Toyota is getting quite a bit of headline grabbin' publicity for bad behavior on the part of employees at dealerships. It seemed to start with a theft, etc. caught on video and turned over to news media. More recently, a dealership's website praised a filthy video critical of Prius drivers, an employee at a North Carolina dealership pled guilty to embezzlement, and now we have a general manager charged with an assortment of offences ranging from driving without a license to public intoxication.
Based on my experiences, (click the label "thuggery"), such stories are not surprising. Nonetheless, these developments are noteworthy given the dealerships' association with a company that's currently facing racketeering charges, lawsuits galore alleging fraud, and a grand jury investigation for a delay in reporting defective steering rods.
Let's face it. You can't blame anyone for not trusting Toyota.
Update 12/31/10 The general manager has pleaded guilty to an August OWI charge, but the December charges are still pending.
Update 1/5/10 An ex-worker is suing a Toyota dealer, claiming he was fired for uncovering insurance fraud re a Lexus that was given to a football coach.