Panel Says Toyota Harbored Attitude Of Skepticism And Defensiveness Towards Consumers

Yep, the quality control is so sketchy on models built between 2004-2008. Toyota is like any other profiteering company; you get big, you get lazy, you start to fail.

Maybe Toyota fanboys can write to Toyota and tell them to return to their roots. One example of this complacency is that they no longer prototype their cars by actually operating test models for a period of time before full manufacture; instead they test everything by computer then run it through a short course and if the car holds together, start manufacturing. Any coincidence that once they stopped running long term tests on prototypes that their reliability started dropping?

I still see it to a degree in some places. Our RX had a seal leak in the HID headlamps. The service advisor said "this never happens, it must have been in a wreck!" After 30 mins and three people later it was determined to be a actual defect. They have since replaced it under warranty however it make me wonder on the stance they took.

Issues like that start at the top when warranty issues are concerned.

Yep, and don't even talk to me about the RAV4 built during that period - an absolute disaster from the noisy crunchy steering column to the lurching transmission to the main oil line; that entire generation of V6 implementation was absolutely a nightmare for Toyota.

The A/C would not work on my LX 470 so after checking the fuse I called the dealer and they started ranting on me.The "this never happens to a Toyota/Lexus story and you should never use the cigarette lighter to charge your phone he said.Really!!Long story short they had to replace the fan motor (from a LX on the lot)because I was not going to wait for 2 weeks in the middle of summer and the arrogance pissed me off.After many more problems I traded it in for a Cadillac Escalade ESV and its been smooth sailing ever since.

Right Right.Maybe the recalls are a big dream too.So are the engine sludge,Ball joints falling off,etc.You look like a Toyota Salesman.Give up the reliability story please.

Well, Fijian Tugane. When you're constantly advocating for GM and bashing Toyota, it would be quite difficult for anyone with sense to believe any of your so called "I used to own a Toyota" stories. So while you are busy putting your precious Cadillac on a pedestal, let me remind you that the Escalade ESV had a recall in the beginning of this year about the rear axle cross pins. He who lives in a glass house shouldn't throw stones.

Must not have been my model.In general most companies adress problems before they are mandated by the government as a safety.They also care about the drivers.Its only Toyota that has this attitude.They made us believe they cannot make any mistakes.Its always the customers fault.Right.

Really Dude? Are you seriously implying that most companies in general except Toyota conduct voluntary recalls to address safety concerns? First of all, all the issues surrounding the forced recalls have yet to be proven even by NASA. Second, Toyota did not MAKE you or anyone else for that matter, do anything. Only badge-whores are so easily convinced by anything a company in which you hold such a meaningless allegiance to would say. However, Toyota is guilty of the way they conducted themselves in regards to the way they handled the recalls. It also didn't help that they had clowns like James Sikes (Runaway Prius Hoax guy) who tried to take advantage of the situation, but failed miserably. So, before you start throwing stones, make sure you don't sound like a complete hypocrite and expose your ignorance.

If there was no problem there would not have been a recall.Most of the time manufacturers have buletins where by they fix problems when you take your vehicle for regular service.The floor mat issue happened to Toyoya because they are so cheap.We even had to pay extra for our floor mats (LX 470).Most companies include them so the fit issue is not there.They secretly bought back cars (from cmany customers who complained) and did their own testing.Dont you think those cars should have been independently tested.I wonder where those cars are now.Too many cover ups thats why they are the RECALL KING.RELIABILITY MY @#$

You seriously need to lay off the Kava dude. EVERY AUTOMAKER HAS RECALLS! Anyway, you can have this argument because I feel like I'm better off arguing with the wall. But here's a list of recalls you might find interesting.

2003 Cadillac ESCALADE-ESV Recall
Item Affected: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Date Announced: 2/6/2004

Description of Recall:
CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, PICKUP TRUCKS, AND PASSENGER VANS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 135, ?PASSENGER CAR BRAKE SYSTEMS.? SOME OF THESE VEHICLES WERE PRODUCED WITH AN OUT-OF-SPECIFICATION BRAKE HYDRO-BOOST HOUSING RELIEF VALVE BORE.

2004 Cadillac ESCALADE-ESV Recall
Item Affected: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Date Announced: 2/6/2004

Description of Recall:
CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, PICKUP TRUCKS, AND PASSENGER VANS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 135, ?PASSENGER CAR BRAKE SYSTEMS.? SOME OF THESE VEHICLES WERE PRODUCED WITH AN OUT-OF-SPECIFICATION BRAKE HYDRO-BOOST HOUSING RELIEF VALVE BORE.

