Toyota pledges to take safety 'to the next level'

Ok, but please not skip text level and test level, clear legal obligations first and then move to next level ! Good Luck !

Actually Toyota needs to take Compliance to the very first level. It's not safety but compliance that is the issue here and not a single word has been mentioned about it on both sides of the Pacific.

This constant announcements of Toyota sound like whistle through the graveyard.

Just stopping by to commend Mr Toyoda for his becoming directly involved in the matters here. We drag the highest executives from American industry in front of Congress. I think that Mr. Toyoda is genuinely embarrassed and sincere.

Toyota pledges to take safety 'to the next level'

What is the next level after "faulty" ?

I think that Mr. Toyoda is genuinely embarrassed and sincere.

And visibly incompetent to handle the situation professionally. Just compare him and the Ford CEO after their waterloo, or Mercedes as their A-Class tipped over. That is how professionals act and react. They do not hide and whine.

Toyota is doing the right thing. Toyota's planned changes in added safety features will definitely add the cost to the consumers. The new safety features will lower the risk of loss occurring as a result of a car accident or malfunction of electrical or mechanical causes. Having a car that is with additional new safety features, such as automatic fuel shut off sensor or built to better withstand the impact of a car crash will save more lives. When a vehicle passes the rigorous safety testing performed by the IIHS and NHTSA with a good rating, this a good measure for consumers of the relative safety of the vehicle.

kyoken at 12:31 AM JST - 27th February. And visibly incompetent to handle the situation professionally. Just compare him and the Ford CEO after their waterloo

A joke. Where was Bill Ford, the CEO of Ford during the congressional hearing for Ford Explorer that killed almost 200? Hiding? Who was actually imcompetent? History shows otherwise.

Ford and Toyota investigations have similarities. During the time of Ford Explorer rollover investigation, In Ford's case, it was Chairman William "Bill" Clay Ford, the great-grandson of Henry Ford, who took over as president and CEO in 2001. At Toyota, Akio Toyoda, grandson of founder Kiichiro Toyoda became CEO in July, 2009.

Ford erred by offering to send company vice presidents rather than the CEO adding that Ford reversed its decision barely a day later amid "blistering criticism" from Congress and others. At least Mr. Akio Toyoda had guts to be there. Bill Ford, where was he?

sfjp330: When a vehicle passes the rigorous safety testing performed by the IIHS and NHTSA with a good rating...

Excuse me but where did you get this from? What tests safety tests are you talking about? You're guessing this aren't you? The IIHS only crashes vehicles for cost of repair analysis. They asses the cost to any of their insurance providers how much it'll cost to repair a wrecked vehicle using original manufacturer parts and service. They don't give a hoot about safety. If the 5 mph crash to the rear bumper costs an arm and a leg to fix then the vehicle gets a negative 'rating'. The rating only means - "If you buy this car expect to have to fork out big bucks on your insurance premiums because there's no way we're going to pay fifteen hundred bucks to straighten out a plastic bumper...." The NHTSA doesn't test the vehicles unless there's a question about safety after the vehicle has been homologated. Do you understand vehicle homologation in the US? If you did you wouldn't be saying the crazy stuff you're saying. Toyota has taken advantage of US consumers misconception of the auto industry. This explains why so many people are standing behind Toyota now. If only a one half of a degree clearer picture of the industry had been painted for them to see this entire mess would never have gone past 1998.

sfjp330: On and to answer your Bill Ford question. Jack Nasser was boss at the time. And he didn't answer because Ford told him not to say anything because Firestone's name had to be protected. Remember that Hatoyama's mother's company was the tire maker that caused the trouble.

unscejects: Mostly, NHTSA crashes vehicles into a flat surface, the IIHS uses a more realistic off-set crash barrier to simulate a vehicle colliding with oncoming traffic. The IIHS goes one step beyond the NHTSA and rates vehicles for rear crash protection as well. The test measures the safety of a car’s seat in the event of a rear-end collision. Every year, the IIHS releases a list of Top Safety Picks to signify which cars have scored high in all categories of occupant protection.

unscrejects at 02:06 PM JST - 27th February On and to answer your Bill Ford question. Jack Nasser was boss at the time. And he didn't answer because Ford told him not to say anything because Firestone's name had to be protected. Remember that Hatoyama's mother's company was the tire maker that caused the trouble.

Really, Who hired him? Ford family owned 40 percent of the company at the time and you're blaming on Nasser and not the Ford family? This is a Joke. Maybe that is the reason why Ford removed Nasser in October 2001. The family had serious disagreements with Nasser over his personnel evaluation methods and the resulting employee lawsuits.

Regarding Explorer, Ford Engineers didn't follow Firestone tire pressure recommendation. Firestone Engineers emphasized the importance of maintaining proper inflation pressure. Firestone recommended a pressure of 30+ psi, whereas Ford Engineers recommended a range of 26psi. Ford Engineers claimed its tests showed the tire performed well at 26 psi and that the lower pressure made for a smoother ride. However, Firestone claimed underinflation could put too much pressure on the tire, contributing to a higher temperature and causing the belts to separate, which resulted in over 200 deaths.

sfjp - Ford was only brought back into the firm when a board revolt booted out Nasser and his other foreign execs - the Brits and Aussies had taken over Ford. You don't know the company do you? The family believed Firestone couldn't have cheated on the tyres. But the truth was that major fraud had occurred. In fact Firestone had died ten years before and the name sold to Bridgestone which figured it would be easier to enter Detriot through a US front brand name. Venezulea produced the evidence for Nasser - fellow Lebanese people down there had personally proven the fraud - five ply tires with three ply etc... ANd there was no pressure problem. The tires were monsterously dangerous. Saudi Arabia, Malaysia and Venezuela uncovered the Bridgestone scam. I'm really surprised that you have no idea about this - I was a field quality assurance consultant during the crisis. We (Ford and Mazda) were struggling to contain the fallout a full two years before the Ford family would allow the name Firestone to be mentioned! Remember Harvey Firestone's daughter was Edsel's mother. Look at the pictures of the trouble tyres and see for yourself. Take a look at the cut-away samples that prove material defecancy - wire banding, nylon and rubber all missing to save Bridgestone costs. And the tyre maker had actually falsely written the wrong size on the tyre moulds. This was fraud. But Ford helped Bridgestone to beat the rap. Infact Ford stupidly took the fall for it. Just like Toyota is taking the fall for the yet unmentioned part maker.