GX 460 4/19 VSC recall (Consumer Reports "don't buy" label lifted 5/7)
04-17-10, 11:11 AM
#197
Lexus Fanatic
The effects of those measures were phenomenal. Starting around 2000, the company's global sales began growing by up to 600,000 vehicles a year, more than the annual overall volume achieved by Volvo.
Last edited by mmarshall; 04-17-10 at 11:16 AM.
04-18-10, 09:36 AM
#198
Lexus Fanatic
iTrader: (20)
Well, Paul, I don't like to use derogatory terms like "idiots", but you have to remember that CR is writing for a group of people who, in general, are not car-saavy like we are here in CAR CHAT, and can't sit down like we do and talk in detail about vehicle engineering, design, and performance. Unlike us, they generally buy the publication (or subscribe to it on-line), read it, and generally take what CR says at face value. So CR has to write up and test their vehicles in a way that is comprehensible to a wide range of people (not just car-buffs), while, at the same time, being as thorough as possible.
i mean honestly, do you really think there's big value in saying what they have about the GX460? while not perfect (no vehicle is), it's wonderful, and i'd be thrilled to drive one. would i worry about rollovers? heck, no!
While I don't always agree with their auto-test conclusions, for example, I have a lot of respect for their auto-reliability ratings and charts. They do a better job in that area, IMO, than any other publication, including J.D. Power.
thanks boss!
Just searched for "Lexus" on Google and found something which made me think...a bit tacky and questions their financial motive. They run these tests, find an issue (aha!) with no actual incidents (still, yes), then they can run ads, get subscribers off it, go on TV etc...
What a load of nonsense (the bold part). That guy has no clue what Toyota has historically been about.
No, that is NOT one of Toyota's biggest social responsibilities, and it really never has been historically. I hope this guy gets booted out of the company.
Also if Watanabe refuses to leave the company after being requested to do so by Akio, I'm sure he won't refuse if the same request is made by Shoichiro Toyoda.
This is nothing but good news in my eyes. I hope Akio continues to do what he's doing, and that these profit-focused cost-cutters wield less influence within the company.
No, that is NOT one of Toyota's biggest social responsibilities, and it really never has been historically. I hope this guy gets booted out of the company.
Also if Watanabe refuses to leave the company after being requested to do so by Akio, I'm sure he won't refuse if the same request is made by Shoichiro Toyoda.
This is nothing but good news in my eyes. I hope Akio continues to do what he's doing, and that these profit-focused cost-cutters wield less influence within the company.
him saying profit is a good thing and maximizing it is a good thing - i have no problem with. but many companies end up sowing the seeds of their own destruction by focusing on profits over innovation, quality, service, etc. and i think that's definitely been the case with toyota for several years.
And guess what? That is right around the time that the quality of a number of Toyota products, though still better then average, started to noticeably drop.....especially with interiors and body sheet metal. By 2005-2006, it was clearly showing up in a number of their products. Ironically, it was the bottom-rung Toyota/Scion products (Yaris/Echo, Corolla, xA/xB/tC, etc.....) and the top-rung Land Cruiser that seemed to keep their build quality the longest. The middle-to-upper grade Toyota products seemed to suffer the most.
04-18-10, 01:02 PM
#199
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It's been all over the news.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100415/...s_japan_toyota
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/36537736/ns/business-autos/
Toyota is making sure this problem does not occur on any other of their models, and I would assume in the future all models will be thoroughly tested for this.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100415/...s_japan_toyota
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/36537736/ns/business-autos/
Toyota is making sure this problem does not occur on any other of their models, and I would assume in the future all models will be thoroughly tested for this.
04-19-10, 11:47 AM
#202
Recall
Washington -- Toyota Motor Corp. this afternoon will announce a recall of its 2010 Lexus GX 460, after it suspended sales last week on the heels of a rare "Don't Buy" rating from Consumer Reports.
Last week, Toyota was able to replicate a test conducted by the influential magazine that raised rollover concerns on the luxury SUV.
The recall of about 5,000 vehicles is expected to include a software upgrade to address concerns about the electronic stability control; another 1,000 affected vehicles were sold outside the country.
The company stopped production of the vehicle in Japan through April 28 and suspended sales worldwide.
Today's recall follows Friday's call-back of nearly 600,000 1998-2010 Sienna minivans to address potential corrosion in the spare tire carrier cable in cold weather states.
04-19-10, 12:18 PM
#203
Lexus Champion
Thread Starter
As posted in 2GX forum:
http://pressroom.toyota.com/pr/tms/l...ll-157109.aspx
Toyota Announces Voluntary Recall on 2010 Model-Year Lexus GX 460 to Update Vehicle Stability Control Software
TORRANCE, Calif., April 19, 2010 – Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc., today announced it will conduct a voluntary safety recall on approximately 9,400 2010 Model Year Lexus GX 460 sport utility vehicles to update software in the vehicle’s Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) system. No other Toyota, Lexus, or Scion vehicles are involved in this recall.
