Should Consumers Think Twice About Buying Any

Please “get a grip”, fellow citizens: Your lifetime chances of getting struck by lightning (one in 6250 by one estimate) are far greater than dying in a runaway Toyota. Perish the thought, but statistically, you’re probably more likely to drown (one in nearly 9,000 lifetime odds), or die from a venomous bite or sting (one in 100,000). It is true that, despite any advertising claims, individual Toyotas do not usually last a lifetime. For rough comparison though, nineteen claimed fatalities (related to unintended acceleration problems) among about 20 million Toyota/Lexus vehicles sold in the U.S. over the last ten years, will be used here for starting numbers. ( Note: The Toyota sales number in the U.S. for the multi-year period seems difficult to precisely verify, so I’m using 85% of the figure above (or 17 million vehicles) as the estimate in calculations for this article.) Update: A recent article now pegs the number of alleged (acceleration) fatalities at 52 – as publicity spreads far and wide. Each accidental death is a tragedy, of course; no one is saying otherwise. But the newer number remains very tiny compared to the vast number of Toyotas: It’s one out of about 325,000 sold in the U.S. over the last ten years. Not into statistics? Look around for a bit of anecdotal evidence of Toyota’ s ubiquity: Next time you are stuck in slow traffic, count all of the Toyota vehicles around you. Quite a few of them will likely be found in a short period. (Also note how many seem to be accelerating away uncontrollably.) Not surprising: Toyota was ranked third in U.S. car sales from 2001 into 2010. Per the pertinent scotdir.com article linked at the end of this one, consumers should always “do their homework” before buying a new vehicle. As suggested, checking government recall databases on-line is a good idea. But even such “due diligence” may not have flagged a problem in this case: Edmunds.com found that Toyota was ranked 17th (out of twenty automakers) in NHTSA complaints from 2001 through (the start of) 2010, while (it was) third in overall sales. The manufacturer thus was among the safest during the period, even if all of the acceleration cases against it (at least until very recently) are proven. However, it is also worth noting that Toyota had the most sudden-acceleration complaints (filed with NHTSA) of major automakers, for model years 2005 to 2010. (Over 1100 complaints received (about Toyota/Lexus/Scion) for those years. Again, a dangerous problem if one encounters it; but a tiny percentage of all that the manufacturer sold in the U.S. over those years.) “ Toyota: Moving Forward”? Perhaps not the best of marketing slogans given current circumstances. (“Oh, what a feeling”? Cringe-worthy too, now…) As noted, one should always try to research what one can before making a major purchase. But – given that sensible caveat – I’ll offer my qualified “no” to the topic question posed here, for now. Per above, large manufacturer Toyota has been shown to generally produce relatively safe vehicles. Consumer Reports organization of late has again ranked Toyota as a top-quality automaker. At least one recent, highly-publicized “runaway” vehicle report has now been called into question. And, though few have sympathy, some of Toyota’s sudden acceleration problems may be difficult to quickly correct. Patience may be required; modern vehicles contain complex systems. Other automakers continue to experience their own recall issues. Though again a small percentage of their total production, General Motors recently recalled 1.3 million vehicles for a power steering problem (in March, 2010). At the same time Nissan has asked for a return of about 500,000 of its vehicles, to fix faulty brake parts and certain gauges. Toyota’s current problem is serious. Many vehicles need to be inspected. The manufacturer must be honest and forthcoming with all concerned about this and other such issues. Millions will be watching how this one eventually plays out, as I also will. But overall, I’d still readily consider an affordable vehicle made by proven, quality manufacturer Toyota. The odds remain in my favor. Link to a pertinent article currently on scotdir.com, under the topic «New cars to avoid as unreliable», by the same writer: http://www.scotdir.com/items/17 19573-buying-a-reliable-new-ca r Sources used (links), if not directly linked in story above: » Commentary: Reaction to Toyota’s safety records is way over the top», by Michael Fumento, Los Angeles Times, 2010. http://www.mcclatchydc.com/201 0/03/10/90123/toyota-hysteria- reaction-to-its.html «Edmunds puts Toyota recall into marketplace percentage context», by Jeremy Korzeniewski, 2010. http://www.autoblog.com/2010/0 2/13/edmunds-puts-toyota-recal l-into-marketplace-percentage- context?icid=sphere_blogsmith_ inpage_autoblog «Hysteria Trumps Reason In Prius Acceleration Story». http://www.hybridcars.com/safe ty/hysteria-trumps-reason-priu s-acceleration-story-27481.htm l http://www.businessweek.com/au tos/autobeat/archives/2010/03/ bad_timing_gm_r.html http://www.businessweek.com/ne ws/2010-03-02/nissan-to-recall -539-864-vehicles-to-fix-brake -pedals-gauges.html Category:Home › Other • Pomegranates: A newly discovered superfood • Where did the joke why did the chicken cross the road come from and why is it funny? • Can mothers diagnosed with bipolar disorder make good parents? • Spiritual evolution of human consciousness • Tips for getting a college basketball scholarship • Living with Pseudotumor cerebri (PTC) • Caring for the caregiver • Technologys impact on society