Nonstopdrivel
15 years ago

Toyota problems minor when recalling past recalls 

Posted by: Hardie on February 9, 2010 at 5:20PM EST

Is it just me or have we gone completely overboard with the recalls involving Toyotas?
I am certainly not making light of the safety concerns of a sticky accelerator or dodgy brakes, but youd think this was one of the worst auto recalls ever.
For the sake of transparency, I drive a Toyota model sort of. My car is a 1999 Chevrolet Prizm, which up until 2002 was made in the same plant that the Toyota Corolla was made. It was basically a Toyota car with a Chevy nameplate with a cheaper price tag. That year is not involved in the latest recall dare I say yet?
The latest Toyota recall seems to grow in numbers each day, but the last count was more than 8 million cars worldwide. That seems like a lot, but it pales in comparison the No. 1 recall of all time issued by Ford in 2008 (according to www.mylemon.com) that affected 12 million vehicles made in the U.S. from 1993 to 2004. That recall was for a faulty cruise control switch that caused vehicles to catch fire even hours after the vehicle had been parked.
Ford also has the dubious distinction to be No. 2 on the domestic recall list with 8.6 million vehicles in 1996 covering fires caused by faulty ignition systems on many of its 1988-93 cars.
Remember the Pinto!
UserPostedImage
Fords and fires seem to be a recurring theme. How can we forget about the flaming fireball known as the Ford Pinto or the Mercury Bobcat? That 1978 recall was to fix fuel tank design defects that could cause a fire with rear-end collisions. How many of you recall the funny Pinto (Pinto crash) scene in the otherwise unforgettable 1984 movie Top Secret?
UserPostedImage
GM has not escaped unscathed. In 1971 it recalled 6.7 million vehicles because the engine mounts began separating from the frames and falling back onto throttles. Sort of makes a stuck accelerator pale in comparison.
GM also recalled 5.8 million vehicles in 1981 because suspension bolts loosened causing the loss of steering.
Ive driven two Pintos, a Bobcat and multiple Ford and GM vehicles subject to these recalls. Some of them were fixed. Others were not. I didnt feel any less safe or safer.
Lets face it. When you drive a car, you inherit risk. There is no vehicle that is 100 percent absolutely safe, especially when you factor in human error.
I also think that society in general enjoys when the top dog gets humbled. Perhaps thats the reason were paying so much attention to the Toyota troubles because there are some who revel in a sad sort of way that the company that was known for reliability is having some problems.
I think we have far more serious problems to contemplate than sticky accelerators just throw the vehicle in neutral and stomp on the brake. Of course some of the vehicles Ive driven over the years didnt have brakes at times, so Im probably not the person to ask.

Chris Hardie is the River Valley Newspaper Group executive editor. He started his journalism career in 1983 with the La Crosse Tribune and has worked in a variety of newsroom positions, collecting more than two dozen state and national journalism awards. Chris grew up on a dairy farm in rural Jackson County, where he now resides. Chris and his wife Sherry, married for 26-plus years with two grown children, live in the farmhouse built by his great-grandparents, where they also operate Brambleberry Bed and Breakfast. They also raise sheep, pigs, chickens and organic fruits and vegetables, along with enjoying fine wines. Chris finds therapy when he's digging in the dirt, walking in the woods or just sitting on the porch watching the sun slip beneath the horizon.


UserPostedImage
Packerchick
15 years ago
Pintos are the ugliest cars one could ever own.
I am a woman and I love football.
dfosterf
15 years ago
When I was 17 a co-worker begged me to help him install a header on his Pinto.

37 years later and I'm still laughing at his dumb ass. I've owned riding mowers with a more intimidating resonance.
Nonstopdrivel
15 years ago
That made me laugh out loud. I've never understood the point of headers. I like my cars whisper quiet, so I can't even hear them when I'm cruising down the Interstate at 85 miles per hour.

I loved my Honda Accord (though Accords get bad marks from Consumer Reports for being louder than average), but the thing I hated about it was that the dumbass kid who'd owned it prior to me had put some sort of sporty header on the exhaust, so that thing roared like a man with fireass after a night of eating too many hotwings. It drove me nuts driving down the highway.

