Toyota's Recalled European Models Revealed, Includes Made-In-Japan Models
Toyota’s recall of 2m vehicles in Europe isn’t doing much to clarify the chaos surrounding the unintended acceleration panic that is enveloping the company. Eight models are being removed from Europe’s roads, including Auris, Avensis, Aygo, Corolla, iQ, RAV4, Verso and Yaris. The fact that two of these models (iQ and RAV4) are built exclusively in Japan (European Corollas are built in Japan and South Africa), seems to suggest that the problem is not limited to gas pedal assemblies supplied by CTS, which has been blamed for the US recall. The other models are built in France (Yaris), Turkey (Auris, Verso), the Czech Republic (Aygo) and the UK (Avensis, Auris). According to Automotive News [sub], the recall affects these models built between Feb. 2005 and this month, even though
Toyota lengthened the arm of the friction lever and changed its materials on all vehicles produced in Europe using the subject accelerator pedals starting in mid-August 2009
Curiouser and curiouser…
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My co-worker just bought a 2010 RAV4, but when inquiring about the recall, her dealer informed her that her car was manufactured in Japan (according to the VIN) and does not have the faulty pedal. I guess the Euro RAV4 made in Japan differs from the sold-in-U.S. RAV4 made in Japan.
The Toyota folks didn't wake up one day and say "there's an accelerator pedal problem". And then wake up the next day and say "here's the fix". It's a complicated problem and the solution involves careful investigation and solutions. It's an unfair characterization to say "it's one of those d*mn American vendors". Rushing to a solution that will cost millions of dollars which may not fix the problem or even cause different problems will not be productive. The "Ford-Firestone divorce" is one way to solve that problem from a public relations standpoint. "We got rid of the bad folks". But you'd better actually fix the problem - like Mr. Ford don't endorse very low tire pressures to improve the ride of your Explorer truck.
With the Matrix on the recall list, where does this put it's (NUMMI built) platform sibling, the Pontiac Vibe?
Does the Corolla part of the recall include the Corolla Rumion (wagon)? 2008-2010 Scion xB owners might be interested in that information...