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January 31, 2010 - February 6, 2010 Archives
Toyota chief apologizes for global recalls
TOKYO -- Toyota's president apologized Friday for the massive global recalls over sticking gas pedals as the automaker scrambles to repair a damaged reputation and sliding sales, according to The Associated Press. But Akio Toyoda, appointed to the top job...
February 5, 2010 1:07 pm
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How Toyota Can Find Its Way Back
Toyota is scrambling to fix 4.2 million vehicles recalled worldwide for unintended acceleration and potentially 5 million more for a design flaw that trapped gas pedals under the floor mat. It is also mulling the recall of its 2010 Prius...
February 5, 2010 6:24 am
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U.S. Starts Inquiry Into Brake Problems on Prius
Safety regulators in Washington said Thursday that they would open an investigation into the brakes on the 2010 Prius, which had been spared from the recall lists, according to The New York Times. The announcement was made hours after Toyota...
February 5, 2010 6:22 am
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Answers to Questions About Prius and the Toyota Recalls
Here are some answers from The New York Times to questions about the recent problems at Toyota:...
February 5, 2010 6:17 am
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In a Prius Preserve, Shaken Fans
SAN FRANCISCO -- Here in the country's environmental hotbed, where plastic bags are banned, composting is mandatory, and even some Yellow Cabs run green, Thursday will dawn with at least eight fewer Toyota Priuses -- the eco-friendly status symbol of...
February 5, 2010 6:14 am
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Prius Adds to Toyota's Woes as Stock Drops in Tokyo
The hybrid-electric Prius has long been Toyota's "green car," the symbol of the automaker's engineering prowess and its big bet on the kind of car consumers will want to buy for decades to come. But on Wednesday, the Prius was...
February 5, 2010 6:09 am
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Toyota Considers Prius Recall for Brake Problem
TOKYO -- Toyota officials in Japan said Friday that they were considering a recall of the 2010 Prius hybrid because of a flaw in the car's anti-lock braking system, according to The New York Times. The company is also looking...
February 5, 2010 6:05 am
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Toyota CEO to speak on quality woes
Toyota President Akio Toyoda will speak about quality control Friday in his first - and long awaited - news conference since the automaker announced massive global recalls last month, according to The Associated Press. Criticism has been growing that Toyoda,...
February 5, 2010 5:59 am
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Backseat Driver: When it rains for Toyota, it pours
No sooner did Toyota dealers start fixing the faulty accelerator pedals that have proved deadly in a number of accidents, but it emerged that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration had received about 100 complaints about brake problems with the...
February 4, 2010 11:00 am
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Toyota says Prius had brake design problems
This excellent Associated Press story covers all bases in the Toyota recall story: TOKYO -- Toyota acknowledged that is has begun fixing problems with the brakes in its prized Prius, but remains undecided about a recall, adding to the catalog...
February 4, 2010 9:45 am
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At Toyota dealer, the fix is in (it's not that hard) / Video
By News staff Providence Journal photo / Andrew Dickerman A small piece of steel inserted into the pedal assembly corrects the accelerator problem prompting the Toyota recall, Toyota says. WARWICK, R.I. -- The parts arrived Thursday morning, and Balise Toyota...
February 3, 2010 4:26 pm
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Backseat Driver: Volkswagen on Toyota's tail
Volkswagen AG has big ambitions. Let's hope they do not lead it down the path that Toyota has recently been forced to take after quality issues forced a massive recall of vehicles with faulty accelerator pedals. What's the connection? It...
February 3, 2010 3:56 pm
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Backseat Driver: What made Bob Tasca Sr. run?
I got an insight into the inner workings of the late Bob Tasca Sr. recently when I ran into his grandson Carl Tasca Jr. at the Northeast International Auto Show in Providence. He told a couple of telling stories, one...
February 3, 2010 3:56 pm
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Toyota probe deepens amid confusion over risk
WASHINGTON -- Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood told Toyota owners Wednesday they should stop driving their vehicles, then quickly took back his words, adding to confusion over the safety of millions of recalled cars, according to The Associated Press. Toyota, for...
February 3, 2010 3:56 pm
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LaHood says he misspoke on advice to Toyota owners
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood now says he misspoke when telling owners of recalled Toyotas to stop driving then, according to The Associated Press. Instead, LaHood says take them to dealerships to get them repaired. LaHood told reporters it was "obviously...
February 3, 2010 1:36 pm
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Toyota pays dealers up to $75,000 for longer hours
Toyota is giving U.S. dealers payments of up to $75,000 to help win back customers' trust in the wake of a massive safety recall, according to The Associated Press. In a letter obtained by The Associated Press, Toyota group vice...
February 3, 2010 12:31 pm
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Toyota gets more than 100 Prius brake complaints
TOKYO -- Toyota has been hit by more than 100 complaints in the United States and Japan about brake problems with the popular Prius hybrid, the latest in a spate of quality troubles for the automaker as it grapples with...
February 3, 2010 9:42 am
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GM January sales rise 14 percent; Toyota sales drop
Toyota's car sales fell 16 percent in January, a month they recalled millions of vehicles and halted sales of several models, according to The Associated Press. Most other automakers reported higher sales, a sign they may be benefiting from Toyota's...
February 2, 2010 2:53 pm
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AP Interview: LaHood says Toyota slow to respond
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood says Toyota was slow to realize safety problems with its gas pedals that has led to the recall of millions of popular Toyota brands, according to The Associated Press. LaHood tells The Associated Press that Toyota...
February 2, 2010 12:42 pm
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Ford Jan. sales up 25 percent, helped by Toyota recall
Ford's sales rose 25 percent in January, buoyed by a stronger economy and Toyota's decision to halt U.S. sales of eight popular models because of faulty gas pedal systems, according to The Associated Press. Ford said Tuesday car sales rose...
February 2, 2010 12:38 pm
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Toyota seeks 100 percent owner response to recall notice
LOS ANGELES -- Toyota Motor Corp., spurred by criticism that previous recalls failed to prompt enough owners to seek fixes, hopes to distribute mailings this week to the 2.3 million owners targeted in a January recall, according to Automotive News....
February 2, 2010 10:17 am
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Backseat Driver: Toyota struggles with crisis
If the head of Toyota's North American sales intended to put consumers' minds at rest by appearing on NBC's Today Show this morning, he did not convince me. Jim Lentz, president and CEO of Toyota Motor Sales, who appeared to...
February 1, 2010 1:18 pm
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Toyota tells dealers parts on way to fix pedals
Toyota said Monday its dealers should get parts to fix a sticky gas pedal problem by the end of this week as the automaker apologized to customers and tried to bring an end to a recall that has affected 4.2...
February 1, 2010 10:40 am
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