Kevin Graff

Toyota Tries to Fix Damage to Reputation

February 2, 2010

FROM RETAILWIRE:
Toyota has climbed into the upper echelon of auto manufacturing and retailing by producing reliable vehicles. However, a massive recall caused the company to halt sales and production of eight popular models.... What is your assessment of how Toyota handled this recall?      [more...]

Remember the Tylenol 'crisis' a few years back? Still got it in your medicine cabinet, I bet. How about the Audi 'sticking' accelerator pedal issue? They kind of botched the handling of that affair (and they didn't even have Toyota's standing) and today there's probably one parked somewhere on your street, and maybe in your own driveway.

Yes, this might hurt Toyota in the short, short, short term. But so far they're handling it fine. Consumers aren't stupid. They've believed (rightly so) in Toyota's quality for a long time and I don't think you'll see very many of customers abandon them.

Let's just hope the dealer's staff, the face of Toyota, handle the personal interaction well.