Toyota told its U.S. dealers Tuesday to immediately quit selling the new and used cars and trucks that it recalled on Jan. 21 because their throttles could stick open.
Toyota (TM) also said that it will quit building 2010 versions of those models Monday and that the halt will last until it finds a remedy for the stuck-throttle problem. That could take weeks, the company previously said, but it gave no forecast Tuesday.
Toyota has suspended U.S. sales of eight models, which were recalled to fix accelerator pedals that might stick. These models are: 2005-10 Avalaon, 2007-10 Camry, 2009-10 Corolla, 2010 Highlander, 2009-10 Matrix, 2009-10 RAV4, 2008-10 Sequoia and 2007-10 Tundra.
For auto shoppers, it means that some of the most popular Toyota-brand vehicles will be harder to find or not available.
“This is major,” says Jessica Caldwell, senior auto analyst at industry tracker Edmunds.com. The eight vehicles involved make up about two-thirds of Toyota-brand sales in the U.S., she estimates. Toyota’s Lexus and Scion brands are not involved in this recall or the sales and production halts.
It’s the right move — finally, says James Bell, executive market analyst at auto research site kbb.com. “It reminds me how conservative the culture is at Toyota.”
Until Tuesday, Toyota had said it would continue making and selling the 2010 versions of the recalled models. It said the sticking-throttle problem appears only with age and wear, so new ones are safe.
“Restoring confidence in Toyota” and ensuring customer safety were cited by Toyota U.S. Vice President Bob Carter as reasons for the halt.
“Toyota can recover, but this major and perhaps unprecedented step suggests the problem is serious,” says Carl Tobias, professor at the University of Richmond’s law school. On the other hand, he says, the drastic action shows that “Toyota is serious about fixing” the problem as well as its image.
http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/2010-01-26-toyota_N.htm
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