Toyota is sued over faulty steering rods

Phantom_X-SP · Aug 11, 2009

Anyone still own one of these?

http://www.autonews.com/article/20090803/ANA03/308039937/1316/MOBILE01&template=art4

Dark Knight · Aug 11, 2009

the link sends me to a log-in

Ghost96Romeo · Aug 11, 2009

Dark Knight said: ↑

the link sends me to a log-in
Click to expand...

X2

drew02a · Aug 11, 2009

http://www.autonews.com/article/20090803/ANA03/308039937

EDIT: Same thing, damn!

drew02a · Aug 11, 2009

It lets you go there if you go from google news

http://www.google.com/#hl=en&ei=OXa...a+faulty+steering+rods&spell=1&fp=68WRWBJ5ZlA

medic2230 · Aug 11, 2009

x3

got it nevermind. nope haven't got one of them.

98tacoma27 · Aug 11, 2009

For the click-impared

Toyota is sued over faulty steering rods

Old problem in Japan shows up in wrongful-death suits here
Kathy Jackson
Automotive News
August 3, 2009 - 12:01 am ET
LOS ANGELES — Allegations of faulty steering relay rods — an embarrassment to Toyota in Japan three years ago — have come back to haunt the company in the United States.

Since February, four wrongful-death lawsuits have been filed against Toyota Motor North America Inc. and Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. Inc. The suits allege that Toyota failed to promptly recall pickups and SUVs that may have been equipped with the defective steering rods, which can crack under extreme steering maneuvers. The plaintiffs say that neglect led to four deaths and several injuries.

In 2006, Japan's transport ministry reprimanded the company and ordered it to improve its recall procedures. A Japanese police investigation concluded that three Toyota executives, including the head of the quality division, knew of the faulty steering rods for years but did nothing about them. Police said the defect led to a 2004 accident in Japan in which the driver of a Hilux Surf (4Runner) lost control and struck a car head-on, injuring five people.

U.S. deaths
The U.S. deaths occurred from 1997 to 2007. In each case, the suits allege, steering rods fractured, causing drivers to lose control. In three of the crashes, the driver was killed. A baby died in the fourth accident.

The vehicles in question are 1990-95 4Runners, 1989-95 small pickups and 1993-98 T100 pickups. The plaintiffs contend Toyota knew about the faulty steering rods long before it recalled the vehicles in October 2005.

Toyota spokesman Brian Lyons would not comment. In a July 9 filing by Toyota Motor Sales and Toyota Motor North America, the companies contend that speeding, alcohol and/or the absence of seat belts contributed to the accidents.

Citing a 2007 accident in Idaho, in which an 18-year-old was killed when his 1991 Toyota pickup rolled over, Toyota said: "At no time during the extensive investigation did the police conclude that this crash was caused by a broken steering relay rod or any other defect in the truck."
Toyota said police reports indicated that the driver was speeding and that beer cans were found by police in the ditch near the crash.

In the United States, Toyota recalled nearly 1 million vehicles equipped with the steering rods. That was one year after the company recalled about 330,000 units in Japan.
The U.S. lawsuits, filed in February through April in Los Angeles Superior Court, allege that when Toyota made the recall in Japan it failed to disclose to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that complaints about the steering rods also had been made in the United States. By law Toyota is required to alert NHTSA of foreign recalls and explain why it is not issuing the same recall in the United States.

Not aware?

Toyota Motor North America said it was not aware of complaints about the faulty steering rods in the United States in October 2004 when it informed NHTSA of the Japan recall.
"TMA is a separate entity from TMS (Toyota Motor Sales) and is not responsible for receiving or compiling customer complaint information about Toyota vehicles in the field," TMA says in court filings.

John Kristensen, a lawyer representing the plaintiffs in all four cases, argues that the automaker cannot offer as a defense that one unit of Toyota did not inform another.
Kristensen says that in the United States, Toyota had nearly 100 warranty claims for broken relay rods prior to the Japanese recall. Exhibits of these claims are included in court filings.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Conrad Aragon last week heard plaintiffs' motions to have the four cases consolidated. Toyota wants the cases to be heard in the four states where they were filed — Idaho, Kentucky, Georgia and California.

