Toyota US production halted amid recall sales slump

By Matt Brogan | February 17th, 2010

Following Toyota’s recent recalls, the manufacturer has today announced that it will be idling two of its US plants to “better align current demand with market supply”.

The two plants, located in the US states of Texas and Kentucky, has been running on overtime until yesterday, but will be cut back to minimum operation until such time as sales improve.

The plants produce Toyota Tundra, Toyota Camry, Toyota Avalon and Toyota Venza models.

It is estimated that Toyota lost 20,000 sales in the US over the month of January as a direct result of its recalls and subsequent sales stoppage. This figure is expected to swell to in excess of 100,000 units worldwide by the end of the year.

The Oracle’s Teacher

…and so the backlash begins. It’s a great time to be involved in a rival auto maker.

Flow

I don’t know if it’s a great time to be involved in any auto maker at the moment, however Toyota are making GM look competent at this stage…

HyundaiSmoke

On that point Flow, there’s a report on Autoline Daily today stating that Toyota Owners Pick Chevy as their number 1 Alternative Brand.

Source:

Autoline Detroit dot TV.

dan

Atleast they recall unsafe cars.
Why doesnt Ford recall all the Territorys with balljoint, and brake hose failures, and Holden recall all theit vt-vz commodores with dangerous warping disks just to mention a few of the MAJOR faults that they have.

Tony M

Hey dan, what you will find is car makers like people to service their cars where they buy them. Fords at Ford service centres, Holdens at Holden service centres and guess what, Toyotas at Toyota service centres. Why? so when these car manufacturers find a fault in their cars they can be fixed, at no cost to the customer, at these centres. You don’t take your car to the right service centre and the chances are high any fault in your car will not be picked up. Every one say “Oh you just have a recall and the cars are fixed” How many sales do you think they will be lost. Toyota has already lost 20,000 in 1 month. I don’t think I need to go further. Car manufacturing is a business and you need to play a percentage game when you recall a car. Am I saying faults in cars need to be hidden? No but there needs to be better management of addressing car faults that will included all service centres.
JEKYL & HYDE

ford did a recall for the balljoint issue.it was on “today tonight” monday night.all 04-05 terries replaced for free(i think the toyota issue had a BIG hand in it)…

Andrew M

And the brake hoses were done too.
I dont know Dan thinks there is a big conspiracy against toyota

Riley

dan……because there has been no accidents or deaths from the balljoint or brake hose problems.those problems have only been detected on a very minor number of cars anyway. Ford pays for the replacement if there is a problem.
Riley

On the subject of recalling unsafe cars why dont they recall every daewoo Barina that has been sold? not to mention those chinese death traps that have just been released here………not to mention the Captiva which has steering failure.

dan

You just contradicted yourself riley.
How many of the pirus abs faults have caused accidents or deaths? Its all about prevention isnt it?

Realcars

Yes Toyota is paying a high price but in some peoples estimation their reputation has improved as a result of this.

Ford never done a recall for the rear brake hose issue,wharping discs etc etc on b series falcons and Holden never done a recall for the flat battery issue in VEs either etc etc.

Shouldn’t have to be tethered to a dealer for service to get major issues such as these rectified.Anyway the dealer will just play dumb until the warranty ends anyway.

Might consider a Toyota for my next vehicle.

Ford and Holden probably have better designs but for hassle free motoring looks like Toyota is the go.Ford and Holden just don’t get it unfortunately and will ultimately be their demise.
Riley

Realcars…..are you serious? How can their reputation be better after this cover up debacle!! People have DIED in Toyotas because of them not admitting the faults, nobody has died or been in accident because of a rare incidence of a ball joint fault or very rare worn brake hose…..and they did recall for the hose. Brake discs warp on every car nowdays. Hassle free Toyota motoring…..thats a joke. Tell my neighbor who had 3 engines in his Camry is 12 months, auto problems, brake and electrical faults…..OH what a SHAM…….Toyota !!
HyundaiSmoke

This article broght to you by, KI AHHHHHH!!! (I sung that KI AHHH part)
HyundaiSmoke

In a way I love what’s going on with Toyota but then I say, “Oh, it hurts American Factory workers in a Mini Depession Style Economy too.”
Realcars

If people have died due to this brake issue then it isn’t being reported here.

Rather a company that acknowledges a fault and fixs it rather than Ford and Holden who deny it until after the warranty lapses.

Actually with the superior warrantees on offer I might go Korean again with my next new car purchase.
Realcars

People need to put this issue into perspective. A sticky throttle and a slight braking hesitation in the Prius.If these were Ford or Holden issues u would be told”they all do that” by the service department.LOL.

How long did VE owners suffer their batteries going flat before the prob was acknowledged and then no recall.
google b series Falcon brake failures and see how many accounts of Falcons loosing their brakes. Went on for years!!!!

As drab,dull and bland as Toyotas are at least they are fixing the problem.
HyundaiSmoke

Korean is sweet, you’ll find out when you try it.
Riley

A woman in the U.S. is sueing Totota for the death of her husband when their Prius accelerated suddenly causing him to be killed in the accident.
MAL HERRICK

I OWN A 1982 XE FORD FAIRMONT, I HAVE OWNED THIS CAR FOR THE LAST 23 YEARS SHE HAS 635000 KILOMETRES ON THE CLOCK, NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS EXCEPT FOR ONE IGNITION MODULE, ONE FUEL PUMP, TWO WATER PUMPS, ONE BRAKE BOOSTER OH YES A/C COMPRESSOR AT 598000K,s PLUS THE USUAL REPLACMENT PARTS BRAKE PADS, EXHAUST SYSTEM, DRIVE BELTS ETC, NEVER HAD THE CYLINDER HEAD OFF, NEVER REPLACED A SINGLE BALL JOINT(ALL HAVE GREASE NIPPLES). NOT EVEN A UNIVERSAL JOINT REPLACED. CORRECT MAINTENANCE EVERY 6000K,s. OIL AND FILTER CHANGE EVERY 6000K,s. HAVE BEEN RUNNING DUAL FUEL FOR THE LAST 130000K,S. YES I AM A FULLY QUALIFIED MECHANIC, PLUS YEARS WORKING FOR QANTAS 747 MAINTENANCE. YES A VERY BASIC CAR, WITH NOT VERY MANY SAFTEY FEATURES, BUT WHAT A RELIABLE VEHICLE! RECALL I DONT THINK SO. OH FOR THINGS TO BE THAT SIMPLE TODAY!