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| Toyota Recall | |
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| Topic Started: Feb 1 2010, 03:51 PM (474 Views) | |
| Steve Wilson | Feb 1 2010, 03:51 PM Post #1 |
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The unprecedented recall and "stop sale" of Toyota automobiles has many crisis management specialists scratching their heads. Is this - as USA Today hinted a few days ago - a spectacular move that outdoes the legendary action by Tylenol...or did they act too slow? Toyota President Jim Lentz was grilled February 1 by the media in a round of morning talk shows. On the Today Show, the questions seemed to center around guaranteeing owners of Toyotas that the cars would be fixed and why didn't Toyota act more quickly. Lentz certainly had been coached for the interviews and got his message across clearly. USA Today even quoted him on saying that he and his family drive Toyota cars and he wouldn't do that if he wasn't sure they were safe. Meanwhile, the verdict is still out on whether Toyota was quick enough and deliberate enough in fixing the problem. For more on the story, click here: http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/26184891/vp/35168622#35179161 |
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| CrisisMan | Feb 2 2010, 03:37 PM Post #2 |
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No matter how the public eventually judges Toyota's action on fixing the accelerator problem, it's going to cost them a bundle. Analysts are estimated the recalls will cost about $900 million with lost sales adding another $155 million per week. In addition to Toyota's PR campaign, headed by U.S. President Jim Lentz, they ran full-page ads in major newspapers today telling customers how they could fix the problem. I guess the old adage, "The bigger they are, the harder they fall," seems to be true. # 1 auto maker = # 1 crisis. |
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| Allison Combs | Feb 4 2010, 02:35 PM Post #3 |
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Sounds as if Toyota's problems just get worse with time. As they're trying to implement the fix, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood tells a congressional committee that people shouldn't drive Toyota cars until they're fixed. THEN, Toyota admits the popular 2010 Prius has had brake problems that Toyota knew about, but didn't tell owners. The good news, if there is any, is that both Ford and GM seem to be benefiting from Toyota's grief. As for Toyota, I wouldn't count them out just yet. |
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| Dstevens | Feb 9 2010, 05:56 PM Post #4 |
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It just keeps getting worse. I was renting a car from Hertz this week and noticed that Hertz is telling its customers they don't have to rent a Toyota if they don't want to. Hertz also said it is expanding its fleet to cover all the Toyotas that they aren't renting. On top of that, I saw where Toyota's top dog in Japan was basically ripped apart by the Japanese media for acting too slow in recalling bad cars. How many cars are involved with the three recalls now, anyway? I think this is one crisis where all the PR wizards in the world are going to have a difficult time making people want to buy Toyota's again. |
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| Dstevens | Feb 11 2010, 10:44 PM Post #5 |
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It's interesting, but Honda is now getting high fives for the way it's handling its airbag recall. I'm not sure, but I'd have to think they were worried about becoming another "Toyota." |
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8:41 PM Sep 3