Nah, give 'em to me soft and quiet.
UserPostedImage
zombieslayer
15 years ago
Yeah, whatever. That was then. This is now.

Fords aren't accelerating off cliffs in 2010. Toyota's are.

The writer's an idiot. I got 272k miles out of my Ford before the trannie went out and I junked it. Wonderful car.
My man Donald Driver
UserPostedImage
(thanks to Pack93z for the pic)
2010 will be seen as the beginning of the new Packers dynasty. 🇹🇹 🇲🇲 🇦🇷
Nonstopdrivel
15 years ago
I don't think the writer is an idiot. I do agree the blog is poorly written (ironic, since he's listed as "executive editor").
UserPostedImage
dfosterf
15 years ago
LOL

I told you the Ford people are a touchy lot...

LOL
Nonstopdrivel
15 years ago
By the way, Foster, I love your Latin sig.
UserPostedImage
dfosterf
15 years ago

By the way, Foster, I love your Latin sig.

"Nonstopdrivel" wrote:



::wink:
Formo
15 years ago
I know Foster and 93z are GM/Chevy guys (at least, anti-Ford guys).. But I'm with Zombie on this 'debate'.

What put me over the edge you ask? Ford was the ONE major motor company that DIDN'T get/ask for a bail out. Also, GM's owned by the gov'ment. No thanks, even if it breaks down a bit more often, I'll take a Ford over a GM ANY day. ... lol Says the guy that drives a '98 Chevy Cavalier. lol
UserPostedImage
Thanks to TheViking88 for the sig!!
Fan Shout
dfosterf (17h) : Make sure to send my props to him! A plus move!
Zero2Cool (19h) : My cousin, yes.
dfosterf (19h) : That was your brother the GB press gazette referenced with the red cross draft props thing, yes?
Zero2Cool (2-Jul) : Packers gonna unveil new throwback helmet in few weeks.
Mucky Tundra (2-Jul) : I know it's Kleiman but this stuff writes itself
Mucky Tundra (2-Jul) : "Make sure she signs the NDA before asking for a Happy Ending!"
Mucky Tundra (2-Jul) : @NFL_DovKleiman Powerful: Deshaun Watson is taking Shedeur Sanders 'under his wing' as a mentor to the Browns QBs
Zero2Cool (30-Jun) : Dolphins get (back) Minkah Fitzpatrick in trade
Zero2Cool (30-Jun) : Steelers land Jalen Ramsey via Trade
dfosterf (26-Jun) : I think it would be great to have someone like Tom Grossi or Andy Herman on the Board of Directors so he/they could inform us
dfosterf (26-Jun) : Fair enough, WPR. Thing is, I have been a long time advocate to at least have some inkling of the dynamics within the board.
wpr (26-Jun) : 1st world owners/stockholders problems dfosterf.
Martha Careful (25-Jun) : I would have otherwise admirably served
dfosterf (25-Jun) : Also, no more provision for a write-in candidate, so Martha is off the table at least for this year
dfosterf (25-Jun) : You do have to interpret the boring fine print, but all stockholders all see he is on the ballot
dfosterf (25-Jun) : It also says he is subject to another ballot in 2028. I recall nothing of this nature with Murphy
dfosterf (25-Jun) : Ed Policy is on my ballot subject to me penciling him in as a no.
dfosterf (25-Jun) : I thought it used to be we voted for the whatever they called the 45, and then they voted for the seven, and then they voted for Mark Murphy
dfosterf (25-Jun) : Because I was too lazy to change my address, I haven't voted fot years until this year
dfosterf (25-Jun) : of the folks that run this team. I do not recall Mark Murphy being subject to our vote.
dfosterf (25-Jun) : Ed Policy yay or nay is on the pre-approved ballot that we always approve because we are uninformed and lazy, along with all the rest