The judge granted Toyota's request for more time before making a final ruling, scheduled for Sept. 8.
Click to expand...

drew02a · Aug 11, 2009

98tacoma27 said: ↑

For the click-impared
Click to expand...

nad · Aug 11, 2009

sucks for toyota, I have a feeling they might have the same thing happen soon with the tacoma. There seems to be a lot people complaining that they accelerate out of no where on them, in some causes they have been serious accidents.

Snipe · Aug 11, 2009

I thought Toyota did a good job on sending out the recall notice on my 92 4 runner for the steering rod.

I didn't make an appointment after getting the first notice and they would send a new notice every couple of weeks.

I wonder how many people tossed the notice and then complained when the part failed?

Y0TA · Aug 11, 2009

Yep i still have a 91 4x4 pickup.

Phantom_X-SP · Aug 11, 2009

98tacoma27 said: ↑

For the click-impared
Click to expand...

Thank you good sir

kilted1117 · Aug 11, 2009

I had an '88 small p/u and the steering rod broke on me some time in the mid 90's. Good thing I was about 2 blocks from home, going around a curve at about 20mph and in my neighborhood at the time or it could have ended up very badly!

98tacoma27 · Aug 11, 2009

kilted1117 said: ↑

I had an '88 small p/u and the steering rod broke on me some time in the mid 90's. Good thing I was about 2 blocks from home, going around a curve at about 20mph and in my neighborhood at the time or it could have ended up very badly!
Click to expand...

.........and I was just going to pst "good thing mines a 88". Guess I will be checking that out.

TuRDVan · Aug 11, 2009

Yeah, I've thought toyota has done a good job getting notices out. I've heard of fourth/fifth owners being tracked down and receiving notices in the mail. I think it is negligent on the owner's part at this point for not getting it fixed. Toyota can't come commandeer (sp?) your rig and make you change the part, all they can do is send notices and hope you come in for it.

MacTaco · Aug 13, 2009

I know more about this than I want to know.

drew02a · Aug 13, 2009

MacTaco said: ↑

I know more about this than I want to know.
Click to expand...

1) Take your right hand and make it into fist
2) Beat the side of your head until you forget why you're beating the side of your head?
3) Go put on a dress and make me a sammich.

MacTaco · Aug 13, 2009

I'm making you nothing. A big ball of nothing. and I will not wear a dress.

drew02a · Aug 13, 2009

MacTaco said: ↑

I'm making you nothing. A big ball of nothing. and I will not wear a dress.
Click to expand...

No one has to know

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Toyota is sued over faulty steering rods

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kilted1117 I smell corn

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Toyota is sued over faulty steering rods

#1 Phantom_X-SP [OP] Rude Boy |><|

#2 Dark Knight Well-Known Member

#3 Ghost96Romeo What is the Search Tab for????

#4 drew02a Rocking your mom's world Since 1997

#5 drew02a Rocking your mom's world Since 1997

#6 medic2230 @Koditten Pirate Radio member #002

#7 98tacoma27 is going full "SANDWICH" Moderator

#8 drew02a Rocking your mom's world Since 1997

#9 nad mmmm tacos!

#10 Snipe Well-Known Member

#11 Y0TA Well-Known Member

#12 Phantom_X-SP [OP] Rude Boy |><|

#13 kilted1117 I smell corn

#14 98tacoma27 is going full "SANDWICH" Moderator

#15 TuRDVan A.K.A slosurfer

#16 MacTaco Mustache May

#17 drew02a Rocking your mom's world Since 1997

#18 MacTaco Mustache May

#19 drew02a Rocking your mom's world Since 1997

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#1
Phantom_X-SP [OP] Rude Boy |><|

#2
Dark Knight Well-Known Member

#3
Ghost96Romeo What is the Search Tab for????

#4
drew02a Rocking your mom's world Since 1997

#5
drew02a Rocking your mom's world Since 1997

#6
medic2230 @Koditten Pirate Radio member #002

#7
98tacoma27 is going full "SANDWICH" Moderator

#8
drew02a Rocking your mom's world Since 1997

#9
nad mmmm tacos!

#10
Snipe Well-Known Member

#11
Y0TA Well-Known Member

#12
Phantom_X-SP [OP] Rude Boy |><|

#13
kilted1117 I smell corn

#14
98tacoma27 is going full "SANDWICH" Moderator

#15
TuRDVan A.K.A slosurfer

#16
MacTaco Mustache May

#17
drew02a Rocking your mom's world Since 1997

#18
MacTaco Mustache May

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drew02a Rocking your mom's world Since 1997

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