After reported links to 19 deaths and many injuries, Toyota recalled almost 8 million cars for safety problems with floor mats and sticky accelerators. The owners of models that are subject to recall are waiting for notices to take their cars in for repair. Today, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood told drivers of those models to park their cars; hours later he retracted the warning. Meantime, electronics are now under investigation, and concerns are being raised about the braking system on the hybrid Prius. How long did Toyota know about the problems before announcing the recalls? Will the repairs work? How serious are the latest concerns? What about Toyota's reputation for the best on the road? What kind of crisis management will it take to protect its brand?
Toyota's Total Recall
Credits
Guests:
- Justin Hyde - Washington Bureau Reporter, Detroit Free Press
- Paul Lunsford - Co-owner and General Manager, South Coast Toyota
- Clarence Ditlow - Executive Director, Center for Auto Safety
- Jeffrey Liker - Professor of Engineering, University of Michigan
- Peter De Lorenzo - AutoExtremist.com - @Autoextremist
- Eric Dezenhall - Dezenhall Resources