2005 Cadillac ESCALADE-ESV Recall
Item Affected: POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION:SHIFT PATTERN INDICATOR
Date Announced: 2/15/2005

Description of Recall:
CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 102, "TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER SEQUENCE, STARTER INTERLOCK AND TRANSMISSION BRAKING EFFECT." UNDER CERTAIN VEHICLE STARTING CONDITIONS, THE SHIFT LEVER POSITION INDICATOR LOCATED IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER MAY NOT ILLUMINATE. IF THE SHIFT LEVER POSITION INDICATOR DOES NOT ILLUMINATE, THE DRIVER MAY NOT KNOW WHICH GEAR THE VEHICLE IS IN.


2006 Cadillac ESCALADE-ESV Recall
Item Affected: EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
Date Announced: 12/7/2005

Description of Recall:
CERTAIN TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS." THESE VEHICLES WERE SHIPPED WITH TIRE AND LOADING INFORMATION LABELS LISTING AN INACCCURATE VEHICLE CAPACITY WEIGHT.



2007 Cadillac ESCALADE-ESV Recall
Item Affected: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Date Announced: 8/28/2008

Description of Recall:
GM IS RECALLING 857,735 MY 2006-2008 BUICK LUCERNE; CADILLAC DTS; HUMMER H2; MY 2007-2008 CADILLAC ESCALADE, ESCALADE ESV, ESCALADE EXT; CHEVROLET AVALANCHE, SILVERADO, SUBURBAN, TAHOE; GMC ACADIA, SIERRA, YUKON, YUKON XL, SATURN OUTLOOK; AND MY 2008 BUICK ENCLAVE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A HEATED WIPER WASHER FLUID SYSTEM. A SHORT CIRCUIT ON THE PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD FOR THE WASHER FLUID HEATER MAY OVERHEAT THE CONTROL-CIRCUIT GROUND WIRE.


2008 Cadillac ESCALADE-ESV Recall
Item Affected: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Date Announced: 8/28/2008

Description of Recall:
GM IS RECALLING 857,735 MY 2006-2008 BUICK LUCERNE; CADILLAC DTS; HUMMER H2; MY 2007-2008 CADILLAC ESCALADE, ESCALADE ESV, ESCALADE EXT; CHEVROLET AVALAN

2008 Cadillac ESCALADE-ESV Recall
Item Affected: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Date Announced: 8/28/2008

Description of Recall:
GM IS RECALLING 857,735 MY 2006-2008 BUICK LUCERNE; CADILLAC DTS; HUMMER H2; MY 2007-2008 CADILLAC ESCALADE, ESCALADE ESV, ESCALADE EXT; CHEVROLET AVALANCHE, SILVERADO, SUBURBAN, TAHOE; GMC ACADIA, SIERRA, YUKON, YUKON XL, SATURN OUTLOOK; AND MY 2008 BUICK ENCLAVE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A HEATED WIPER WASHER FLUID SYSTEM. A SHORT CIRCUIT ON THE PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD FOR THE WASHER FLUID HEATER MAY OVERHEAT THE CONTROL-CIRCUIT GROUND WIRE.

2009 Cadillac ESCALADE-ESV Recall
Item Affected: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
Date Announced: 5/6/2009

Description of Recall:
GM IS RECALLING 27,188 MY 2009 CADILLAC ESCALADE, ESCALADE HYBRID, ESCALADE ESV, AND ESCALADE EXT; CHEVROLET AVALANCHE, SUBURBAN, TAHOE, TAHOE HYBRID, AND COLORADO; AND GMC YUKON, YUKON HYBRID, YUKON XL, AND CANYON VEHICLES. THE FUEL SYSTEM CONTROL MODULES MAY HAVE A CONDITION IN WHICH AN ADHESIVE SEPARATION OF THE ROOM TEMPERATURE VULCANIZING (RTV) SEAL BETWEEN THE SEAL AND THE HOUSING MAY ALLOW WATER TO SEEP INTO THE MODULE.

January 15, 2011 – General Motors is expanding an earlier recall of some 2011 model-year trucks and SUVs to fix a problem that could cause the vehicles' rear axles to lock.

The recall, originally announced in December, now covers 26,751 Cadillac, Chevrolet and GMC trucks and SUVs. The models affected are: Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Cadillac EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Colorado, Silverado, Suburban, Tahoe; and GMC Canyon, Sierra, Yukon and Yukon XL.

GM said rear-axle cross pins, used to hold the axle in place, weren't properly heat-treated and may not be durable. They can fracture, interfere with the axle and cause it to lock. The driver could then lose control of the vehicle

So, the point to all this is that I'm sure anyone in their right mind would rather deal with all these issues, than with an A/C issue on a crappy LX470.