Toyota witheld crash lawsuit evidence. What do you think of this?

Alan

WASHINGTON (AP) -- A House lawmaker said Friday that internal Toyota documents show the automaker deliberately withheld key vehicle design and testing evidence in lawsuits filed by Toyota drivers injured in crashes.































In a letter to Toyota's top North American executive, House oversight committee Chairman Edolphus Towns accused Toyota of shielding its testing data on potential problems with Toyota vehicles. Towns wrote that Toyota chose to enter hefty settlements with plaintiffs to avoid disclosing the database, which the lawmaker said was referred to as the "Books of Knowledge."































The Toyota documents "show a systematic disregard for the law and routine violation of court discovery orders in litigation," Towns wrote in the letter to Yoshimi Inaba. ----What are your thoughts about Toyota on this issue?

pbleek

Just because someone accuses someone of something, that does not make it true. Every year 50,000 people die in car accident in the United states. This so called design problem cost 36 lives allegedly over the last several years. Most of these case can be explained by driver error. Stomp on the brakes, stay off the cell phone!. Thousands of people die each year, in GM SUV's, Fords, and Jeeps without stability control, where is the outrage and congressional hearing about this issue. Foreign auto makes pioneered, traction control, stability control features. GM fought seat belts, radial tires, disk brakes, safety features of any kind until the last moment. Now everyone wants to crucify Toyota, go figure.

vermaizcool

One thing I don't understand....why so soft at American automobiles...why deliberately kill Toyota































In case if you didn't know America needs Toyota, for competition as well as Jobs.































If Toyota leaves US then expect 14,000 job loss , well thats just Indiana...plus imagine all Toyota Dealers shutting down....more than 10,000 job loss....































just imagine how much impact would that have on the economy.....































I don't care if Toyota deliberately hid all safety records, the fact of the matter is that more than Toyota....GM, Chevy & Ford were filled with problems.































The government is always soft on them, even though they know their recall can sometimes get severe they will still do whatever to help them...THIS IS ALL A GOVERNMENT HYPE































People and the Media will blindly follow the government, our society is this sensitive today.































Last time I checked....GM's airbags don't even work, Chevy's power steering fails, Ford used to roll over, GM caught on fire, Ford's firestone tires blew up, Ford's hybrid brake issue.....If you think about it...you have around 30% chance of getting all these problems if you drive an American car...vs you driving a Toyota which is 2-3%































There was a study done.....American cars make around 450 recalls a year while Toyota just 25 recalls....































Their recalls are just very minor compare to what American cars would.































Based on this....Just like Top Gear says: "Americans cannot build a car....." Its true....































If they can...they would've never asked Government for bailout money.































People would disagree with me....































just to let you know, GM is using your money even if you don't drive one, your taxes....

Matt

The Toyota deceptions in North America mirror those in Japan. In 2006, the JAPANESE government "censured Toyota over improper business practices for failing for eight years to disclose and act on reports of a design flaw implicated in loss-of-control incidents (accidents).















A recently subpoenaed internal Toyota document dated July/2009, boasted that Toyota had "saved $100 million (U.S.) or more by negotiating an 'equipment recall' of floor mats involving 55,000 Toyota Camry and Lexus LES350 vehicles in September, 2007."















The same document, titled "Wins For Toyota - Safety Group", lists "millions in other savings by DELAYING SAFETY REGULATIONS, AVOIDING DEFECT INVESTIGATIONS, and SLOWING DOWN OTHER INDUSTRY REQUIREMENTS."















Toyota's words speak for themselves. it's no wonder that criminal investigations are underway in New York before a grand jury, and that numerous individual and class-action lawsuits against Toyota are underway.















In the Toyota corporate culture, safety was obviously something to be circumvented for profit, with a callous disregard for the safety of its customers and their passengers. That's why Akio Toyoda's reassurances before Congress this week rang so hollow, hypocritical and insincere.

Bo?

I totally agree with the top contributor from the cats section named "." You keeps hating and supporting crappy American cars like a GM robot.































You have no proof of that document? you think by starting with that format, people will believe you? Heck no.































Everything you say are Bull/Fake/Made up....































Did you know The Ford Explorer Firestone tire recall is perhaps the most deadly auto safety crisis in American history.































I would rather buy German cars than Crappy American cars































Ok? Got it high school dropouts?(LINK is in the bottom)















http://www.firestone-tire-recall.com.../overview.html































www.firestone-tire-recall.com

blanderswake

Pbleek, you ought to put your bong away and wake up to reality. GM, Ford and Chrysler offered disc brakes back in the '60s, when you could count the Toyotas in America on one hand. GM had an OHC 6 cylinder when the almighty Toyota had none. The Corvair was a much better car than the Beetle, because it had a heater, a gas gauge and torque. But none of it sold. We wanted V8s and drum brakes. Then when the folks that bombed us started dropping their garbage over here, all of a sudden it was all right to have those things. Kraut/Jap superiority is just a story your mommy told you because she thought their cars were cute. People that keep defending Toyota are ignorant, disgusting pigs. Grow a pair and buy a Camaro!

USPatriot

Not very surprising at all. Toyota has been deceiving the American public for many years now. Blaming accidents on drivers error was just one of many tactics to cover up quality issues. When you make substandard cars though, the truth will eventually surface.

Da Gamer of Life

Perfect description for you Alan, you "patriot":















He who knows not and knows not he knows not is a fool...shun him.































Anyways, Toyota did make a mistake like any other car manufacturer. A good question would be how come the American companies were able to withhold documentation for their lawsuits for a few years? Or why does the press focus on Toyota more than it did on GM or the Ford Explorer conflict in early 2000?

G Money

This is aimed at vermaizcool; last time I checked Top Gear was a British TV show and we all know the British cannot make a G.D. automobile. And this is from a guy who would rather take the train than any car! You sir lose any credibility you may have had, though you probably never had any.

Bob

I HATE AMERICAN CARS