issued a statement saying it is aware of the
situation and is making preparations to file a recall notice with local
authorities on Friday, May 21.
To read more on the recall, visit:
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AS_JAPAN_TOYOTA_RECALL?SITE=MABED&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT
.
To read Toyota’s U.S. response, visit:
http://pressroom.toyota.com/pr/tms/lexus/reports-regarding-certain-2010-158927.aspx
3. Suspicious Packages Received at Toyota Plants Under Investigation
The FBI and local police are investigating four suspicious packages that
were sent to Toyota U.S. plants during the past several days, but contained
no threatening materials upon examination.
Some media reports have referred to the incidents as “bomb hoaxes”, but in
reality, the packages were simply unusual in appearance, according to a
Toyota spokesperson. Toyota facilities in Erlanger, KY, Buffalo, WV, San
Antonio, TX and Princeton, IN, received the packages. In all four cases,
Toyota’s internal security measures isolated the packages until their
contents could be determined.
To read more about the incidents, visit:
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE64H6JY20100518.
4. Toyota Pays NHTSA Penalty Agreed to in April
Toyota Tuesday paid the $16.4 million penalty it had agreed to in April to
settle a demand made by NHTSA regarding the company’s recall for
slow-to-return or sticking accelerator pedals. The company said it paid the
fine to avoid a protracted dispute and possible litigation, but has denied
any wrongdoing in the matter.
The company also noted at the time, “We believe we made a good faith effort
to investigate this condition and develop an appropriate counter-measure.
We have acknowledged that we could have done a better job of sharing
relevant information within our global operations and outside the company,
but we did not try to hide a defect to avoid dealing with a safety
problem.”
A report on this development from the Detroit News is available at
http://detroitnews.com/article/20100518/AUTO01/5180405/Toyota-agrees-to-maximum-NHTSA-fine#ixzz0oImJMPhJ
.
![]()
This is Toyota Fast Facts, an update on breaking news, our recent recalls
and the work we are doing to make things right for our customers. Please
feel free to share this information with family and friends. For
additional information and breaking news, please visit
www.toyotanewsroom.com.
1. Jim Lentz to Congress: Toyota Making ‘Substantial Progress’ on Safety
Commitments
Toyota is making “substantial progress” on its safety commitments by moving
faster on recalls, fixing nearly 3.5 million cars and adding even more
advanced safety technology to its cars, TMS President Jim Lentz will tell
Congress tomorrow during a hearing on the Toyota recalls. “We are taking
major steps to become a more responsive, safety-focused organization.”
Lentz says in his prepared testimony, “We are listening more closely to our
customers, responding more quickly to their concerns and those of our
regulators, and taking concrete actions to ensure that we are among the
industry’s leaders in safety.” Lentz is scheduled to testify before the
House of Representatives’ Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations
tomorrow at 10:00 am ET.
To read his complete testimony and find out more details on our progress,
visit:
http://pressroom.toyota.com/pr/tms/written-testimony-of-james-lentz-158931.aspx
2. Toyota Prepares to Recall a Limited Number of Lexus LS Sedans
Toyota announced today that it is recalling 11,500 Lexus LS sedans
worldwide to fix a computerized steering problem. In an effort to be more
responsive to consumers, the company said it was taking the action after
receiving about a dozen customer complaints in Japan with no reports of
accidents or injuries resulting from the issue. It plans to recall
approximately 4,500 vehicles in Japan and approximately 7,000 vehicles in
the United States, Europe and China combined. The computerized system,
known as Variable Gear Ratio Steering (VGRS), varies the amount that the
steering wheel turns the tires, allowing drivers to turn the wheel less at
low speeds when attempting to park in tight spots and providing finer
control at high speeds. The company said the VGRS system can exhibit a
temporary steering wheel off-center position under certain conditions, but
corrects itself within a few seconds as the vehicle is driven.
In the United States, Toyota issued a statement saying it is aware of the
situation and is making preparations to file a recall notice with local
authorities on Friday, May 21.
To read more on the recall, visit:
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AS_JAPAN_TOYOTA_RECALL?SITE=MABED&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT
.
To read Toyota’s U.S. response, visit:
http://pressroom.toyota.com/pr/tms/lexus/reports-regarding-certain-2010-158927.aspx
3. Suspicious Packages Received at Toyota Plants Under Investigation
The FBI and local police are investigating four suspicious packages that
were sent to Toyota U.S. plants during the past several days, but contained
no threatening materials upon examination.
Some media reports have referred to the incidents as “bomb hoaxes”, but in
reality, the packages were simply unusual in appearance, according to a
Toyota spokesperson. Toyota facilities in Erlanger, KY, Buffalo, WV, San
Antonio, TX and Princeton, IN, received the packages. In all four cases,
Toyota’s internal security measures isolated the packages until their
contents could be determined.
To read more about the incidents, visit:
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE64H6JY20100518.
4. Toyota Pays NHTSA Penalty Agreed to in April
Toyota Tuesday paid the $16.4 million penalty it had agreed to in April to
settle a demand made by NHTSA regarding the company’s recall for
slow-to-return or sticking accelerator pedals. The company said it paid the
fine to avoid a protracted dispute and possible litigation, but has denied
any wrongdoing in the matter.
The company also noted at the time, “We believe we made a good faith effort
to investigate this condition and develop an appropriate counter-measure.
We have acknowledged that we could have done a better job of sharing
relevant information within our global operations and outside the company,
but we did not try to hide a defect to avoid dealing with a safety
problem.”
A report on this development from the Detroit News is available at
http://detroitnews.com/article/20100518/AUTO01/5180405/Toyota-agrees-to-maximum-NHTSA-fine#ixzz0oImJMPhJ
.
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