dfosterf (25-Jun) : Weird question. Very esoteric. For stockholders. Also lengthy. Sorry. Offseason.
Zero2Cool (25-Jun) : Maybe wicked wind chill made it worse?
Mucky Tundra (25-Jun) : And then he signs with Cleveland in the offseason
Mucky Tundra (25-Jun) : @SharpFootball WR Diontae Johnson just admitted he refused to enter a game in 41° weather last year in Baltimore because he felt “ice cold”
Zero2Cool (24-Jun) : Yawn. Rodgers says he is "pretty sure" this be final season.
Zero2Cool (23-Jun) : PFT claims Packers are having extension talks with Zach Tom, Quay Walker.
Mucky Tundra (20-Jun) : GB-Minnesota 2004 Wild Card game popped up on my YouTube page....UGH
beast (20-Jun) : Hmm 🤔 re-signing Walker before Tom? Sounds highly questionable to me.
Mucky Tundra (19-Jun) : One person on Twitter=cannon law
Zero2Cool (19-Jun) : Well, to ONE person on Tweeter
Zero2Cool (19-Jun) : According to Tweeter
Zero2Cool (19-Jun) : Packers are working on extension for LT Walker they hope to have done before camp
dfosterf (18-Jun) : E4B landed at Andrews last night
dfosterf (18-Jun) : 101 in a 60
dfosterf (18-Jun) : FAFO
Zero2Cool (18-Jun) : one year $4m with incentives to make it up to $6m
dfosterf (18-Jun) : Or Lions
dfosterf (18-Jun) : Beats the hell out of a Vikings signing
Zero2Cool (18-Jun) : Baltimore Ravens now have signed former Packers CB Jaire Alexander.
dfosterf (14-Jun) : TWO magnificent strikes for touchdowns. Lose the pennstate semigeezer non nfl backup
dfosterf (14-Jun) : There was minicamp Thursday. My man Taylor Engersma threw
dfosterf (11-Jun) : There will be a mini camp practice Thursday.
Zero2Cool (11-Jun) : He's been sporting a ring for a while now. It's probably Madonna.
Martha Careful (10-Jun) : We only do the tea before whoopee, it relaxes me.
wpr (10-Jun) : That's awesome Martha.
Mucky Tundra (10-Jun) : How's the ayahuasca tea he makes, Martha?
Martha Careful (10-Jun) : Turns out he like older women
Martha Careful (10-Jun) : I wasn't supposed to say anything, but yes the word is out and we are happy 😂😂😂
Mucky Tundra (10-Jun) : I might be late on this but Aaron Rodgers is now married
Please sign in to use Fan Shout
2025 Packers Schedule
Sunday, Sep 7 @ 3:25 PM
LIONS
Thursday, Sep 11 @ 7:15 PM
COMMANDERS
Sunday, Sep 21 @ 12:00 PM
Browns
Sunday, Sep 28 @ 7:20 PM
Cowboys
Sunday, Oct 12 @ 3:25 PM
BENGALS
Sunday, Oct 19 @ 3:25 PM
Cardinals
Sunday, Oct 26 @ 7:20 PM
Steelers
Sunday, Nov 2 @ 12:00 PM
PANTHERS
Monday, Nov 10 @ 7:15 PM
EAGLES
Sunday, Nov 16 @ 12:00 PM
Giants
Sunday, Nov 23 @ 12:00 PM
VIKINGS
Thursday, Nov 27 @ 12:00 PM
Lions
Sunday, Dec 7 @ 12:00 PM
BEARS
Sunday, Dec 14 @ 3:25 PM
Broncos
Friday, Dec 19 @ 11:00 PM
Bears
Friday, Dec 26 @ 11:00 PM
RAVENS
Saturday, Jan 3 @ 11:00 PM
Vikings
Recent Topics
18h / Green Bay Packers Talk / Zero2Cool

2-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / dfosterf

2-Jul / Fantasy Sports Talk / dfosterf

1-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / wpr

29-Jun / Green Bay Packers Talk / Zero2Cool

25-Jun / Around The NFL / Martha Careful

23-Jun / Green Bay Packers Talk / Mucky Tundra

20-Jun / Green Bay Packers Talk / wpr

20-Jun / Green Bay Packers Talk / beast

20-Jun / Green Bay Packers Talk / beast

18-Jun / Random Babble / Zero2Cool

16-Jun / Green Bay Packers Talk / dfosterf

15-Jun / Random Babble / Martha Careful

14-Jun / Around The NFL / beast

14-Jun / Community Welcome! / dfosterf

Headlines
Copyright © 2006 - 2025 PackersHome.com™. All Rights Reserved.