Toyota Bites The Dust Again!

[sleekism]

http://www.drive.com.au/Editorial/Ar...eID=45079&vf=7

Toyota has again been hit by an embarassing fault in a new model, with all Australian dealers being ordered to stop selling the new V6-powered RAV4 compact 4WD.

The RAV4 V6 launched only a fortnight ago to join the four-cylinder model launched in early 2006. A problem relating to the engine follows shortly after Toyota Australia's Aurion TRD resumed sales in October after an investigation into an engine failure.

Toyota Australia spokesperson Mike Breen says the RAV4's 3.5-litre V6, which is shared with the Aurion, Kluger, and Tarago, is not operating "as smoothly as would be expected", and there appears to be an issue with the engine's electronic managment control system.

The problem was detected in a couple of company demonstration models and the decision was made to stop customer deliveries as a "precautionary measure". "There has been no customer feedback," says Breen.

Breen says the problem does not constitute a recall. "It is not safety related so it isn't a product recall."

The latest problem has come only days after one of the Japanese group's directors admitted the company's response to vehicle quality problems "was not perfect".

Toyota, which has grown to be the world's largest carmaker mainly on the strength of product reliability, issued the freeze order on the RAV4 V6 following concerns about the car's drivability. Details of the exact fault were not available last night, but a Toyota spokesman said it was not a safety-related issue.

It is the latest in a string of quality-related problems to hit the Japanese giant this year, both in Australia and overseas, and reflects the problems that come with growing rapidly year after year.

Toyota directors were so concerned about deterioration in quality levels two years ago they formed the Customer First committee to address the problem, executive vice-president Mitsuo Kinoshita, told The Age last week in Tokyo.

"Quality is our first priority. Unfortunately, two years ago, vehicle [problems] increased so much at that time we decided to establish the CF committee," said Kinoshita. "We have been doing that for two years and, as a result, the quality is getting better and the recall level is comparatively decreasing."

Apart from the pressures of having to rapidly increase production, Mr Kinoshita said a major source of problems was the increasing use of electronics and, in particular, integrated circuit boards, in cars.

Toyota sales have been growing by between 500,000 and 800,000 vehicles a year, which means the company has had to build at least two factories a year to keep pace.

"Finding skilled people is one of the biggest challenges for us," Mr Kinoshita said. "We now employ 300,000 people around the world. That has doubled in the last 10 years."

Mr Kinoshita said Toyota had been forced to create its own "university", the Toyota Institute, where managers from around the world are taught "The Toyota Way" of building cars.

In addition, the group has established its Global Production Centre, where production group leaders learn how to teach their team members.

"We took many countermeasures to produce more skilled workers. Of course, it is not perfect..."

The freeze on RAV4 V6 sales comes only a month after Toyota Australia was forced to halt sales of its locally developed supercharged V6 Aurion TRD sedan after the engine in one of the early models failed. That was traced to some over-enthusiastic driving by a dealer.

Earlier in the year, Toyota was forced to halt sales of the newly released Corolla range after it was found an incorrectly fitted stay allowed the steering columns to slump to their lowest position.

Toyota's usually rock-solid reputation for reliablity has also had a set-back in the United States after an influential consumer magazine said the company's cars could no longer be automatically recommended.

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Geez so much for Totoa quality ay! That's the thing I have found with the Falcons I have owned. Warm them up properly and they will run wide open all day.

Is it funny how overseas Ford is at the top of the quality ladder yet in Australia there is a perception that the Falcons have shoddy quality.

Give me a $40,000 Australian built Falcon over a $80,000 dollar South African built BMW any day.

[TheSneakiness]

http://www.fordforums.com.au/showthr...highlight=rav4

[Polyal]

Originally Posted by sleekism

Give me a $40,000 Australian built Falcon over a $80,000 dollar South African built BMW any day.

oookay. Should we make a list of Toyota Vs Ford recall in Oz over the past 10 years?

[Dave_au]

Originally Posted by sleekism

Geez so much for Totoa quality ay!

I disagree, having the balls to halt the launch before a sea of warranty claims is quality.

Is it funny how overseas Ford is at the top of the quality ladder

Sorry mate, not on the war path with you, but what quality ladder reviews? JD Power is sort of the industry average guide for perceived quality and reliability, here are the results for 07 on the manufacturers:


Obviously Mazda, Volvo and Jag get a mention in the top 10, but I'm not so sure we can claim a ford win off the performance of these subs.

[Polyal]

Looking at that table, how the heck is Peugeot or Alfa below Vauxhuall!! Thats weird, poor Alfa....

[Dave_au]

Link to 2007 JD Power UK Survey:

http://www.whatcar.com/news-special-...557&EL=3196973

Be warned it takes a little while to load the page frames, but the link does work.

[T3ts50]

Alfa have never been known for quality.

Though I wouldnt have thought Jags had better quality then the 3 big germans

[Dave_au]

Originally Posted by Dave_au

Sorry mate, not on the war path with you, but what quality ladder reviews? JD Power is sort of the industry average guide for perceived quality and reliability, here are the results for 07 on the manufacturers

Okay to quote myself before you do I'm not completely correct - I've done a bit more digging - JD Power have another list for the US domestic market with some Lincolns in the top 10s, will post more when I find it.

[Polyal]

Originally Posted by T3ts50

Alfa have never been known for quality.

Though I wouldnt have thought Jags had better quality then the 3 big germans

Is JD Power a British firm? That would explain it. Like Top Gear and their reviews.

As for Alfa, yeah previously there rep was no good, but they make some quality vehicles now. Id take a 159 if it was given!

[Homer1]

LOL!! Alfa and Fiat near the bottom.....just as I expected all along!

Big surprise with Skoda....especially way ahead of VW.....aren't they pretty much the same cars? Big disappintment with Benz....they really need a good kick in the bum, especially with what they charge for thier cars.

[4Vman]

At least Toyota pick up issues before a model gets too far into the public and the customer complains....
Ford or Holden would probably just let it go as it isnt safety or reliability related...
then deal with customer complaints if or when they occur.

[Falcon Coupe]

Repost.

http://www.fordforums.com.au/showthread.php?t=11196282