Toyota halts sale of 2010 Lexus 460

Oops. Toyota caught again. This time, Consumer Reports says the Lexus 460 SUV poses an extreme rollover risk. So extreme that CR has issued a rare "Don't Buy" warning to consumers.

Toyota has halted sales of the 460, but here's the question:  where is quality control at Toyota? Furthermore, are we to believe Toyota didn't know about this until CR issued a safety warning?

Given all the recent revelations about Toyota, maybe Consumer Reports is a little gun shy 'bout not doin' what it claims to do. I lost faith in CR because they refused to investigate and warn consumers about 1zz engine failures in Toyota's MR2 Spyders. 
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/04/13/lexus-gx-460-sales-halted_n_536615.html

Associated Press says Toyota is deceptive when sued

According to an Associated Press investigation, 'ol "Mr. T" resorts to incredibly sleazy tactics if anyone dares to sue them. Questionable, evasive, and deceptive, says AP. Even goin' so far as to ignore court orders to produce key documents. 

Nothin' Toyota deceitfully does would surprise me, but this story raises the question once again: Who (or what) does Toyota think they are?

Toyota dealer praises filthy video

Update:  after public criticism, this Toyota dealer musta had second thoughts about his choice of advertising.  The video no longer appears on his website. 

Might oughta restrict the kids from checkin' out Toyota dealers' websites.  Jon Lancaster Toyota in Madison, Wisconsin has a sales manager - Nathan Riesen - who lists as a "Favorite" the video of a face-masked-dressed-in-black character ranting, raving, and using not only four letter filth, but also profanity in a tirade against Prius drivers who don't shift into neutral when Toyota's little wonder car suddenly decides to take off.  Not that most of us haven't used equally bad language in the heat of a moment.  Its just that this video was carefully selected, labeled, and conspicuously marked with a red heart.  Musta been love at first sight. 

Actually, I wasn't all that surprised.  Its certainly consistent with what I've experienced, and incidentally, Mr. Riesen is a "Certified Master Sales Consultant" and a "Sales Society Master."  Nothin' like masterin' yer craft...
http://www.youtube.com/user/nateriesen

Toyota charged with racketeering

Leave it to Toyota to set records.  Ol' "Mr. T" is now the defendant in the first consumer lawsuit of its kind, charged with violating RICO, the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act.  I like the part where one of the attorneys refers to Toyota's policy of blaming somebody else when things go wrong.  That's the Toyota I've come to know.

Racketeering?  Somehow, Toyota keeps remindin' me of the Godfather. 
http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1202446254842&Racketeering_Unfair_Business_Practices_Claims_Added_Against_Toyota

Toyota wants runaway Prius. Cops say no.

After this latest report of a runaway Prius, Toyota tried to "collect" the car, whereupon the cops told 'em no.  Had some ridiculously outrageous idea that the Prius didn't belong to Toyota, it belonged to the owner. 

Really, folks.  Who does Toyota think they are?  Whatever.  One thing's for sure, though.  Before long, a runaway Prius will be so commonplace it won't make the news...
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/10/AR2010031001159.html

Don't twitter, Toyota. Just tweet people right.

Toyota just doesn't get it.  To reach out to customers, they've hired a marketing firm to help 'em make tweets on Twitter. 

Here's the deal, Toyota.  Its not about marketing.  Its about standin' behind your product.  Tellin' the truth.   Reimbursin' customers for defects, and never takin' 'em to be fools.  What kinda tweets are ya gonna make about those 3,000+ customers who have signed a petition to protest your stonewallin' ways?  What about all those 1zz engine failures?  Real ripoffs for folks who bought MR2 Spyders and Celicas.  Apparently, you weaseled out of includin' these models in your oil sludge recall.  And then there's the never ending barrage of recent disclosures.  Traffic fatalities involving runaway vehicles, deals with safety regulators, and the list goes on ad nauseum.  Tweets on Twitter?  By the time the grand jury gets through, you might be singin' like bird...
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/02/AR2010030202419.html

Need a fix, Toyota? Just KISS.

Simply install alarms that alert drivers every time you cut a deal with NHTSA.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/02/AR2010030203914.html