The VSC system helps control a loss of traction in turns as a result of front or rear wheel slippage during cornering.
“Toyota’s objective is to provide a high level of safety and quality, while meeting or surpassing governmental regulations. Our engineers have conducted tests to confirm the VSC performance issue raised by Consumer Reports, and we are confident this VSC software update addresses the concern,” said Steve St. Angelo, Toyota chief quality officer for North America.
All Lexus dealers will have the VSC software update by the end of April. Once the software update is available at dealerships, vehicle owners are encouraged to bring their 2010 GX 460 to a dealer at their earliest convenience for the update at no cost. The update should take approximately one hour depending on the dealers’ work schedule.
“From the moment we heard about this issue, Lexus and our dealers acted quickly to resolve the situation. Our dealers will now personally reach out to customers to set up appointments to make this modification. Lexus has always been about providing exemplary customer satisfaction and this will be another opportunity to demonstrate that,” said Mark Templin, Lexus group vice president and general manager.
Starting in early May, Lexus will begin mailing letters to GX 460 owners included in this recall. Lexus will provide a courtesy vehicle to anyone who has purchased a 2010 GX 460 and has concerns about driving it until the recall work has been completed.
Detailed information about this recall is available through Lexus Customer Satisfaction at 1-800-25 LEXUS or 1-800-255-3987 or at www.lexus.com/recall.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Toyota Motor Sales, Corporate Communications
(310) 468-5297
(310) 468-7359
TORRANCE, Calif., April 19, 2010 – Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc., today announced it will conduct a voluntary safety recall on approximately 9,400 2010 Model Year Lexus GX 460 sport utility vehicles to update software in the vehicle’s Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) system. No other Toyota, Lexus, or Scion vehicles are involved in this recall.
The VSC system helps control a loss of traction in turns as a result of front or rear wheel slippage during cornering.
“Toyota’s objective is to provide a high level of safety and quality, while meeting or surpassing governmental regulations. Our engineers have conducted tests to confirm the VSC performance issue raised by Consumer Reports, and we are confident this VSC software update addresses the concern,” said Steve St. Angelo, Toyota chief quality officer for North America.
All Lexus dealers will have the VSC software update by the end of April. Once the software update is available at dealerships, vehicle owners are encouraged to bring their 2010 GX 460 to a dealer at their earliest convenience for the update at no cost. The update should take approximately one hour depending on the dealers’ work schedule.
“From the moment we heard about this issue, Lexus and our dealers acted quickly to resolve the situation. Our dealers will now personally reach out to customers to set up appointments to make this modification. Lexus has always been about providing exemplary customer satisfaction and this will be another opportunity to demonstrate that,” said Mark Templin, Lexus group vice president and general manager.
Starting in early May, Lexus will begin mailing letters to GX 460 owners included in this recall. Lexus will provide a courtesy vehicle to anyone who has purchased a 2010 GX 460 and has concerns about driving it until the recall work has been completed.
Detailed information about this recall is available through Lexus Customer Satisfaction at 1-800-25 LEXUS or 1-800-255-3987 or at www.lexus.com/recall.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Toyota Motor Sales, Corporate Communications
(310) 468-5297
(310) 468-7359
04-19-10, 12:23 PM
#204
Lexus Fanatic
Yes that puts it into perspective, "safety recall on approximately 9,400 2010 Model Year Lexus GX 460 sport utility vehicles to update software in the vehicle’s Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) system".
04-19-10, 12:34 PM
#205
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While I do think that CR was overdramatic in its "don't buy" rating, I do find it very surprising that Toyota/Lexus could have such a big defect in their electronics programming to allow that much slippage before intervening.
04-19-10, 10:09 PM
#208
Lexus Connoisseur
There's the problem. You don't drive an SUV like this or ANY SUV for that matter hard. There's no electronic device that is a substitute for smart and safe driving period. Common sense is key here.
04-19-10, 10:12 PM
#209
Lexus Connoisseur
There is no defect.. It's all timed calculations and parameters. The parameters are set by the engineers for all different driving conditions. I'm pretty sure they spent countless hours fine tuning the electronics to kick in when necessary. At the same time, i'm sure Lexus engineers are going to use the test method that CR tried with the GX for future reference.
04-19-10, 10:40 PM
#210
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Either way, it's an easy fix.
?Did you watch the video? All 4 wheels stayed firmly planted on the ground thanks to KDSS.